Black Reads: Issue 002
One thing about Black people, we are going to show up and support each other and I am a hunnid percent here for it!
Oh, y’all showed out last week with the first Issue of Black Reads!
I love the support and truly can’t thank y’all enough for all the love y’all have shown this space over this last month.
And the naysayers say we can’t come together as a people…
Notes Highlights
Last week
pointed out something in the comments that I didn’t realize and I wanted to be more intentional this week about the Notes section of our Black Reads. Ciara said “Substack is starting to say that Notes is what will help us get found on the platform”, and she’s right! shared how she uses her Notes like a Twitter feed to allow the audience to connect on a more personal level in our Writers’ Circle session that we host on the First Sunday of every month on Zoom.Black Reads
I want to keep this short and sweet because this week’s Black Reads is packed with plenty for you to read. I hope you got caught up in last week’s collection of Black Reads.
Thank you for how we all came together to like, comment, and share everyone’s post last week. Let’s keep this going!
R O L L C A L L ! ! !
BlackStack
with
Announce and reflect on a truth rarely proclaimed: everything Black women say is scripture. As Black women we smile, but when you hear our stories it’s hard to understand how we still do. We still smile because we have conditioned ourselves to smile through the pain. The more we admit we are tired that smile starts to fade away.
Week 4: Sunday Service Announcements
Black people, come on into this house of the Lord and give God some praise! I want you to stand on your feet right now, lift your hands, and tell the Lord “Thank You” for getting you through another …
Black Girl in Healthcare
with
Black Girl in Healthcare is a newsletter about reflections on navigating, racism, sexism, wellness, and lessons learned from the lens of a Black woman physician.
Musings From A Broken Heart
with
I muse about the world, softness, gentle masculinity, God, rest, and nerdy science fiction.
Shareece’s Philosophy
with
What does accountability look like for public figures?
this.
with
Enjoy this beautifully stitched essayette quilt woven together about Camille’s experiences with being in nature to escape her case of Black Girl Boredom.
The Good Unlocked
with
I launched on May 30 with a mission to inspire more good in the world. I’m sharing reflections, inspiring stories, and thought-provoking ideas alongside occasional interviews with people who I think are changing the world. 💫💛
SHINE BRIGHT HQ
with
Step your music game up with Danyel’s 7-step program to change your musical life. Personally, I loveeeee jazz music so this read is a must for me!
Redefining Freedom
with
I share my journey on how I’m redefining freedom on my terms and in real time. I share about my divorce, mothering, dating and my self discovery journey.
SNOBHOP
with
Recently, New Balance, announced that 2023 was a year of record profits for them, and their name in streetwear/sneaker culture has been a mainstay for the past two years (at least). The same can be said for Crocs as well. Both brands are have pushed into culture in a way that few can.
The reason for each brand's rise in culture? Two Black Creative Directors who brought their POV to classic silhouettes and have effectively changed the sneaker world forever.
This piece is about those two gent's: Joe Freshgoods & Salehe Bembury. If you're wondering who's behind some of the coolest New Balance shoes and Crocs dropping out there, then give this piece a read!
The House We Live In
with
It’s just my ravings about daily life, aspirations, my parents, my shortcomings. introspective, fun, real, sometimes funny if you read it that way :)
Healing While Oppressed
with
Someone tried to assassinate Trump…
I’ll be writing a piece about how Black & Brown folks feel about the Trump assassination attempt
Because… bffr Amerikkka 🇺🇸
Story ARC
with
I create Rap Fiction.
Holistic and Spiritual AF
with
I write about my personal experience of healing generational trauma and the road to empowerment. I’m passionate about my connection to my ancestors and energy healing and I share my WHY through storytelling.
The Pleasure Creative
with
Hey there! I’m Chelsea. My Substack is called The Pleasure Creative. It’s my outlet to reconnect to as a creative and pleasure. You can expect musings about this reconnection journey, poems I have kept in old journals (some may be behind a paywall), inspiration I find in my everyday life, and more.
Rudegal Tab Rants
with
I occasionally call out Caucasity Audacities, social depravities, and dabble in musicalities — when I’m not droppin Mathematiks on Psychology n Metaphysicalities.
Thought Process
with
Hi! I’m Kayla Noel Johnson, the mind behind Thought Process, a newsletter exploring streams of consciousness, notions of radical self-care and methodologies of connection.
The Creative Playground with Nyasha Williams
with
I created Ancestor Money in reimagining the dollar. I have shared some of the story here on my Stubstack for those who may be interested.
Breaking Free for Healing Ascension
with
I'm behind on the uptake because cancer season has me resting more this month. Not sure if I would label myself a writer, but I'm Black naturopathic doctor (ND) and I like to write when I feel inspired. My writing and videos center around decolonizing our relationship with health and healing. I also incorporate tarot as a divinatory tool for collective wellness messages. If it's your vibe, please support! If it's not your vibe, still check it out, you never know what you might learn 😉
Here's a recent article on adrenal health:
THE BLK PRSPCTV: Where Black Creativity Takes Center Stage
with
Wait! Can people who were already featured be featured again?
If so…
Here is a sort of freeform writing on Atlanta’s goofy episode inspired by Alex Lewis's piece “A Study in Showing Up”
This episode should be dissected and studied 🫶🏽. It’s a masterpiece and a testament to Donald Glover and his team’s creative abilities.
soft awakenings
with
Some musings on our current state of affairs as far as job security is concerned. We’re not living in the world we were raised for, and we’re tired & fed up ✨
The Original Baddie
with
I can’t miss a Roll Call!! Tems’ music has hit me in my soul this year, I am using her tracks for a series called Life Soundtrack and interpreting her songs through the lens of my own story.
things i collected
with
i listen to A LOT of music and i love sharing the discoveries i make with other people! in this newsletter, i recap my favorite albums, EPs, and songs of 2024 (so far).
Imani’s Substack
with
A romantic poem about labor <3
Sun Talking
with
I had a lot of thoughts on how people observe and learn from others and how that differs when it’s a peer and a celebrity. It’s a mix of poetry and prose, and I somehow manage to touch on Beyoncé, political deradicalization, Van Jones, and my favorite movies.
Tifanei’s Tales
with
A tale about an awakening in New Orleans, Louisiana. A love note to a sensual city.
I Barely Remember Yesterday’s Poems
with
a short piece which contemplates the tendency to want to chategorise and define ourselves and in doing so reducing ourselves to minuscule pets of our identity
Acts of Penance
with
An essay on the recent rap beef? On black men? On capitalism? On emotion? perhaps? 👀
The Introspective Black Girl
with
The Introspective Black Girl is a weekly newsletter discussing the the link between the unique experiences of black women and girls and their mental and emotional health 🤎 for the first newsletter I discussed how sexualization at an early age played a big part in the foundation of my self-esteem!
Ason Thinks
with
“There is so much more to being Black in America than poverty. And even for those who are in it, there is love and community that is being overlooked and ignored because of our infatuation with material luxuries. We’ve been taught to value what we don’t have over the things we do.”
Her Whole Truth
with
A black girl tackling shame and facing her debt head-on.
Chronicles of Change
with
Every Friday I drop a newsletter titled, Hood Therapy. It’s a nostalgic collection of Blackness and my raw opinions and observations about the cultural conditioning within our community. It’s a whole lotta hood shit with some balanced baddie inspiration to make a nigga wanna change their life.
I’m honored and humbled to be in the company of so many beautiful, incredibly inspiring creators. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jacquie for creating this space for us. 💛💫
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve been trying to figure out where are all of my fellow Black writers on this platform. Your Substack has given me a wealth of new folks to follow and subscribe to. Feels like a sliver of home. Thank you ❤️