E'myri Crutchfield Cover Issue (Summer 2017)

Bae

ON THE COVER:

TOP: RIVER + SKY CALIFORNIA

EARRINGS: E’MYRI’S OWN

DRESS: MODCLOTH

SHOES: TARGET

fic tion

Hashtags.

It’s not about crime, Not about Black on Black crime. The stigma of intraracial crime, Doesn’t validate every time That Black people are executed in the streets

By the hate

That is rooted in the state.

346 mothers, Brothers, Fathers, Daughters, Killed in 2015.

At least 230 in 2016. Meanwhile, it’s only the 12th of October.

Time and time again, we think that it has been calmed And one day all of us

Will go home to our brother Our sister, Our father, Our mother, But then, It happens again and again.

SESI

Editor-In-Chief Andréa Butler

Art Director Shannon Boone

Contributing Writers:

Princess Gabbara

India Hill

Brianna Moné

Najja Parker

L’Oreal Thompson Payton

Sesimag.com Contributor:

Ayanna Thompson

Brand Partnerships/Advertising:

Kindra Bailey

Video Producer

Miaira Jennings

To subscribe, go to sesimag.com/subscribe. Hit us up at sesimag@gmail.com

editor’ s note

We’re back at it again, y’all! You are now holding in your hands our second-annual Natural Hair Love issue, this time featuring E’myri Crutchfield as our cover star — you know her as Kizzy from the 2016 remake of Roots. A fierce rocker of her God-given tresses from way back, E’myri embodies natural hair love, even calling her hair her “Black girl magic.”

The texture tribute continues all up and through this issue, and just so you know, we have absolutely no chill when it comes to celebrating all that is coily, curly, kinky, and a mix of all three. Take our “’Fros & Toes” spread, for example, which pairs your favorite natural hair ‘dos with some bomb pedicure designs. And then, there’s our wash-and-go guide — the only one you’ll ever need to get yours lookin’ right. We’ve even picked out some ka-yute graphic tees to help you express your natural hair love with your #ootd.

It’s not always easy to feel proud of your crown when girls who look like you are still legit being punished just for wearing braids, afro puffs, locs, and pretty much any other authentically Black hairstyle, especially when those same hair opponents praise others’ appropriations. Let this issue be your reminder that no matter how many times someone tries to shame your strands, your hair is gorgeous just the way it is. Your hair is culture, heritage, history, resistance, love, power, beauty, good.

I’d love to hear how you embrace yours, so holla at me at sesimag@gmail.com

Andréa Butler Editor-in-Chief sesimag@gmail.com @sesimag

photo credit: Jessica Gressa

Shout-Outs We Love hol la!

@KenAlexxx

I love Sesi. Absolutely love.

@careeseg

@nikkilajoy I love the magazine and will continue to support the company because it represents Black girls in such a good and positive light!

I love your magazine, what it stands for and what it PROMOTES!

BLACK TEEN GIRLS in the industry on the rise. This magazine has helped me to fully embrace my roots and gave me tips on how to maintain.

@daniigriffith

I am so impressed by your magazine. It makes me sooo happy to see magazine covers with a Black girl on it. Thank you for showing the representation that most magazines lack!

HOLLAATUS AndTellUsWhatYouThink!

#Ask

By: L’Oreal Thompson Payton

Q: There are so many gorgeous Black girls at my school with beautiful natural hair. I get kinda jealous because everyone is always around them and I’m still transitioning. I’ve asked my mom to let me cut out the relaxer (it’s not much now), but she keeps saying to wait until school is out. There’s also the makeup problem. I want to wear eyeliner, highlighter, and eye shadows, but she keeps saying no. I just feel so out of place and unimportant when I’m at school sometimes because of this. Please help.

-Kiersten, 14

Sesimag The struggle is real, but we got you.

A: Girl. Believe me when I say I feel you. When I was in fifth grade, the boys in my class passed around a sheet of paper with all the girls’ names listed on it, and next to the names was a ranking of sorts. My best friend at the time, who was light-skinned with “good hair,” had “pretty” next to her name, while my name was listed beside the word “ugly” — twice.

I went home that day and practically begged my mother to let me wear makeup and her response was a big, fat, “NOPE, not until you’re 16.” Basically, she wouldn’t let me be great.

For real, though, I know it’s hard when you can’t help but scroll across everyone looking #flawless on social media. Meanwhile, you’re still trying to get your transitioning strands to do right like the girls in the YouTube videos or convince your mom to be cool with you wearing at least lipstick. Just remember that you are fly just being you, no matter what. It’s who you are as a person that matters most. Cliché? Maybe a little. But #truth? All the way.

Try not to focus on what you don’t have or can’t rock quite yet, and definitely don’t let that keep you from chillin’ with your crew. They probably haven’t even noticed that you’re still transitioning or that you’re not wearing makeup, anyway. And if they’ve ever said anything to make you feel like you can’t kick it with them just because of that, tell ‘em, “girl, bye.” There are plenty of other friends you can make.

You can also see if your mom is willing to compromise. Perhaps she’ll be open to letting you wear protective styles while you transition; or, maybe you can ask her about letting you wear a little all-natural, mineral face powder for now to ease into the whole makeup thing. You could start by saying, “Mom, I appreciate that you think I’m beautiful the way I am, but if I could try these small things, it would help me feel more confident. Your opinion matters a lot to me, and I would love to get your input. And, of course, you have final approval rights.”

Who can argue with that? Remember your mom has your best interests at heart, plus she was also a teenager once. Chances are, she’s more open-minded than you think.

You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers! Tweet @sesimag using #AskSesimag for advice about school, friends, love, life — whatever! Or, e-mail sesimag@gmail.com!

& Big Hair

Because the

By: India Hill

two just go together.

voodoo (the latter being practiced in Louisiana) and explores the negative connotations people have of the religion.

Culture also comes into play through the dialogue. Blunt, fast, and sometimes graphic represents not only the way Donna, Chantal, and Princess speak, but also how they view their world. In contrast, Fabiola speaks with an accent, very carefully and calmly, switching between Creole and English.

A quick read, there’s just one thing I didn’t like — the ending. However, in the author’s note at the end of the novel, Zoboi explains why she ended things the way she did, and it makes sense. I just personally didn’t like how Fabiola’s attempt to mold herself and live life by “the rules of the game” played out. Still, this is definitely one to add to your book bucket list for the 1-7.

Thoughts on American Street by Ibi Zoboi

The magical, gritty, raw take on topics ranging from immigration to deportation to religion and even romance is everything in American Street .

In the first few pages, our protagonist Fabiola Toussaint and her mother leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti to live with Fabiola’s aunt and cousins in Detroit. Fabiola and her mother moved to Portau-Prince when Fabiola was just a baby, but the two were returning so that Fabiola’s mother could be closer to her sister. Things take a sharp turn, though, when Fabiola’s mom is detained upon their arrival in New York City, and Fabiola, being an American citizen, has to leave and start a new life in her birthplace of Detroit with her aunt and cousins Donna, Chantal, and Princess.

Weaving together the toughness of The D’s city streets with fantastical elements, Zoboi has given this story a sense of magical realism. Different from fantasy, the supernatural elements in this type of tale aren’t questioned. When Fabiola believes the mysterious homeless man on the corner is actually the vodou figure Papa Legba (a trickster god who is the gatekeeper of all roads, entrances, doors), for example, it doesn’t feel too out of the ordinary to her or to any of the other characters. Fabiola’s belief in iwas, or spirits, was what guided her decisions and gave her strength in the situation that was happening with her mother.

Faith is an important part of the story, and vodou — an official religion of Haiti — is what Fabiola practices devoutly, performing rituals and creating altars as offerings to spirits when she needs guidance and clarity. The novel also addresses the differences between vodou and

#BlackGirl Magic

Black Girls Golf

If the image of white men in khakis and polo shirts is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about golf, you’re not alone. According to the World Golf Foundation’s 2015 Golf Diversity & Inclusion Report , the game is 77 percent male and 80 percent white. But one woman is aiming to change all that.

Tiffany Mack Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of Black Girls Golf, a national nonprofit organiza tion, believes there should not be one place in this world where Black girls and women feel like they don’t belong, including out on the links.

“I’ve learned that when you want something, you go get it. That there may not be a place card to reserve your seat at the table,” she says. “Sometimes you have to pull up a chair and pull it up to the table for yourself.”

Since launching in Atlanta in 2011, Black Girls Golf has grown to nearly 3,000 members in 33 states and Canada. “I started playing golf early in my professional career — a little more than 20 years ago. I learned to play because I understood the golf course was the second boardroom. It was the place where the ‘meeting after the meeting’ was happening,” says Fitzgerald. “I wanted to have access to industry influencers and decision makers who could advance my career and my professional goals.”

In addition to hosting golf classes and clinics, BGG also prepares girls and women for success off the course. “When you play golf, you learn confidence, mental endurance, strategic thinking, goal setting, integrity, and focus,” Fitzgerald says. “When little Black girls understand the power that lives inside, that is when they discover their own magic.”

With Black women golfers accounting for a small percentage of participants in the Ladies Professional Golf Association, or LPGA, diversity and inclusion remains a top priority for Fitzgerald’s organization. “I want Black Girls Golf to become a household name that is associated with opportunity and education in the industry. It is my hope that little girls who look like me can one day dream of having a future work ing in golf in some capacity.”

By L’Oreal Thompson Payton

Photos courtesy of Black Girls Golf

beau ty Lock

Options

Black hair is versatile hair. Flip through the next several pages for all the possibilities on how to keep your fringe fleeky, fly, and straight up flawless.

beau ty Gym Hair, Don’t Care

By Andréa Butler

Rock Them Rows

Rows don’t just work well for strength training — when worn on your head (cornrows, obvi), they’re also the perfect fit for your gym routine. Plait those strands, and you’ll have hair that stays slayed through all the reps and sets.

You’re looking to sweat your way to a healthier body, not sweat away your style. Try one of these looks (that goes beyond the basic bun) to #werk as you work out.

Photo credit: Chelsea Victoria/Stocksy United

Twist Ups

Add a touch of texture to your tresses and keep hair out of your face with a twisted “faux locs” updo like this one. First, pick up a pack of Marley hair to have on hand. Next, part your hair into six to eight sections, and braid or two-strand twist each of them. Then, wrap some Marley hair around one braided or twisted section at a time, so that it resembles a dreadlock. Burn the ends to secure, pin up the locs, and be out.

Big Chop

When you just can’t with transitioning anymore, make that post-workout wash day routine the easiest it can be with a big chop. As bold as those new exercise moves you’re making, this ‘do will allow you to go hard in the gym without wrecking your hair.

Style Spotter

No time to cop one of the looks above? Want to keep your blowout sleek for a few days longer? Try the GymWrap. Founded by Nicole Ari Parker in 2011, this ka-yute headband wicks away moisture from your hair and helps prevent sweat from getting into your eyes. ($20-$25, thegymwrap.com)

beau ty ‘Fros & Toes

Being a part of the #teamnatural squad doesn’t only have to be about rockin’ an amazing twist-out. Express your love for all things curly, kinky, and coily with some dope nail art, too — and show off your #BlackGirlMagic from your head to your feet.

By Najja Parker

Double Trouble

Why choose one puff when you can have twice the fun? Coupled with a perfectly paired pedi, you can’t help but slay the game.

FIRST Paint your nails a lavender shade (like Essie’s Play Date).

NEXT Dunk your dotting tool in black lacquer, and make one big circle followed by two smaller circles right on top of the first one.

THEN Set the design with a top coat.

Photographed by Aspen Cierra

Makeup and Hair by Najaè Areion

Models: Naomi Glay , Navana Brown, and Simone Howard

Taking Sides

Want to give your regular updo an upgrade? Just like a brushed-out side pony, this nail art should give you the edge you’re looking for.

FIRST

Kick things off by coating your toenails with orange polish (we’re feelin’ Covergirl’s XL Nail Gel in Overblown Orange).

NEXT

With a light blue color (try Dreamer by Revlon), make a thick, slanted line at the top left corner of your nail.

THEN

Plunge your striper into a deep brown lacquer (like Dark Coffee by Milani), and use it to form a curly brown strand where the blue and orange colors meet.

Center of Attention

A definite head-turner, the ‘frohawk takes funky to the next level. Keep those OMG moments coming by tricking out your toes with a bomb look like this one.

FIRST

Apply a sunny yellow polish to your nails (try Sally Hansen’s Xtreme Wear in Mellow Yellow).

NEXT

With your dotting tool coated in a turquoise shade (like Essie’s Naughty Nautical), create two rows of dots in the middle of your nail.

THEN

When everything’s completely dry, finalize the look with a layer of top coat.

Dotting tool M.I.A.? Use the end of a bobby pin, instead. In need of a striper? Just snip some bristles off an old nail polish brush to thin it out. Clean up any messes with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.

Classic Coif

You can never go wrong with a biggerthan-life ‘fro. Represent with your hair out and your pedicured toes designed to match.

FIRST

Start by applying a fun, pink polish (like Sally Hansen’s Triple Shine nail color in Reef-Raf) to each of your nails.

NEXT

Grab your dotting tool, and using a gold polish (try Severine from Zoya), make an oval for the shape of a face.

THEN

Wipe away the gold polish from the dotting tool, and dip it in black lacquer (we like Black on Black by Sinful Colors) to form big dots around the face for the Afro.

Victoria T. Davis, founder of ClassyCurlies.com, is comin’ through with all you need to know to rock the perfect wash-and-go for your texture — whether it’s 4b, 3a, or a little bit of everything.

BeforeYouDoAnything…

By Princess Gabbara

CURLY-COILY (AKA 3a/3b/3c)

Product Prep

beau ty Where My Curls At?

After washing, squeeze extra water from your strands, and split damp hair into two sections down the middle, securing each section with a hair clip. “You want to be able to cover each strand with product, and that’s difficult to do when trying to tackle your entire head at once,” says Davis.

Cue Curls

Even coverage is the key to poppin’ ringlets and coils. Use your fingers or a Denman brush to rake the product — from ends to roots — into the different sections of your hair. “Your ends are the most delicate part of your hair because [they are] the oldest,” says Davis. “You want to give this part lots of moisture, which is why you want to start applying products there first.”

The Goods:

A light styler or gel is the best option for coaxing curls of this type, says Davis. Opt to use the diffuser attachment on your blow dryer or air dry. If air drying, don’t touch again after styling until hair is totally dry.

Ouidad

Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo, $18, ouidad.com

Curly Hair Solutions

Curl Keeper Styling Cream, $19, frizzoff.com

StartFresh Forthebestresults,beginyour wash-and-goprocessonfreshly shampooedorco-washedhair, andfollowthatupwithconditioner.“Itwouldbebesttostick withonehaircarebrandwhen washingandstylingyourwashand-go,assomeproductsdo notmixwellwithotherhaircare lines,”saysDavis.

photo credit: kkgas/Stocksy United, Product photos courtesy of brands

COILY-KINKY (AKA 4a/4b/4c)

Product Prep

Wring excess water from your hair. Then, divide damp hair into four sections — two in front and two in back — and secure each section with a hair clip. Do not attempt to detangle using fingers or any styling tools, as this can disrupt your curl pattern.

Cue Curls

Coat each section with a generous amount of your favorite styling product, and on top of that, apply a light oil to lock in the moisture. Remember to start your application with the ends of your hair and work your way up to the roots, doing so in a downward motion. “Applying product in a downward motion is the natural direction your hair grows. Following that pattern will give you a sleeker look and not cause frizz,” says Davis. Don’t touch your hair once you’re done styling until it has completely air dried.

The Goods:

Madam C.J. Walker

Beauty Culture

Coconut & Moringa Oils Curl Conditioner, $24, sephora.com

EDEN Bodyworks

Coconut Shea Natural Curl Defining Creme, $9, edenbodyworks.com

Honey Baby Naturals

Honeychild Moisture Shampoo, $13, honeybabynaturals.com

DevaCurl

Ultra Defining Gel, $22 for 12 oz., devacurl.com

photo credit: Squaredpixels/istockphoto.com, Product photos courtesy of brandsw

fash ion All Tee, All Slay

Fierce hair calls for fierce fashion — even when you’re all the way in chill mode. Rep the love you have for your natural coif, and add a little #turnup to your dress down.

By Andréa Butler

Photo credit: Guille Faingold/Stocksy United

summertime plans may call for a gang of Netflix binges, but your life goals are #boss. Unapologetically enjoy your school break, and you’ll be recharged and ready to rock come fall.

SHIRT, Dear Naturalista, $30, dearnaturalista.com

SLIPPERS, Pretty You London, $20, target.com

JEANS, BP., $59, nordstrom.com

CELL PHONE CASE Casetify, $40, casetify.com

Fête with Friends

Girl’s night out? That hair’s gotta be on point. And just in case getting to flawless makes you a few minutes late, request forgiveness out the gate with this too-true tee.

SHIRT, Kinky Chicks, $23, kinkychicks. bigcartel.com

SHORTS, River Island, $50, riverisland.com

BAG, ASOS, $29, asos.com

SHOES, Chinese Laundry, $50, chineselaundry.com

Photos courtesy of brands

Izzy & Liv, $30, izzyandliv.com

SHORTS, American Eagle Outfitters, $50, ae.com

SUNGLASSES, Sole Society, $25, solesociety.com

SHOES, Converse, $100, converse.com

FANNY PACK

ASOS, $24, asos.com

021 www.sesimag.com

Photos courtesy of brands

Sensationally Nappy, $20, sensationallynappy.com

SHOES, H&M, $30, hm.com

Photos courtesy of brands

love, etc. Beach Bae

Single for the summer? That means plenty of time to chill oceanside with your new new — new book, new bestie, new jams. This season, the beach is all the bae you need. (And if you happen to meet a cutie at the shore, turn the page for all the goods on how to survive your first date!)

Photo Credit: Suzanne Clements/Stocksy United

love, etc.

By India Hill

Breaking Down the

WALLFLO W ER

The Shy Girl’s Guide to Surviving Your First Date

Your mind is on no chill thinking about what you’re going to wear, where you’re going to go, and most importantly, what you’re going to talk about when the two of you link up. But don’t worry, we’re comin’ through with all the tips you need to keep your worry from doing the most, so you can have a bomb time with bae.

Photo credit: Simone Becchetti/Stocksy United

Make Sure You’re Legit Comfortable. Pre-date jitters are normal, but if you’re feeling like you’re not absolutely ready to go out on said date, you’re not obligated to. Chop it up with your boo, let them know how you feel, and take a rain check. Or, if you’d feel better rollin’ with a crew, suggest a group date. The presence of a friend or two may help coax you out of your shyness.

Plan an Active-ity. Consider going to a festival, an arcade, or even a park to go rollerblading — something that breaks from the typical dinner and a movie thing. That way, you’ll be busy doing other things and can avoid that awkward gazing-into-each-other’s eyes in silence stuff. This is a great way to have fun and ease into the dating scene.

Choose a Place Where You Can Call the Shots. Are you an amazing basketball player, singer, writer, cook? Suggest going to a place where you know the space well — hit up a basketball game, a karaoke night, a poetry reading, or a couple’s cooking class. Enjoying something you’re passionate about will make it easier for you to start up a convo, and give you one less thing to stress about.

Explore Somewhere New. Or, as an alternative to the above, you can visit somewhere the two of you have never been and discover things together. Whether it’s an archery class, a horseback riding excursion, or a little-known museum in town, experiencing something new can provide lots of laughs and ease the awkwardness. It’ll also be a great memory to have down the line if things get more serious.

Post Up in Something Fierce. One way to relieve the nervousness of a first date? Show up in an #OOTD that radiates confidence, comfort, and of course, slayage. Not into heels? Don’t rock ‘em. And save the brand-new ‘do for another time, just in case you don’t end up feelin’ the look. Going with a fave ensemble over a total transformation will take away the question of whether or not you look okay. You’ll already know you do.

Embrace the Awkward. It’s very rare that everything is picture-perfect on date one. You may spill a little food on your shirt, your boo might hilariously struggle with the laser tag gear, or you may have a couple instances of wondering what to say next. Just go with the flow and enjoy the time.

Lose the Phone. Scrolling through IG is the perfect way to avoid eye contact and serious conversation, but that is not a good look when you’re out with a potential bae. Silence your cell, put it in your purse, and live in the moment. You want a crush to lean on, not a crutch.

Plan a Recap. Knowing that you’ll tell your friends all about your date after it’s over is a great way to ensure you’ll open up and have a good time. Your squad wants details, not dullness. Toss those nervous thoughts out of your mind during the date, and revisit them during your post-date girl chat. Talking it through will be the perfect way to get out of your own head.

love, etc.

Bae Watch: Jacob Latimore

Jacob Latimore isn’t new to this. The soon-to-be 22-year-old singer, actor, and dancer (who has been performing since he was 6) is a certifiable triple threat. And while we know and love him for being the cute boy-next-door, this Hollywood heartthrob is all grown up. In his latest movie, Sleight, Latimore plays a street magician named Bo who takes care of his little sister. We caught up with him to learn more about his role, his music, and what’s next.

By L’Oreal Thompson Payton

Q: What was it like playing a superhero in Sleight, and how did you prepare for the role?

A: It was fun! I think every actor wants to play a superhero at some point. I chose this one — a new and original hero. I wanted the character to feel as human as possible and let the movie magic take Bo to another level.

Q: And we hear you’re also set to star in Detroit, coming later this summer. What can you tell us about that?

A: At the moment, I can’t say what my role is exactly, but this movie revolves around an incident that happened at the Algiers Motel in Detroit on the last day of the 1967 riots. This was an emotional set for all of us.

Q: Wow, we can only imagine! Detroit is also so important to music history as the basis for Motown. How would you describe your sound?

A: R&B has always been my foundation and with Connection being my first album, I wanted the music to reflect that [I’m older now]. My music is influenced by Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Usher … I pull inspiration from hip-hop, too — Drake, Kendrick, Migos, and Young Thug.

Q: What else are you working on?

A: I’m actually working on a 10-episode TV series with Showtime called The Chi, as we speak. I also want to involve myself in the behind-the-scene plays of the industry. There is more to it than just being the lead in a movie or the artist with a song. I want to be a mogul. I want to produce and create my own content, score movies, develop my own record company, and find talent one day.

Q: We know you stay busy, but are you seeing anyone?

A: No, I’m single. Relationships are not in the cards right now.

Q: When you are dating, what do you look for in your bae?

A: Complete honesty first, and I like a girl with a great personality and a sense of style. She has to match my fly! And her baby hair game has to be strong! LOL. As long as there is good energy and laughs. We solid!

feat ures

ROMPER: AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS NECKLACE: STITCH FIX

How to Love Your

Roots

As Kizzy in the 2016 remake of Alex Haley’s Roots, E’myri Crutchfield brought the brutal truths of slavery to life on screen. As a self-proclaimed girl “who is as regular as they come,” she’s learning and loving another set of roots — the ones from which her gorgeous hair springs forth. Keep reading as she spills on all things acting and natural hair.

By Andréa Butler

Photographed By Jim Cornfield

Styled By Amy Hirt

Hair By Marissa Cydya

Makeup By Andy Trieu

E’myri

Crutchfield is making a name for herself. “I actually looked [‘E’myri’] up before. It doesn’t mean anything,” she says. “Malachi [Kirby], who played Kunta Kinte, he told me to give it [one].”

And the almost 17-year-old is doing just that, her recent NAACP Image Award nomination is proof. It’s also the last thing she expected to happen from her first major role ever. She’d been done with Roots for a while, had just wrapped her Amazon series, The Kicks, and was back home in NOLA going to regular school again when a “Congratulations” e-mail from the A&E network hit her mom’s inbox. “Me and my mom were like, ‘Nomination?! What?!’ We were just screaming and hollering,” she says. “I was that little girl that was always in the mirror giving my speech for when I got a nomination for acting, so for me to be recognized — because there’s so many people like me; there’s so many Black, young actresses like me — so for them to choose me out of all those girls they could’ve chosen, that felt amazing.”

It’s so well-deserved, too, because let’s be real. E’myri suh-layed . She embodied the spirits of all the ancestors when she played that part, giving us all the realness and delivering the chilling intensity of those especially gut-wrenching scenes, including the ones where Kizzy (Kunta Kinte’s daughter) is sold away, raped, and forced to birth her new master’s child.

“When I booked the role, I didn’t even know that I was going to have those scenes,” she admits. “I was scared of the awkwardness that was going to come with it. I hate being in an awkward situation, and I was not prepared for that at all, but they made me feel so comfortable.”

Dedicated to telling Kizzy’s story — because all our stories, even the painful ones, deserve to be recognized and “can help others in different situations” — as authentically as possible, E’myri purposefully chose not to watch the OG Roots beforehand, so she could rep Kizzy in her own way. She also studied up on history, as well as similar experiences of modern-day girls. “I went on YouTube and I was watching stories of girls who were telling their stories about being raped and the emotion they had behind their stories and the pain that came with that,” she says. “I kinda put that into my acting.”

The results? Brilliant, obviously, and when premiere night rolled around and she made the trip to NYC for an advanced screening of the completed first episode, she couldn’t have been prouder to be a part of something so impactful. So important. “It was just so beautiful,” she says. “I was stunned. My jaw was dropped. I loved it so much.”

Post- Roots , E’myri’s been living the normal teenage life, well, sort of. In addition to going to school and running track (at the time of our interview, she’d placed

“My Black girl magic, in my opinion? I’ll have to say my hair.”

TOP: RIVER + SKY CALIFORNIA JEANS: CHARLOTTE RUSSE

TOP: STITCH FIX

JEANS: STITCH FIX

SHOES: TARGET

EARRINGS: E’MYRI’S OWN

in Districts and was headed to Regionals), she’s become legit on Instagram with her verified blue check status. She’s also been on that audition hustle, recently trying out for a television pilot and a Netflix original — those details are still on the hush, but she’s hoping to book another part very soon. And if that part just so happens to be opposite Viola Davis, that would pretty much make her life. “That woman. Let me just tell you,” E’myri gushes. “She is so amazing. I just love her to death.”

She came thisclose to meeting Davis earlier this year, too. During the unaired portion of the Image Awards, Viola Davis was called up to the stage to receive an award. “I was like, ‘Aw, she’s probably not here’ — you know how some people don’t come — and then, next thing you know, I see her onstage,” E’myri says. “Me and that woman were in the same room! I could not believe it!”

While being surrounded by a gang of A-listers is still a bit unbelievable to E’myri, who only told one friend about her Image Award nom, we’re sure this is only the beginning. That one friend knows what’s up, too, and when the upcoming show came up in conversation during English class one day, said friend spilled the tea. “That was the last thing my teacher expected to hear — that one of her students was getting nominated for something she was talking about in class,” E’myri says.

What she’s not too humbled to keep to herself, though — both in her predominantly white, private, Catholic school and out in the general public — is her hair. “When I tell you, every day in class, I’m schoolin’ them

about natural hair,” E’myri says. And if her classmates fix their fingers to touch her crown of curls, she’s not even mad. “They love to touch my hair. I just embrace it so much, they embrace it with me.”

She wasn’t always so hype about her tresses. “I’ve been natural all of my life. I’ve never had perm or anything chemical in my hair,” E’myri shares. “But when I was younger, my hair was really, really, long, but it wasn’t healthy.” So, at 12, her mom took her to the salon to get her hair trimmed. It turned out, though, she needed much more than a lean snip to get rid of all the damage. “I went from having so much hair to this shriveled-up bush that I hated,” she says. “That brought my confidence all the way down.”

Like any Black girl in need of some quick hair styling tips, E’myri took her questions and concerns straight to YouTube. “I was on a mission,” she says. “I started learning how to take care of my own hair, and my mom used to get so sick of me because every day we would go to the store, I’d be putting a new product in the basket because YouTube said so.”

Within a year, her hair growth was back on point, and she’d nailed down her method for wash-and-gos and twist-outs. She’d also chucked deuces to that product junkie life because it was sapping all her volume and she adores big hair. Now, she sticks to one must-have per style. Her wash-and-go go-to, Aussie Moist conditioner, and for twist-outs and flexi-rod sets, Nairobi foaming wrap lotion.

“My Black girl magic, in my opinion? I’ll have to say my hair I love [it].” S

Black Girls & Immigration in the Age of 45

In the era of this new administration, policies affecting immigration are at an all-time high. A country that used to be an open door to many is now shutting down opportunities for immigrants to enter — including the almost four million of the African diaspora.

By Brianna Moné

photo credit: Bluberries/istockphoto.com

“Where are you coming from?”

“How long have you been living in Laredo?”

“Why are you in Laredo?”

“Where are you going?”

“How long will you be driving?”

“Why are you here?”

This wasn’t a game of 21 Questions, but it

sure felt like it to 19-year-old Panebi Shirey, the daughter of a Nigerian immigrant and a rising sophomore nursing student at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas, as she stopped at the immigration border check on her way home to Houston last December. She was used to these border checks, but this time was different. This

time was post-election 2016. Instead of the typical, quick ask about her citizenship status, Panebi was first met with a barrage of other questions — dozens of them — from border agents.

“I felt disrespected,” Panebi says. “It caught me off guard because I didn’t do anything

wrong or give any suspicious action of me being an immigrant or me not having papers. For me to be interrogated like that before asking me if I was a citizen, it was degrading.”

Prior to the swearing in of 45, Panebi didn’t experience such issues on her journey from Laredo, which is located along the U.S.Mexico border, to Houston. The trip had always been fairly simple. She’d just exit off the road to drive through the border check, roll down her window to answer if she was an American citizen, and be on her way. Some officers would ask for documentation, some wouldn’t.

But now, amid renewed talks of constructing a Cold War-era, Berlin-esque border wall along Mexico’s Southern perimeter — in March, Republicans introduced the Border Wall Funding Act of 2017, which would tax person-to-person wire transfers to Latin America and the Caribbean to pay for Trump’s proposed wall — tensions between travelers and customs agents have heightened. “I feel like [Trump’s] mind is not open; it’s very closed,” says Panebi. “America has never really had just one culture. It’s different everywhere you go, so to make immigration such a big thing now is tearing our country apart.”

FIGHTING FOR FAMILY

The threat of deportation is very real in the age of 45, so not only is the country more divided, families are being split up, as well. As early as February, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began raiding immigrant neighborhoods, arresting undocumented people in their homes and out on the streets. A few days after, Trump issued orders for all customs officials to find, arrest, and deport every illegal immigrant they encountered. It also gave local police the authority to profile anyone they thought looked to be an immigrant and question them.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Trump’s proposals to deport millions of undocumented immigrants may go against the Constitution. “Massive immigration enforcement would erode civil liberties of undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens alike by leading to a systematic reliance on racial profiling and illegal detentions,” the organization wrote in their guide to Trump’s memos. “Such a campaign would result in rampant Fourth Amendment and Equal Protection violations.” They went on to say that mass deportations

would violate the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

While Panebi’s mother, originally from Nigeria, is a naturalized citizen, most of her family members are not. The rise of talks of future action that could potentially deport immigrants to their native countries makes Panebi uncomfortable. With all the speculation, she’s even begun to wonder if immigrating to America was the best choice for her relatives. “Immigration is something to be celebrated. It’s the opportunity for new ideas, new religions, new traditions,” Panebi says. The question is, is the opportunity really worth it? Is the opportunity of America worth all the trouble with immigration?”

Zariyah Morvan thinks so. Growing up in the Bronx, the now 19-year-old was exposed to nothing but immigrants, with the majority hailing from the Caribbean and Central and Latin America — her own parents from the Caribbean island of Dominica. Zariyah takes pride in the love that New York City has for immigrants, and is irritated at how Trump seems so set on disrupting that. “I’m from New York, and we thrive off immigration. New York City would not be what it is without immigrants, immigration, tourism, any of that,” she says. “It worries me because are they going to start coming after immigrants like my mom?”

Her mother came to the states almost 22 years ago for school, as there weren’t any well-established universities in the West Indies when she became of college age. A permanent resident (“She didn’t want to become a naturalized citizen because it would mean she had to renounce her citizenship in other countries, and she didn’t want to do that.”), Zariyah’s mother, and the rest of her immigrant relatives, are all in the U.S. legally. Zariyah’s biggest fear, though, is that with a snap of a finger, what they gained here could all be taken away from them. “His words are inflammatory,” she says of Trump. “I know the judicial and legislative branches are doing their best, at the end of the day, to check him, but it’s just concerning. I’m doing my best to keep it off my mind and not speak things into existence.”

Zariyah’s got a strong faith to keep her moving forward, and constantly reminds herself that God put her here, and put certain people in her life, for a reason.

Aspiring psychologist Mageb Mofor, 19, and her siblings are children of Cameroonian immigrants — their father is a lawyer and their mother is a special education teacher. “My parents came here because they wanted

Resistance Resources

Women’s March Pledge of Liberation Toolkit womensmarch.com/ pledge

“Resistance is not convenient; it requires sacrifice. We ask you to consider what you are prepared to sacrifice. We ask you to consider what you are prepared to do, what you are prepared to give, in order to fight for justice and equity.”

Indivisible indivisibleguide.com

“We believe that protecting our values, our neighbors, and ourselves will require mounting a resistance to the Trump agenda — but a resistance built on the values of inclusion, tolerance, and fairness.”

Stand Up America standupamerica.com

“A grassroots community committed to resisting Trump’s corruption and his dangerous vision for America.”

Resistance Manual resistancemanual.org

“Together, we can harness the collective power of the people to resist the impact of a Trump presidency and to continue to make progress in our communities.”

a better future,” Mageb says. “They saw this new life, and they always saw [the perception of] America and Americans, and they wanted to see what they could make of it.”

But now, for some, getting through immigration and customs might not be an option.

On Jan. 27, 2017, Trump issued an initial executive order to temporarily ban citizens of seven majority Muslim countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) from entering the United States. News of the ban sparked protests, and the ban itself also triggered chaos at airports, as previously approved people from these countries were arriving only to be detained. “It’s one thing when you hear it on the news, but it’s another thing when you hear it from cousins or relatives or close friends that they’re being held in the airport, and airport security is going through their cell phone,” says Panebi.

“It’s not fair,” says Mageb. “They say everyone is equal. They say, ‘What about American kids’ futures?’ but what about other kids’ futures, other kids that want a chance?”

KNOWING THE LAW

The travel ban didn’t just worry people fresh off the plane or those who were scheduled to arrive in the near future; it also invoked fear in immigrants who had been here awhile, explains Ibiene Inyang, a former immigration lawyer and naturalized citizen, originally from Nigeria. She believes that with the current administration, especially, immigrants aren’t fully aware of their rights. “I’ve seen an increase in legal immigrants who have proper visas or who are here on permanent resident green card status, who just assume that some of these actions that are being taken right now apply to them,” Inyang says. “They can’t just round you up unless there’s a reason.”

Still, anyone with a grasp of world history understands that things could change in an instant. “My parents are citizens. Some of my family members are citizens,” says Mageb. “[But] Trump is wishywashy. He could flip at any time.”

Inyang does admit, though, that the only thing easy about the process of immigration in the U.S. is making that process

harder. “Immigration law has never been innocent until proven guilty,” she says. “It would be more difficult to make the process easier given the political climate. There’s a presumption of criminality of being here illegally that because you’re here, you’re here to do bad things.” It doesn’t matter that this has not been proven, and she predicts that, for immigrants of color, the process will continue to be challenging.

“It’s super hard to come to the U.S.,” says Inyang. “[But] when you completely ban a group of people [when it was] obviously already difficult for them to come in, it reeks of the religious intolerance that is coming out right now in this current administration … history is not on the side of this ban.” And it’s currently being fought in the courts.

So until Trump’s attacks on immigrants stop, it’s up to all of us to resist in any way we can. Contact your senators and House representatives, hold a demonstration, attend town halls, and acknowledge and embrace each other’s differences. “Different doesn’t mean ‘other,’” says Inyang. “Different doesn’t mean ‘bad.’ Different means ‘different.’”

photo credit: Suprijono Suharjoto/Stocksy United

heal th Color Guard

You may be melanin made, but during these sweltering summer months when the sun’s rays are doing the most, it’s important to shield your skin from any possible damage. Here’s why (and how).

By Andréa Butler

“Black Don’t Crack,” But…

It still ages — and the process to do so prematurely can begin even in your teens if you experience too much sun exposure without enough proper protection. “[Black skin] ages differently than our white counterparts,” says Mindy Green, a licensed cosmetologist and owner of the mobile beauty business, MG Beauty. “Black skin tends to sag instead of wrinkling. Sunscreen helps protect against the sun’s aging (UVA) and burning (UVB) rays.”

Isn’t Melanin a Natural SPF, Though?

Yep, but depending on how much melanin you personally have — the darker your shade, the higher your levels — your built-in sun protection factor (SPF) can only get up to 15. Since those UV rays have no kind of chill, such a low SPF just isn’t enough, especially on those days that you’re chillin’ on the beach, at the pool, or just kickin’ it outside around the house. “It’s recommended that you use a product containing an SPF of 40 or higher,” Green says. Going sans sunscreen can also put you at risk for skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports, “While incidence of melanoma is higher in the Caucasian population, a July 2016 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed it is more deadly in people of color.” This is partly because many Black people aren’t diagnosed as early as non-Black people due to misconceptions some have that people with dark skin tones can’t get skin cancer.

So, How Much Should I Apply?

“It’s advised that you reapply sunscreen every two hours. To have good coverage, a shot glass is a good measure of the amount you should apply all over your body,” explains Green. Worried that sunblock will make you look ashy and throw off that whole glow you’re going for? Green says you can avoid that by using a spray-on sunscreen.

“Using a wide-brim hat will [also] help shield you from the sun’s rays, and in recent years, clothing [has become] available with Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50 to block 98 percent of ultraviolet rays,” says Green.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO BE PUBLISHED AND WIN $100

THE CONTEST

Author Kamichi Jackson (K My Name Is Kendra) has teamed up with Sesi to sponsor a fiction writing contest. Peep the three sentence starters below, pick one to be your short story’s opening line, and use it to create your own original piece.

THE STARTER SENTENCES

1 2 3

The crowd started snapping pictures the moment she stepped into the room.

His piercing green eyes stared at her menacingly from under his tattered baseball cap.

HOW TO ENTER

• Choose your fave first line from the list of starter sentences.

• Write a bomb short story (up to 2,000 words) that BEGINS with the first line you chose.

• E-mail your story as an attachment to sesimag@gmail.com — between June 15,

2017 and August 1, 2017 with the

subject line #SesiStarterSentenceContest. Remember to include your first name and

age in the e-mail. Your entry must be

received by 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2017

to qualify.

ONE TALENTED WRITER WILL WIN $100 AND HAVE THEIR STORY PUBLISHED IN OUR FALL ISSUE!

CONTEST RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Sponsored by Sesi Magazine, LLC and author Kamichi Jackson. Beginning June 15, 2017 at 12:00 a.m. ET through August 1, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET, choose your favorite starter sentence from the list to the left, write a short story beginning with that sentence (up to 2,000 words), and submit your completed story to sesimag@gmail.com by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 1, 2017. Entries will be read and judged by Kamichi Jackson and Sesi Magazine, LLC (the Sponsors). One (1) winner will have their story published in the fall issue of Sesi and on sesimag.com and two (2) runners up will have their stories published on sesimag.com only. In the event that the Sponsors do not receive any eligible entries during the entry period, the Sponsors have the right to cancel the contest. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are between the ages of 13 and 21 at the time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. Complete official rules can be found at sesimag.com/fictioncontest.

Author Kamichi Jackson (left) and Sesi Editor-in-Chief Andréa Butler (right)

Hashtags. It’s not about crime, Not about Black on Black crime. The stigma of intraracial crime, Doesn’t validate every time That Black people are executed in the streets

By the hate

That is rooted in the state.

346 mothers, Brothers, Fathers, Daughters, Killed in 2015. At least 230 in 2016. Meanwhile, it’s only the 12th of October.

Time and time again, we think that it has been calmed

And one day all of us Will go home to our brother Our sister, Our father, Our mother, But then, It happens again and again.

A never-ending cycle

That’s not as “trendy” and “edgy” As our features.

We hear it on the news features, Not from our teachers, And through the grapevine

Of the concrete jungle that is the streets Weep, Weep, Weep.

That’s all the Black community hears After years of tears, Tragedy after tragedy, Death after death, Maybe our last breath. Every day walking with, A target on our backs

That’s three times as large as those

Of whom pigmentation and melanin lack. All we want to do is be free To laugh, To drive, To breathe.

We don’t want to be another hashtag.

By Ifechukwude Nwando Arah,

work it, girl!

Your twist-outs and Bantu knots stay poppin’, and your besties are forever asking you to hook them up with fly, protective styles. You just might have exactly what it takes to become a natural hair stylist.

By Najja Parker

Photo credit: robertprzybysz/istockphoto.com

work it, girl!

It only took one bad elementary school hairdo for Cajun Kirk to drop her mom as her personal stylist.

“It was one cornrow curving and zigzagging like a maze, and it ended on one side with a bow. I hated it. Everyone was looking at my head like, ‘Okay. Wow,’” she laughs.

Not here for all the teasing she was getting at school, Cajun knew she didn’t want to go another day without having control over her own hair. So, she taught herself by playing around with her big Barbie mannequin heads. “They had cornrows and twists and everything,” she says.

Her skills didn’t get A-1 overnight, though. “[When I first] got to middle school, I had these ugly cornrow braids, but then I got better,” Cajun says. “Students would ask me, ‘Who did your hair?’ I was like, ‘me.’ Even teachers started to realize that this student that’s in seventh grade is braiding her hair — and it’s looking good.”

Knowing she was onto something, Cajun kept practicing, and when it was time to graduate high school, her next move was an easy one — beauty college. But her family wasn’t quite feeling that. “My grandmother said I needed something more sound,” she says. And that “something sound” was a degree from a four-year university.

To please her fam, Cajun shifted gears a bit to

NAME: AGE: EDUCATION: MAJOR: HOMETOWN: GRADUATION DATE:

research undergraduate programs. “[My counselor] asked if I thought about Spelman. I had only heard of it from my other grandmother who had passed away. When I was younger, I would visit her in Virginia, and she would tell me about [it],” she says. “So when that counselor mentioned Spelman, it lit the light bulb again.”

After researching the Atlanta-based HBCU and falling in love with what she discovered, Cajun applied, got accepted, and enrolled. But once she actually got there, it took her a bit of time to find a major she really vibed with, dabbling in psychology then economics then dance and then drama. Meanwhile, her love of doing hair never left her.

“I did hair throughout my whole four years [at Spelman],” she says. “It helped me eat and everything. It helped me throughout college. I knew once I finished, I’m definitely going to hair school. That was my thing. That was my niche.”

Three years post-bachelor’s degree, after taking some time to ensure she was financially stable, Cajun enrolled in the Georgia Career Institute in Conyers as a cosmetology student, and it’s been a dream come true. She’s been in her zone learning how to cut, color, relax, and everything in between. Although she loves working on natural hair, she wants to make sure her skillset is diverse. “I don’t want to be just a one-track stylist,” she says. “Can I give you a

July 2017

bob cut? Can I give you a pixie? The school I’m at definitely is preparing me [to do all of those things].”

For eight hours a day, Cajun is putting in that work at the Institute, and the rest of her time is spent at a local salon making naturalistas feel fabulous with box braids and Senegalese and Havana twists. Those are some of her specialties, and she pulls inspo from her own natural hair journey. “I wore a Mohawk for about two years. I would get [my hair] shaved bald on the side and get designs,” she says. “I’ve had bright red, bright pink, apricot hair, and blonde. I did the big chop. I’ve been bald twice. I’ve worn finger waves. I wore a sew-in for graduation. I just started wearing locs.”

To Cajun, being natural means being true to yourself. “[It’s] understanding that God made you a way and you don’t have to alter it to be beautiful because you already are. You just have to own it.”

That’s how Cajun wants all her clients to feel. While she finishes up her degree and cosmetology board exam to become a licensed master cosmetologist, she hopes to continue building her clientele so she can one day open a shop in Georgia and in her California hometown. She also has her eye on a couple beauty shows she’d like to compete in.

Want to see what this industry is all about? “Remain teachable. Have resilience. Be able to bounce back,” Cajun says. “Be hopeful. You can do it.”

Bachelor’s Degree in Drama with a Concentration in Management and Organization from Spelman College/ Cosmetology Student at the Georgia Career Institute

Pasadena, California

Cajun Kirk Cosmetology

In the third grade, Janeese Murphy wasn’t just reciting her 123s. She was also putting those counting skills to use calculating how many ponytails she wanted in her hair. “By the time I was in elementary school, I was my own stylist,” she says. “When I started doing my ponytails, my mom began taking me to the beauty supply store to buy the pink lotion, cute hair balls, and everything else I needed.”

Janeese was a natural. After all, she’d practically grown up in the beauty biz. Her father, a licensed cosmetologist, worked in a local salon when she was younger and did her hair and her mother’s hair. But even though she had discovered her passion for styling strands early on, she wasn’t at all convinced she would follow in her dad’s footsteps.

So she enrolled in Kentucky State University in Frankfort as a computer science major, instead. Attending on a full ride, Janeese thought she was destined for a career in graphics, and dove headfirst into classes all about programming, system design, and data structures. “I really loved computer graphics. I loved Avatar. The behind-the-scenes of that movie is still just so mind-blowing. I wanted to do stuff like that. Even now, going to Beyoncé’s concerts and seeing the graphics is amazing,” she says. “But it wasn’t something I could see myself doing forever.”

Her truth was that desire from way back to do hair, and it only grew stronger during her years at KSU. She’d ditched the “creamy

NAME: AGE: EDUCATION: JOB TITLE: HOMETOWN:

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science with a Concentration in Business from Kentucky State University/Associate’s Degree in Cosmetology from Paul Mitchell

crack” her freshman year — she was afraid to let anyone apply relaxers to her hair while she was away from her Memphis hometown — so learning how to rock her kinky curls with a fierceness was a must. She quickly perfected her twist-outs, Bantu knots, and blowouts.

And word on the campus streets was her styles were fire.

“I would start doing the girls’ hair in the dorms, and each year, more and more girls wanted to get their hair done by me. By the time I was a junior, I was thinking, ‘I kind of want to do this full-time,’” Janeese remembers.

Her reign as the go-to stylist at her institution didn’t come without a few “oops” moments, however. “I didn’t do any chemical work [like relaxers and color] because I wasn’t comfortable,” she says. “But one time, I did burn this girl’s hair with a hot comb. I had it on the stove like old school. I wanted to straighten the top of her hair and burned it right off. I was like, ‘Oh, god!’”

While that client continued to come back to her again and again, Janeese realized she still had a lot to learn. One month after earning her bachelor’s degree from KSU, she was back in class — this time as a cosmetology student at Paul Mitchell in Lexington, Kentucky. “[Going back to school] was a no-brainer,” she says. “It was important to know the basics. I wanted people to trust what I was doing and what I was saying and what I was suggesting.” Determined to be knowledgeable about many types of hair, not just Black hair, Janeese immersed herself in all things cosmetology for 14 months, doing everything from extensions

and braiding to manicures and facials.

Finally, after completing 1,800 grueling hours, passing the mandatory cosmetology state board exam, and apprenticing for six months with a stylist, Janeese was a master cosmetologist at last. “I felt more proud of myself when I graduated from cosmetology school than when I graduated from college,” she admits. “Graduating from hair school meant a lot more to me.”

Now, Janeese stays whipping up ‘dos at her Memphis salon booth, and while she can hook up a bomb twist-out or Bantu knot set, she’s also beast at cuts and colors. She’s an entrepreneur, too. As CEO of Posh Glam Collection (poshglamcollection.com), Janeese offers a ton of beauty products, including edge control, flat irons, and a variety of hair extensions. “I’m all about being fly. I have red faux locs now,” she says.

And her ultimate goal? To merge mental health services with beauty. “[I want to] have a facility where stylists are certified not only in cosmetology but mental health, as well. I probably hear more about my clients than maybe their friends. I see a lot of brokenness. I see a lot of highs and lows,” she says. “I think the idea is revolutionary. We spend a lot of time in the beauty salon. If you’re a stylist that can do both, why not?”

Want to be #boss like this glam queen? Here’s a piece of advice: “Make sure that you don’t just like to do hair. Make sure you love it. Liking it isn’t going to get you through. Look for things that re-inspire you. Be a person that you [would] want to spend your time and money with.”

Memphis, Tennessee

Janeese Murphy

Master Cosmetologist

horo scopes

By Andréa Butler

Cancer

(June 21 to July 22)

As a #blackgirlboss is wont to do, you love runnin’ things. Lately, though, no matter how hard you try to keep it all in check, things have not been going your way. Press pause for a sec, take some time to reflect, and you’ll find a way of working it out.

Leo ( July 23 to August 22 ): Issa new summer, and you’re ready for a new adventure. For inspo, scroll through the hashtag #travelnoire on IG and bookmark every pic that makes you say, “yaaasss!” Who knows, maybe there’s an internship or summer gig still available in that place. A change of scenery is just what you need to recharge post-school year.

Virgo ( August 23 to September 22 ): Why wait for #TransformationTuesday to switch things up? You’re entering a period of positivity and empowerment now — use that energy to make the changes you desire in your life.

Libra ( September 23 to October 22 ): You’re ready to make your A-1 since day-1 into your bae-1 (and only). Anything’s possible, so don’t let your nerves get the best of you. Tell them how you feel — this is a time of good luck for you, after all.

Scorpio ( October 23 to November 21 ): Are things too good to be true right now … or nah? Instead of trippin’ out on what might or might not happen at some point, just enjoy all that goodness goin’ on. Sometimes, when things start going your way, they really are going your way.

Sagittarius ( November 22 to December 21 ): You are unapologetically Black, hella womanist, and you don’t care who knows it. Harness those vibes and sprinkle its goodness all over by giving back to your community, leading acts of resistance, or guiding your crew with words of advice and intuitive clarity only you can give.

Capricorn ( December 22 to January 19 ): Pay attention to those dreams you’ve been having. It’s no coincidence that some of them have been coming true. Your summer’s about to get turnt in the best of ways, so ride the flow of fate with fearlessness.

Aquarius ( January 20 to February 18 ): Saying you’re excited about life right now is an understatement — you are extra hype! Celebrate that #CarefreeBlackGirl-ness all summer long. You deserve it.

Pisces (February 19 to March 20): Conforming to what everyone else thinks you should be and do is so basic. You are not ‘bout that life, so keep pushin’ forward toward your own ambitions, and goal get ‘em, girl!

Aries ( March 21 to April 19 ): It’s ok to be all up in your feelings about the upcoming months — leaving behind what you’re used to is never easy. Whether you’ll be starting college in the fall or moving with the fam and going to a different school, stay open to that new-new and its potentially amazing results.

Taurus ( April 20 to May 20 ): You-know-who is trying to be Shady Boots all on your TL. You’re not the one, though, so hit “block” and keep it movin’. Sometimes, you’ve got to let a frenemy go to make room for a new BFF.

Gemini ( May 21 to June 20 ): Your summer ’17 plans? #GetMoney. With your drive on 100, though, you’ll be stacking more than cash. It’ll be wins and resolutions all around, including to any conflicts and up-in-the-air decisions.

Illustration by Aaron Butler