Remove the material aspects and hip-hop now tell me how you define Black culture. Without mentioning oppression share your Black experience. This Sunday Service we are going to set ourselves free!
Just finished reading and wow I just want to share so many parts. The way you wrote about your father Badiana, I could see him. It made me tear up. This is healing.
Share all the parts Iman!!! This is your moment and we want as many eyes on this as possible to celebrate your words and work.
Thank you for writing this week and I loved being able to write alongside you.
Omg, my Dad is one of my best friends til this day. I feel like this country would have broken me if I didn’t have his particular brand of love raising me.
I didn’t realize how much I focused on him til your comment. Thank you 🙏🏾
My dad passed when I was 16 so whenever there are dad and daughter moments in a piece, I definitely hold them in my heart to revisit when the grief is hard. so beautiful!
I am not even going to pretend I can relate to that grief because clearly I can’t. But know parts of me understands the complexity of grief and it’s never ending presence when it happens to you in your formative years and with a parent.
Holding you in my heart for sharing that with me and being able to use my words as a salve for your grief in this moment in time.
I agree, this week was special for me in many ways. Thank you for stepping in at the last minute to help and for all the other amazing ways you’ve supported me this week! 🖤
About Black culture... I think it's our body language. I can speak a thousand words with a nod that only Black folx can hear. We can be the only pepper in the salt and find comfort in each others acknowledgment from across a room.
Wait this one is good! This is so true! And the way you worded it is so damn good! I am responding with my face frowned up like something stinks but it’s because that read so beautifully and poetic!
Always so good and right on time...Jacquie I have been really struggling on my entrepreneurial journey and with living the life I have envisioned and the courage to step into that. So inspiring! I stay grateful for this group <3
Ah, Shanel! I understand that so much! @Amirah Jones wrote a piece that speaks to this so much about the entrepreneurial journey itself. I am grateful the words resonated with you and could spark some inspiration that is always a plus in my eyes!
Iman, I'm still pissed at Brian McKnight. "Never Felt this Way" was our wedding song. I bought all of his music and saw him in concert twice. I unfollowed him on social media when I found out about how he treated his sons and started flaunting his new wife in our faces.
Badiana, You painted a perfect picture with your words. I was in that kitchen with you, smelling all of the smells, hearing the sounds of music and feeling the love between you and your father.
Jacquie -You inspire me to keep chasing my dreams. You make me want to pack my bags and buy a one-way ticket to California. I am actually buying a one-way ticket to come out there in August. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to return, but I must. My mother is here with me in Texas. I have to return eventually to resume her care. I wish I could put her in my suitcase and drop her off to my brother's house in Orange County. It's your turn bro!
Finding your own way is hard but I think that’s the path that many of us are on. I don’t necessarily think the culture is gone per say. I think like with everything since Covid, we are all questioning what the culture’s messaging is rooted in. And most of it ties to colonialism and not loving ourselves exactly as we are.
Like in @Iman’s piece - the music we grew up on that we loved, some of these lyrics are horrifically deprecating black women and we were just so hype on those beats to fully comprehend the lyrical messaging we were ingesting into our minds and spirit.
The church as much as it was part of my upbringing, religion and using religion as a weapon of hatred and oppression started the slave trade to begin with
We are at a time where we have to question the narratives around our culture and only subscribe to the ones that make us love ourselves deeper not fuel the pain and suffering and story line that we are less than BECAUSE THAT IS THE OPPOSITE of the truth. We are greatness and everyone knows a bully always goes after a person they are most threatened by so they bully them to keep them small and weakened.
Long story short Lynelle, I hear you and feel you and support your process through these words and whatever else way that is empowering
hahha the old-school Steve is a core memory in my foundation so this one was a must!
I appreciate you taking the time to share this detailed comment and I agree SSA always makes me have to come back throughout the week to get a refresher from new perspectives cause it’s so good.
Black people know how to tell a story!
Without music, I can see the damage, even within my own experience. When I don’t play music I don’t have the best days compared to when I do. There is healing in our music and there is healing in fellowship, and this wave of cultural experiences finds no value in either.
Maybe COVID had a bigger impact on the culture than we think. Or maybe mainstream music successfully drained us and now we must recover. Whatever the root or combination there is the effects are upon us and we can’t continue to pretend as if it’s not.
*I can’t lie when I saw The Hype Hair cover I got so excited for this one!
Oh and the Hype Hair!!! Lordt, my fave part was the fact it was a short hair cover because we were growing up in the wave where this whole obsession with long hair was starting to get questioned and they were highlighting main stream celebs rocking their short cuts like Jada etc and I remember being amped up to see short hair get popular
I know exactly what you mean, and I agree music today is not talking about shit. I will have to listen to Miles but I have found myself playing old-school more than anything or when I need to zone out I will play some lo-fi music. But yeah the older I get the more I appreciate silence lol.
I have been a fan of jazz since middle school. My dad introduced me to it, playing it loudly through the house as he sang, sounding like Nat King Cole. In L.A. we had a radio station K-ACE who had the Quiet Storm on Saturday nights. Then later we had 94.7 the wave. While my friends were listening to rap, I was listening to jazz. They looked at me sideways. I didn't care. As an adult finally having an ADHD diagnosis, I realize why jazz played to my soul. I needed to be soothed from the noise of the world.
I know what you mean. I am definitely an Auntie now. Literally and figuratively 😂🤣. Got a little beauty calling me Auntie and I’m in my 30s at Auntie age.
Just finished reading and wow I just want to share so many parts. The way you wrote about your father Badiana, I could see him. It made me tear up. This is healing.
Share all the parts Iman!!! This is your moment and we want as many eyes on this as possible to celebrate your words and work.
Thank you for writing this week and I loved being able to write alongside you.
Omg, my Dad is one of my best friends til this day. I feel like this country would have broken me if I didn’t have his particular brand of love raising me.
I didn’t realize how much I focused on him til your comment. Thank you 🙏🏾
My dad passed when I was 16 so whenever there are dad and daughter moments in a piece, I definitely hold them in my heart to revisit when the grief is hard. so beautiful!
I am not even going to pretend I can relate to that grief because clearly I can’t. But know parts of me understands the complexity of grief and it’s never ending presence when it happens to you in your formative years and with a parent.
Holding you in my heart for sharing that with me and being able to use my words as a salve for your grief in this moment in time.
I appreciate you.
The intentionality and follow through is so beautiful this week! Amen Amen Amen 🙏🏾
I agree, this week was special for me in many ways. Thank you for stepping in at the last minute to help and for all the other amazing ways you’ve supported me this week! 🖤
About Black culture... I think it's our body language. I can speak a thousand words with a nod that only Black folx can hear. We can be the only pepper in the salt and find comfort in each others acknowledgment from across a room.
Wait this one is good! This is so true! And the way you worded it is so damn good! I am responding with my face frowned up like something stinks but it’s because that read so beautifully and poetic!
Talk about a look 👀👀👀
https://youtu.be/yFYioNf7y9E?si=c_QGgSzKoCtg7h4f
This was interesting I want to watch the full thing but that beginning had me hooked lol.
It must be true cuz you know exactly what I mean 😜
It must be a gift from our ancestors. The ability to speak without words.
Yaaasssssss that nod is EVERYTHING ALL IN ONE SILENT GESTURE.
Always so good and right on time...Jacquie I have been really struggling on my entrepreneurial journey and with living the life I have envisioned and the courage to step into that. So inspiring! I stay grateful for this group <3
Ah, Shanel! I understand that so much! @Amirah Jones wrote a piece that speaks to this so much about the entrepreneurial journey itself. I am grateful the words resonated with you and could spark some inspiration that is always a plus in my eyes!
amen and amen. SSA is my favorite part of the week.
The prayer 😭 needed that
Thanks for this! I shared this week's service announcement with my 'Black is Beautiful' group chat.
Aw! Thank you for that! I appreciate that so much! Whenever you want to write feel free to let me know!
BABY. Iman's section?! i have so many thoughts and feelings, but all i can do is wave my hands. 🙌🏾
Talk about it!!! She did her thing!
Ladies! You did it again.
Iman, I'm still pissed at Brian McKnight. "Never Felt this Way" was our wedding song. I bought all of his music and saw him in concert twice. I unfollowed him on social media when I found out about how he treated his sons and started flaunting his new wife in our faces.
Badiana, You painted a perfect picture with your words. I was in that kitchen with you, smelling all of the smells, hearing the sounds of music and feeling the love between you and your father.
Jacquie -You inspire me to keep chasing my dreams. You make me want to pack my bags and buy a one-way ticket to California. I am actually buying a one-way ticket to come out there in August. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to return, but I must. My mother is here with me in Texas. I have to return eventually to resume her care. I wish I could put her in my suitcase and drop her off to my brother's house in Orange County. It's your turn bro!
Finding your own way is hard but I think that’s the path that many of us are on. I don’t necessarily think the culture is gone per say. I think like with everything since Covid, we are all questioning what the culture’s messaging is rooted in. And most of it ties to colonialism and not loving ourselves exactly as we are.
Like in @Iman’s piece - the music we grew up on that we loved, some of these lyrics are horrifically deprecating black women and we were just so hype on those beats to fully comprehend the lyrical messaging we were ingesting into our minds and spirit.
The church as much as it was part of my upbringing, religion and using religion as a weapon of hatred and oppression started the slave trade to begin with
We are at a time where we have to question the narratives around our culture and only subscribe to the ones that make us love ourselves deeper not fuel the pain and suffering and story line that we are less than BECAUSE THAT IS THE OPPOSITE of the truth. We are greatness and everyone knows a bully always goes after a person they are most threatened by so they bully them to keep them small and weakened.
Long story short Lynelle, I hear you and feel you and support your process through these words and whatever else way that is empowering
hahha the old-school Steve is a core memory in my foundation so this one was a must!
I appreciate you taking the time to share this detailed comment and I agree SSA always makes me have to come back throughout the week to get a refresher from new perspectives cause it’s so good.
Black people know how to tell a story!
Without music, I can see the damage, even within my own experience. When I don’t play music I don’t have the best days compared to when I do. There is healing in our music and there is healing in fellowship, and this wave of cultural experiences finds no value in either.
Maybe COVID had a bigger impact on the culture than we think. Or maybe mainstream music successfully drained us and now we must recover. Whatever the root or combination there is the effects are upon us and we can’t continue to pretend as if it’s not.
*I can’t lie when I saw The Hype Hair cover I got so excited for this one!
Oh and the Hype Hair!!! Lordt, my fave part was the fact it was a short hair cover because we were growing up in the wave where this whole obsession with long hair was starting to get questioned and they were highlighting main stream celebs rocking their short cuts like Jada etc and I remember being amped up to see short hair get popular
I know exactly what you mean, and I agree music today is not talking about shit. I will have to listen to Miles but I have found myself playing old-school more than anything or when I need to zone out I will play some lo-fi music. But yeah the older I get the more I appreciate silence lol.
We are really the old heads now. Rich Aunties forever!
I have been a fan of jazz since middle school. My dad introduced me to it, playing it loudly through the house as he sang, sounding like Nat King Cole. In L.A. we had a radio station K-ACE who had the Quiet Storm on Saturday nights. Then later we had 94.7 the wave. While my friends were listening to rap, I was listening to jazz. They looked at me sideways. I didn't care. As an adult finally having an ADHD diagnosis, I realize why jazz played to my soul. I needed to be soothed from the noise of the world.
I know what you mean. I am definitely an Auntie now. Literally and figuratively 😂🤣. Got a little beauty calling me Auntie and I’m in my 30s at Auntie age.