Black Reads: Issue 003
What did the newsboy on the bikes used to yell? "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"
Reporting to you LIVE from BlackStack we have all the fresh, hottest, and recent reads curated in this beautiful collection of Black storytimes to take your mind away from THE NEWS flooding your timelines even here on Substack.
As Black people, it’s time to change our perspective of the downfall of America. With all due respect when I say this but, ain’t that shit owed to us?
Let it burn so we can rebuild our land on a new foundation. Don’t let this political entertainment affect your mental health. If you participate in the future division of America know that we support you, but I ask you to take care of yourself and nurture your emotions. Don’t suppress them, allow them to flow freely. And for those who share a perspective on rebuilding our land once the reset button is set, it’s time to get to work!
At the end of the day, there is space for us both here in BlackStack. Feel free to start a chat thread and share your thoughts and ideas with the ones in this community that resonate, but we are not dividing here.
Both sides are needed, our political cousins we need y’all handling the political stuff and keeping us in the loop, and for us feeling the need to get back to our roots I’m working on some urban homestead content for us to get these draft fruit trees planted and how to feed a community off the rooftop of a building downtown.
We all have a part to play right now so we need to stick together without forcing our perspective on each other.
Thank you for attending my little Ted Talk!
Notes Highlights
Now back to the programmed stroll session.
Enjoy!
Black Reads
On Monday I had a meet & greet with the BlackStack admin team and we shared some of our walk-out songs as an icebreaker. I noticed many of us are on a personal journey to make it happen for ourselves. Insert whatever your “it” might be at the current moment.
The energy feels as if we know we are meant to do something huge and we also understand that our environment has been sleeping on us. And although they may be asleep we are awake to our potential and choosing to go after it.
I curated this newsletter because every time we post publish on a piece that we write that is a timestamp of us showing up for ourselves. We share our stories unapologetically while being open and vulnerable to being picked apart as we are conditioned to experience as a response. However, here on this platform, we are received with warm welcomes and support with compassion.
Black Reads is for us to have a reason to continue to show up. We pour our hearts out in our pieces and face our fears by pushing the publish button, sometimes for only 1 or 2 likes. It’s encouraged not to focus on numbers, that’s the world we live in. Now we have a space to find writers who share an experience from a perspective we all share.
We all win when we engage on each other’s publication pages. This week the call to action is for you to read at least 3 new publication pages, and engage with the post. Restack the post and tag
and let’s report back in the comments on how much our accounts grew over the next week!BlackStack
with
andWe need Black writers for the August Sunday Service Announcements newsletter, that is all, that is the post.
Dr Mary Marshall’s Collection
with Paid Subscriber,
African/African American/Family History, via family archive 1870-2014 including 100 year+ Black newspaper that can be read online.
Note from Jacquie: We have our very own African American Historian in the community as a paid subscriber. Dr. Mary’s work is in the Rose Library in Atlanta, Georgia. If you are interested here are a couple of links for you to learn more about why we put respect on
in this community.https://archives.libraries.emory.edu/repositories/7/resources/3057
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/geusc_706g1jwvvm-cor_443nvx0nfq-cor
Solarah Speaks
with
Hi all!
I write daily on my Substack….exploring themes of trauma, healing, ascension, health, tarot, and the planetary energies we are facing. I tackle topics that many don’t like to dive into in the same way. This is my “Sunrise Salutation” post from yesterday. I also have two YouTube channels - one where I do full and new moon Tarotstrology ascension reports (Solarah Rises), and another where I do readings/teachings (Solarah Speaks). I am UK-based 🩵✨
Four Corners Astrology
with
Hi y’all!
I’m a Hoodoo, astroherbalist, and fiber artist and in my latest, I talked about how Joyce J. Scott’s joyful creativity confronted how shame gets in the way of our pleasure and how we can use the energy of the current cosmic climate to work through that shame, too.
Jump at da Sun
with
Hi, I am a former Teacher and English Lit nerd. I started Jump at da Sun to build a community focused on wellness, slow living, and personal development. The name of my Substack, Jump at da Sun, was inspired by one of my favorite writers, Zora Neale Hurston. This is one of my favorite newsletters to date. I share the writers whose words helped me through a difficult time. I was dealing with burnout, lack of confidence, and feelings of unworthiness, among other things. This post is helpful for anyone who is human. It’s called “ Healing Through Words.”
Imani’s Substack
with
My first essay on Substack is about lesbian love, redemption arcs, and politics! It’s an analysis of The Color Purple & The Fire Next Time.
Karen Wesley Writes
with Paid Subscriber,
As black women, we can get lost in the roles we play for our families. In this post I share affirmations and explore writing as my anchor during these dark times. Being involved in writing communities and with authentic friendships helps sustain us in our writing practice.
The Original Baddie
with Founding Member,
The name "The Original Baddie" holds a deeply personal origin story that speaks to the impact we have on others without even realizing it.
Notes from Erin
with
Hi everyone!
I'm Erin and I write a newsletter on substack about books, music and everything in between. Here's my latest edition!
Black Women Get to Be
with
Sup everyone!
I recently published a post about how learning the truth about a situation left me stunned yet clear-eyed all in one breath.
A Dope Black Girl With Anxiety
with
Welcome to Real Blerd Girl Ish a curation of vibes from the blerd and tech culture that provides the nostalgic feel of old-school Tumblr. This is my 2nd publication and was created to not only reconnect with hobbies & interests that we sometimes let go of when we start adulting - but provide a space for my neuro blerd girls in tech spaces. First post went live!
Inner Immigrant
with
Hey 👋🏾 everyone, Travis here.
I write personal narrative poetry and storytelling. Lately I’ve been entrenched in writing ✍🏾 our histories through elements in nature (see “Slow Things Down a Breath”). Inner Immigrant is a 40 poem anthology from 2016 - 2019. Poems and stories of travel, identity, love and rediscovery through slowing life down. I’m working to print this year. I’ve recently been reflecting a lot on being back in the US after 3 years abroad. It’s been 1 year back, was in Miami. I’m in the South visiting family where my grandmother is from, in nature a lot. It’s grounding. (Read “Drive”)
Always down to collaborate. Any Augusta area writers? ✍🏾
ElDaCreatriX
with
This post is a tribute to my repressed emotions Airing them out So I can finally breathe 🦋
Head In The Clouds
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Hi, I’m Davika and I’m new to Substack.
I am a born and raised Bermudian where I still reside. I write poetry, short essays, and I am also a visual artist. This is the first post I wrote which is a short analysis and critique of how black Bermudians relate to other Caribbean people.
O•U•R Story
with
Hello To My Cousins, Sistas, & Aunties 👋🏾
Finally Wrote My Piece On The Olympics For The Culture ✊🏾
Drea’s Sunflower Seeds
with
I am Dreathesunflowerpoet and really just love to share my art of poetry and being an author through storytelling and life experiences....
Thank you BlackStack for the opportunity!
A Million for My Thoughts
with
Hello, everyone!
I’m Jamiya and one of my most recent pieces is about my hair and the connection to myself all while taking inspiration from Solange’s “Don’t Touch My Hair”.
Thank you for the chance to share! ❤️
The “El” Word
with
Hey everyone! I’m trying so hard to be on my Substack more and build a community. I just started last month and have another post coming out this month. My name is Kahina and I am a love and relationships writer! I have written for XoNecole, Carefree, any other online publications. My blog is about all things dating and relationships in the city of Chicago, but the topics I explore will be relatable to anyone, anywhere. While I love to write personal essays, I’ve written so many over the years as a staff contributor for Yandy Smith’s EGL magazine that I feel more compelled now to get back into my 1st love–journalism. I love to tell stories to encourage & inspire others to think and converse. 🤎
Here’s my 1st post…
Please check it out, subscribe, & enjoy! 😊 🫶🏾
The Coldest Truth
with
Hi!
I’m sharing my latest post on the importance of Jill Scott’s first album Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Volume 1. The piece underscores why this album is still influential and how music can bring us back to the best parts of ourselves.
El Viaje Within
with
Hi everyone!
I’m Jasmine! My blog and platform El Viaje Within is an ongoing conversation with my beloved grandma who passed away in 2021. I started writing to her a year before she passed. I’m excited for my letters to one day become a book. Here’s a post I wrote about taking my mom on her first international trip in 2022 and how travel can heal generational wounds and stories.
things i collected
with
“ladies leave yo man at home! the club is full of ballers and they pockets full grown.”
Tiffscribes
with
My weekly collective readings tap into general themes for the upcoming week, while my daily oracle readings tap into general themes for that day. As they are collective readings, they will not resonate with everyone; if it don't apply, let it fly. 🤓
Private readings are available upon request.
Tifanei’s Tales
with
Hot off the press:
A piece about creating the life you desire as an art form, with a tale about an election and secret white meetings to get me expelled from law school.
A Random Offloading of Moments
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Hey hey!
Just finished up one of my new letters… take a gander. My mom always said if you get on your soapbox, have something to say. You can either read or listen…as long as you enjoy!
Creators Getting Paid
with
This is amazing. Thank you for curating this content.
Here’s my most recent post. I’m almost at 2,000 subscribers some thoughts.
Wannabe Vampire
with
Bit of a dark poem!
But if that’s your vibe feel free to dive into Vampire Wannabe 🧛🏼♀️
Holistic & Spiritual AF
with
A story about a journey to unapologetic living and self-love. ❤️
The Good Unlocked
with
Cake & Coffee brings together brilliant thinkers, leaders, and change-makers from diverse corners of the globe who are actively shaping the future. In this newsletter, I interviewed Brittany Bygrave, the visionary founder behind the BUTTER'D Bodycare brand creating non-toxic, eco-friendly products for melanated skin that change the way we live through beauty. I also share a summer peach and blueberry galette recipe to sweeten your day. Grab a slice, pour a cup, and join the conversation!
The House We Live In
with
Hey everyone!!
I’ve been trying to chronicle how I became a playwright for the last…three years and it’s way harder than I thought. If any of you are playwrights and share that sentiment, I’d love it if you have this a read :)
Lookinthemirah
with
Hey yall!👋🏾
***just a warning this piece does mention emotional, physical, and sexual abuse***
My weekly Wednesday post just went live and its main focus is on abuse. Unfortunately, we live in a world where 9 times out of 10 when a Black woman is abused in any way, the validity is questioned. This is the same Black woman whose rate of being abused within her lifetime is disproportionately higher than any of race, over 40% more. We’ve seen with Megan Thee Stallion, Cassie, lots of other celebs, and even possibly women within our own families and friend groups feel silenced and fearful or choose to speak out against the violence they have endured, only to be dismissed, or handed questions like, “Well, what did she do to him?” Or “No, he couldn’t have done that.” This piece was fueled by a mix of frustration and hope that people would be taken off pedestals and looked at as real human beings, very capable of harming others.
Chronicles of Change
with
I started packaging presell book orders and kept a book that was imperfect for me to experience my book, UN-TRAP DA HOOD, in physical form, I am the person who makes notes and highlights in my books when I have those ah-ha moments.
I read the pages of my book amazed at how my words resonate with the current theme within the BlackStack theme in the chat this week about Black culture. I learned about the expansiveness of Black culture and how the American version is the one we might be grieving because it’s lost its original morals.
I discovered this space feels at home because we know this is where we can share our Blackness in all its uniqueness freely and unapologetically.
Be on the lookout for the ROLL-CALL chat thread to share your publications for next week’s Black Reads.
 | A guest post by
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We are a whole moment!! So great to see this compilation.
I love these! A great way to catch up and see what everyone has been working on! 🫶🏾