EQUALLITY October & November Double issue

EQUALLITY Â A magazine TO SHOWCASE POC BUSINESSES, Brands, and Arts

EQUALLITY

October/November 2020 Issue 3 Volume 1

what's inside this issue

influencers

Art

CONTENT CREATORS

Black luv

Wellness

Beauty

Culture

Poliitics

Editor in Chief Erica Scott

A Note from our Editor Thanks for continuing this journey with me and reading Equallity Magazine! I want to thank all who contributed with your stories and successes. Also I want to thank Jeff Manning @jeffmanning for creating the cover for this month's issue! Be sure to follow us @equallity_mag on all social media platforms!

WHO CREATED THE COVER Jeff Manning Digital Artist Co- Founder of Fournineteenco visit:www.jeffmanningart.com photography by: Disturbriana

UZO NJOKU TOP TIPS FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS @UZO.ART

By Erica Scott

Uzo is a Nigerian contemporary African artist. Her art focuses and revolves around women on the diaspora ,retelling our stories in the form of art and color. She is a recent graduate from UVA and her inspiration was getting the courage and the push to take a chance with what makes her happy when she switched her major from statistics to art.

That was the best decision she could’ve made because she didn’t feel like she was bored anymore and really began to love learning again. She chose that piece to re-create because there aren’t a lot of women that paint this particular portrait only men and she wanted to be able to allow viewers to see the painting from a different point of view a black woman. Although Uzo day starts at 6 AM she still keeps a strict workday remaining from 9 to 5.

Between those times she checks her emails, has meetings, she meets with her art dealer, and other various tasks. After five she goes straight to the studio and paints and creates originals. Uzo describes her art as a figurative pattern base, compositionally strong, colorful and bright. Her favorite part about her job is when her customers are happy with their pieces. Three important elements when she creates her art is; composition, color scheme and pattern making. . For other black women who are wanting to be artists or just want to create, she gives you this piece of advice: create for the right reason the money will come later and also get critiques from other artists because they will give you honest feedback about whether they like it or not or what you could change. Another highlight for Uzo this year Is that she was featured on Beyoncé‘s website. This was a great deal to be acknowledged by a celebrity when I am just creating what I love and she was able to recognize that. Uzo has many pieces on her website and she has many new exciting ventures ahead.

More words from Uzo shares words of wisdom from her years of experience as a young painter.

EXPERIMENT

If you're undecided on which path to take, try several paths and then decide which one is the best fit.

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT YOU WANT.

“It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about.

What's hard, she said, is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.”

WORK ON PERSONAL PROJECTS. “I feel like every project I work on is a dream project, so long as I am learning.”

ANTH O NY AND ERSO N O N THE D RU MS

BY: ERICA SCOTT

What inspired you to create this platform?

I have always showcased my music and work across my social media platforms. My Instagram platform however grew as I embarked on a new journey in my life which was transitioning into a solo career. In the past, I was in a band, but after moving on from that chapter, I needed to find a way to introduce myself as a solo entity. Drummers are usually accustomed to being the backup of a band so my challenge was transforming my brand to reflect that Drummers can be influencers without backup themselves. I wanted to represent myself as a musician but also as an individual that can diversify their passion in different levels through education, business, grassroots work, and mentorship.

How can you explain your love of music (when it started)?

My love for music starts within my DNA. Both of my parents came from musical backgrounds and impart inspired me in their own way to pursue it. My father, when I was nine years old, taught me how to play the drums. He was a Drummer too and knew that I had a love for making noise with rhythm. Unfortunately, he passed away that same year when he taught me. My mother, who had 19 children, I am sixteenth, taught me the importance of discipline but also the importance of giving back. My mother passed away in 2019. With their memory in mind, I use my music to connect with people. That is my passion, taking music that people love and incorporate my percussion to really move them.

What is the most important lesson that you have learned with being in the musical space?

The most important lesson that I’ve learned in my musical space is vulnerability. It is so important to showcase one’s true self. When I play drums, I want people to see the passion, the joy I get from playing, and to enjoy the experience. Drums, to me, have always been a form of therapy. Whether I am having a tough day or one to celebrate, I bring it all to the drums. I have also learned that in any industry, there are others that may play the same instrument or have a similar business. I feel that individuality is also an important lesson to learn. To not focus on the moves that others like you may be doing but to set the bar in what you want to represent. Diversity is everything! Find your niche. Find your focus. And from there…grow it, organically! Too often we get distracted by what others are doing and we forget that true success and growth only happen if you are focused on yourself and what YOU create.

How has the BLM movement and movement for racial injustice enhanced your creativity?

Before creativity, the Black Lives Matter movement enhanced my consciousness. I am a Black man. I am Black man about to be 30 years old. Black men in the past and now have always been consistently targeted and now in 2020, we have a responsibility to speak up, show up, and target the injustices against us, our Black women, and our Black children.

Remember, I have 18 brothers and sisters. Some who I’ve used their experiences as an understanding to know how real the world is. I have always been told “Make it to 30 Ant,” like a stigma that must be beat because it’s so common for Black men not to make it to that age. The movement has been a reminder that no matter what I do in music, being a Black man is my foundation. I use my platform to highlight that I am not only a musician, I am Black musician. I use my platform to encourage and support young Black men and women who follow me. I discuss topics that as a musician you may need to be impartial. My platform has transformed to one which was primarily about drums to now one that often talks on the importance of voting, the racial inequality in the world, the safety of black women, the importance of owning your own work and thriving. Even through my drum covers, I have covered songs that anthem Black beauty and power. More than ever, I feel that leaders in the Black community must continue to educate and encourage our Black youth. I may not be a politician, an activist or a major influencer, but I do intend to use my platform to showcase music with a message.

What has been your biggest success with using your platform?

I think success in general is the continuance and growth of your work. My successes this year may differ from next years.

Yes, one success might be bigger than the other, but honestly, I am just happy that people can see that there are more layers to just drumming. If I think about “successes”, I am happy that I’ve connected with creatives and artists that may have never thought I’d speak to. One of my highlights was finally connecting with actor and comedian Anthony Anderson from Blackish. We share the same name, and for years people asked if there was a relation. It was everything to finally connect with him and see how truly humble that Brother is. Whenever I cover a major song, it’s also uplifting to see the actual artist acknowledge it. Another highlight was covering Fat Joe’s “Yes” song and getting a personal shoutout from him as we both not only come from The Bronx, but he’s also an artist that through his life and work has inspired me as well. My success is determined by the work I put into it. It is always growing and evolving. I am just grateful that I can wake up every day, pick up a pair of drumsticks, and play my heart out.

What are your overall goals for your brand and platform?

I will be giving you the exclusive in due time! Just know that I intend to take the art of drums and take it to levels where drums may not be commonly known. I hope to explore different industries like fashion, literature, lifestyle, food, and most importantly music education. The overall goal is to really show how the beat goes on in every aspect. Still, in a mental capacity, my goal is to always be authentic. To share my journey, brick by brick, because there are no shortcuts. It takes work and a whole lot of discipline.

What has been your favorite performance?

All my performances have had a special place in my heart. Whether I was the first live musician to perform at a flagship store, as I had an opportunity to play in the Adidas NYC store. Whether it is performing in my borough, I make it priority to always go back to The Bronx and play for my community. There are all favorites because I had awesome individuals, businesses, and organizations that all believe in my work. Their support, all who’ve had me play for a special occasion, meant the world to me. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, all invited me to make their day special. That is everything to me!

If you could leave three pieces of advice behind the future for people of color, what would it be?

It may sound cliché, but this is real…your melanin is your magic! For real though! I am PROUD to have my Jamaican and Puerto Rican roots in my blood. The advice I would give is to NEVER forget who you are and where you came from, that is your story, your message. To embrace the skin you’re in but know, real talk, that it also must be tough skin. Be it in business, in the room, who you encounter, your hue is your armor. The reality is some doors may close, ignorance is real out here and I don’t pretend that it doesn’t exist, which is why I say create your own openings. Be the first or find a new entry point, but never accept anyone telling you can’t do it! Lastly, pay it forward. As you said the future right? It is so important to mentor and support the youth. We are in a generation where social rules the world, bullying is rampant, and privacy is almost non-existent. I want to teach the youth the importance of priorities and making a name for yourself at a young age. If I knew the insight that I know now at 18, I would have been a beast!

@amanilewis

DURAND BERNARR

Celebrated singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr has unleashed his highly anticipated new album DUR&, which debuted at #1 R&B Album on Apple Music. Released on DSING Records, DUR& features R&B songstress Ari Lennox, KAYTRANADA, Anna Wise, bassist Egberto “Buddah” Foster, Jr., and various producers from Sam Hoffman to TK Kayembe. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and based in Los Angeles, Durand Bernarr is revered by many in the music industry as a “singer's favorite singer”. He has built a career performing with Erykah Badu and collaborating with the likes of The Internet, Anderson. Paak, and Teedra Moses. In his interview he was able to talk about how his inspiration and his love for music. DUR& is a 13-track album currently available on all digital platforms. For more information about the album and upcoming appearances, please visit: www.durandbernarr.com or @durandbernarr (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).

What inspired your album DUR&?

DB: 'Timing, being receptive, listening, wanting to discuss things I hadn’t yet discussed in my music and most of all, wanting to be a catalyst for people to think for themselves'.

How can you explain your love of music (when it started)?

DB: 'Music has always been a part of my everyday routine since birth. It’d be safe to say music took me serious before I did. It’s literally something I can’t see myself NOT doing.'

How would you explain black music in 3 words?

DB "Innovative. Visceral. Courageous."

How do you feel that many black people are taking their creative passions more seriously during this time to navigate through these times of racial injustice?

DB: "It feels like these times are revealing just who has the discipline and drive to persevere through. If “make it enough” was a year, it would be 2020".

What has been your biggest success with using your platform?

DB: "Inspiring people to find their voices".

What are your overall goals for your brand and platform?

DB: "To make people think & laugh."

What has been your favorite performance?

DB: "When I performed “FNF” at SoulSpot in 2018."

If you could leave 3 pieces of advice behind for the future for people of color what would it be? “Don’t expect other people to be who YOU are.”

DB: “Your peace of mind & mental health should be treated as a priority, not an option” “It’s never been retrograde, it’s always been you.”

Describe your album in 3 words.

DB: "Spicy. Fun. Intriguing."

Do you have any upcoming virtual events for the end of the year?

DB: "I just did Afropunk Global, so we shall see what’s next to come. I’m itching to perform again."

The DUR& album currently available on all digital platforms.

Tavtu YOGA

EQUALLITY

TAVATU

Keturah Williams Started with a longtime hobby of Yoga and is turning her passion into a business!

Keturah found her love for yoga during the 2013 government shutdown. When she tried Bikram yoga and was hooked. For the next four years, she attended multiple classes weekly. she says, “For the first time in my life, I was able to focus on the present moment..

After moving away from the Bikram yoga studio I started with and joining a yoga studio near work, I began to expand my knowledge of the foundational aspects of yoga and ultimately decided to attend teacher training to share my love of yoga”. through her content she wants to reach people who are interested in trying yoga, but are too intimidated to take that first step in trying it out. As more people of color get into yoga she says she is excited to have more African Americans getting into yoga and meditation, but its not like they haven't been apart of the spectrum around the world in history. "Yoga has a wealth of mental and physical health benefits that could definitely have a positive impact on African Americans and I would love to see an increase in its use in our community the coming years". Yoga and wellness has impacted Keturah's life by making her feel better both physically and mentally. She said it has made her more patient, accepting, and understanding of myself and others. Not only does Williams also balance being an entrepreneur but she has a full time as a Health Specialist at the NIH (National Institute of Health). She feels that being very organized and disciplined is key to being successful while multitasking. “I have turned a wall in my hallway into a large Kanban board to remain organized and I have a daily schedule that I create for myself to stay on track”. Her overall goal is to provide an accessible moving meditation that uses the physical aspects of yoga to help lead students to the larger positive mental and lifestyle impacts of the practice. "I aim to meet people interested in practicing yoga where they are with the different levels of classes I offer. In addition, I highly encourage the use of yoga props to help support the body gently ease into poses". Three things that help her feel centered are daily meditations, journaling, and walking my dog. Her hobbies outside of yoga and wellness included cooking, building models, and pampering my two dogs.Her favorite type of yoga to teach is yin yoga the most. Yin yoga is the practice of stillness, which sounds easy, but is actually quite challenging. In a society where we are constantly moving, it is quite peaceful to see people being intentionally still for long periods of time.

EXCLUSIVE

Celebrate Black Women

THEHOMEABODYFORLOVE BY: ERICA SCOTT Founder of The Home a Body for Love, Deun Ivory wanted to to let black and women of color know that they are worthy and just because they’ve had a Traumatic experiences that doesn’t determines their fate. She wanted to create a safe place to use creativity through art for healing. Deun and her director of Partnerships Cheyenne both felt that God spiritually led them be a vessel in order to lead others to healing. Where she wants to see her organization is being deeply rooted within generations both present and beyond within the community. Also fulfilling the goal to make the organizations a travel experience including pop-ups in hosting in art galleries. Deun wants to continue to build a global sisterhood to reach many women and creating a catalyst of normalizing sexual assault in the black community. Her workday consist of calls, emails, and research about partnerships. Many people along with Cheyenne love working for this organization, because is a team of black women that are genuine and create a loving environment where they all share a common goal to heal.

Also Loves not having to say a lot of words but allowing the authenticity of the organization to speak for itself and create impact. When asked How do Deun and Cheyenne would describe The body a home by love, they describe it as soft, feels like home, and ethereal also healing through joy.

Upcoming events include creating a membership for women to connect, community kickbacks, and much more which can be found on the home of body for the website as well as their Instagram.

The Black Box by: Erica Scott

Abi Olusanya is the owner of the BlacBox which the ultimate vision is to make every black individual feel cared for. At the moment the company is working towards that with our beauty subscription boxes for black women, but there is a lot more to self-care than beauty alone. Creating a self-care universe for all black people is our ultimate goal and I’m so excited to bring our other ideas to light in the future.When we asked how did you gather research to fill this needed space Abi answered,”At first it was a need I had myself. I was signed up to multiple subscription boxes, but found myself constantly disappointed with the products that were chosen for my beauty profile. I then watched many reviews of other subscription boxes that I had not signed up to, to see if they were better at catering to black women. Unfortunately (or fortunately), they were not.I assumed that I was not only the only person looking for a subscription box that catered effectively to the needs of black women, and sent out an initial market survey to all my friends and family. They then helped to distribute it to their circles as well.” Their best selling item was from the July Edition. Most subscriber’s love the Mo Mineral Powder Foundations and the Novel Skincare Q10 Cleanser. Both products from incredible black owned brands based in the UK. Through their content they outreach black women (and men) who either struggle to find products that suit their skincare, haircare and beauty needs, or simply want to experience and discover black owned brands around the world.Each box contains at least 2 skincare products, 2 haircare products and 2 beauty products, matched to your skin tone, skin type, hair type and hair style. Because each box is as personalised as possible, we look for black owned brands that have a wide range of products. This gives us a lot of options when thinking about how to create a curated box for each subscriber, with different products from the same brands suited to individual needs.Before accepting a product in the box Abi first will look at reviews of a brand’s products, thinking about which beauty profiles each product could be suitable for. Then, we find as much information out about the brand itself, their values and their mission, to make sure it aligns with our goals of creating meaningful change for others. Abi absolutely love that more black women embracing self-care. She say, "I’m reminded of my mum treating herself every now and then when I was younger. It was never anything super luxurious either, just a simple foot bath, a homemade pedicure or manicure or flicking through a magazine with a cup of coffee.She’s definitely inspired me to do the same and I’m loving helping other women make their pamper sessions as stress-free as possible". Outside of BlacBox Abi's hobbies are hanging out with friends and family which is why she is so passionate about people. As the year the closes she said she will be open to new hobbies for 2021. The best part of Abi's job is definitely reading feedback from her subscribers on their products or their BlacBox experience.Some of our subscribers struggle to find products in their area that are black-woman friendly, and they’re happy that there’s finally an easy way for them to access products that suit them as an individual. Others love that black-owned brands are finally receiving the spotlight they deserve, because they are the ones who have consistently made an effort to create products that fit our needs.I absolutely love when subscribers discover a product (or products) that will now become a staple in their routines going forward. It’s awesome because not only have they found a product that works amazingly for them, but the brand has also gained a potential customer for life.For new people to know about theBlacBox brand, Abi would like them to know this, " that as a black woman myself, I know how frustrating and challenging it can be to find beauty products that actually work for you. We tend to stick to those few products that we know will give us the results we’re looking for, but there are so many other products that we have yet to try that could be even better from black owned brands - and that is what the BlacBox is for." The BlacBox is currently on in the UK but by 2021 she will be able to ship to the States and I am so excited for this. Checkout BlacBox on all social media platforms.

This Breathe act is a visionary bill divests our taxpayer dollars from brutal and discriminatory policing and invests in a new vision of public safety—a vision that answers the call to defund the police and allows all communities to finally BREATHE free.

We are rising up against all the ways that the criminal-legal system has harmed and failed to protect Black communities.

The current moment requires a solution that fundamentally shifts how we envision community-care and invest in our society. History is clear that we cannot achieve genuine safety and liberation until we abandon police, prisons, and all punishment paradigms.

Dr.Amber Sessoms @

Dr. Amber Sessoms aka @natural_inclination is a radical school psychologist and intersectional feminist. Not only does she have a compelling dissertation about black women and natural hair occupying all spaces that she enters but her organization, Natural Inclination, provides interactive, thought-provoking group conversations that provide participants with social and emotional experiential learning opportunities that help foster co-collaborative learning and working environments that problematize belongingness, bias, bullying, systemic racism, trauma, and organizational/community climate through a transformative equity lens! Amber's experience growing up in Pennsylvania, in a predominantly white area gave her a different perspective on how lack of representation showed up for her. It wasn't until she went to college when she went to embrace more people that were like her and she felt that she didn't have to shrink herself and her appearance anymore. Fast forward today she is a school psychologist, a wife, and mom to three daughters and she has instilled in them the ability and the confidence to be black. proud, and comfortable in any space they are in. She feels that this is important because along with herself and other black women we always have to compromise our feelings, expressions, attitudes, and appearance. One major component that she wants her girls and other girls to be accepting is of their hair. In her dissertation “The Merging of the Personal and the Collective: Reimagining Black Natural Hair Care Digital Spaces as Sites of Critical Public Pedagogy.” She expands on the several topics, but hair and how black women struggle with it everyday is an issue all in itself. She has expressed how she and her husband strive to create a positive environment surrounding their daughter's growth and self esteem, by being aware of each daughter's hair texture to the styles they have chosen. With three daughters there are so many brands that they have tried so that they can see what regime works for them but a go to for her and her daughter is the Aztec Healing Clay. She wants people to know that our hair is natural because it grows out of our head this way and we should have to feel uncomfortable and that we shouldn't have to define our abilities in social settings and in the workplace. Being at work and seeing another black woman's hair thriving in a natural state is refreshing to her and explains it as “seeing someone and giving them the unspoken nod and them doing the same. Basically having that unspoken moment of being able to show acceptance and celebrate each other in that special way”. Sessoms biggest success with using her success and her research on her platform has given her a way to get her message out and reach people through sessions and seminars, and her acts of public speaking. She also talks to others about dealing with racism, discriminations, stereotyping, over sexualizing, microaggressions in the workplace as a black woman. You can find Dr. Sessoms on all social media platforms @@natural_inclination as well as her copy of her dissertation.

SELF DISCOVERY DURING SOCIAL DISTANCING

By Erica Scott

During the time for social distancing it has been reiterated so many times to stay 6 feet when in stores. As we stay home we should be taking the time to get to know ourselves all over again! Self discovery gives us time to improve ourselves and become better humans. Being home I have realized that self care and self love/ discovery are two different things!Self love is more than doing workouts or taking bubble baths. It's being able to listen to your body and mind to take a break, get rest and be grateful for the physical features that you have without having negative comments towards yourself. For example instead of looking in the mirror poking and pulling, be confident and comfortable in your own skin.

Remember everyone has one thing that they don't have but you might have and vise versa. Self discovery is the things that you do that you never noticed before.

It's like a bad habbit or something that you do excessively. Remember to be grateful and understanding with yourself. It is not something you can change overnight, it can take time, so be patient with yourself. The fact that you have acknowledged it you can be able to create steps to do better or change if you are willing. This will only make you better in the long run!Social distancing and staying home is lonely whether you are home alone or with your family, but taking this time to slow down, analyze and reevaluate what's important. For example we as people are becoming more empathetic to others and not so quick to judge, but humbled, because we all are in the same boat. Take time to appreciate all of the good and bad. Check in with friends and family. Lastly indulge in self care; getting that extra sleep, putting on face masks, yoga and bubble baths. Even catching up on tv shows or scrolling or detoxing from social media. Don't ever be ashamed because you need time to yourself during this time and after this. These are uncertain times and can be stressful, just take time to relax.

CHANGE IS HERE. HERE TO STAY Written By: Moniola Odunsi

Resilience. A trait needed to be a black woman in the United States. As a kid, the names George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln are exalted in the classroom, painting a picture of white male perfection.

While society plants their assured greatness into the minds of millions of children, the opposite stands true for African-Americans, specifically for women. Instead of praising our notable achievements, society finds pleasure in dragging us down. Instead of highlighting a wide array of black excellence, our nation subtly recognizes a few who fought hard to earn half of what their counterparts did. This inequity is as prominent now as it was in the past. This systemic racism is more than evident in both the corporate and entertainment world. The first oscarwinning black female played the role of a prostitute, and according to CNBC, a mere 1% of C-Suite leaders are black women. Stereotypes, numerous barriers, and constant neglect are all notions that we, as black women, are forced to face every single day. So, when the facts point left, society tells us that it is right. When the facts state that it is false, society is insistent that it is true. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more have lost their lives because of those who chose to judge by their prejudice rather than learn to appreciate our differences. The normality of this brutality is not only horrific but also terrifying. As a teen, I often wonder if this division will continue to grow as I do. Will I be forced to live with the fact that the meer color of my skin has been deemed a threat? Will a step forward always correlate to five steps backward? Yet, I am proud of my generation. More than that, I have hope in my generation. The world may try to force our silence, but they cannot and will not succeed. I am proud that we will not back down. Instead, we continue to fight for what is rightfully ours.However, there is still much to do. We, as the youth, must continue to relentlessly push to reach the ultimate goal: not a world in which we do not see color, but rather one in which we appreciate it. I have attempted to begin creating change through my blog: Bits of Business. Through this platform, I seek to highlight those who create change in the business world. Whether it is black entrepreneurs who are pursuing their passions amid a field that is stacked against them or those who create a product aimed at having a significant positive impact on the lives of others, these are the people I believe deserve to be seen, heard, and recognized. As a race, we have learned and are continuing to learn to rise above the ignorance and prejudice of others. Because of this, I believe we will thrive, excel, and change the face of our world. I have chosen this path difference. Will you?

SheDavi Q&A WITH ELIZABETH DAVAISE AN EQUALLITY MAG EXCLUSIVE!

EM: What is your overall intention with Shedavi and How did you come up with the name?

ED: "My overall intention with SheDavi is to make it a global brand that improves people’s lives through health and wellness. SheDavi’s name is a cross between my middle and last name".

EM: What inspired you to create this platform? " ED: "I noticed many beauty products that focused on the appearance of outer beauty, but not the internal.

SheDavi was created to do just that, emphasize the internal beauty".

EM: How do you feel that more women of color are taking natural hair care seriously?

ED: "I believe they are doing great! It goes into embracing beauty and building confidence in who God made us to be. This is something that should be honored and appreciated by other cultures.

EM: What is a common problem that you get asked about black hair?

ED: I get many questions about dryness, moisture retention, length retention, and an overall hair care regimen.

EM: What has been your biggest success with Shedavi ?

ED: "The day I launched SheDavi! I was so excited to make everything official and share it with the world.

What are three things that black hair needs in order to flourish?

ED: "Good health, overall. This includes healthy eating habits and daily supplements such as vitamins. Also, a bomb hair care regimen and patience when handling your hair. Try to take the time to learn how to properly care for your hair, which avoids you experiencing breakage and tangling."

EM:Do you have any events you will be attending/participating this year (in person/virtually)?

ED: "For all upcoming events, promos, and announcements, please follow us at @shedavi on all platforms or visit, www.shedavi.com".

EQUALLITY

MELANIN IN AMERICA

Model: Yael Donna is the owner of Melanin in America. An online home decor brand that sells niche Melanin pillows, culturally relevant apparel, and vegan skincare. She mainly focuses on showcasing her personalized pillows that are made in part to celebrate the Black experience. As a homebody, she believes that home decor is an intimate part of Self-expression and should be taken seriously and with the utmost care to create a good vibe and the best intentions.

She creates Melanin pillows for African-American people with Albinism, Vitiligo, those within the LGBTQ community as well as all people of color! This was all done with the intention of showing representation. Every shade of lipstick, piercing, beauty mark, freckle, beard, and every detail on each pillow was to express the unspoken story of a Black person in society. It was meant to celebrate the diversity, personality, and the beauty of Black culture.

She and her husband work as a team to operate Melanin in America. She creates the designs and her husband helps with the marketing and all other operational aspects. Every day is a buzz of new opportunities to interact with customers, update their site, and shipping orders out. She is most excited about creating positive outlooks for the stories not yet heard, and with her brand, her goal is to lovingly give another way of thinking to the misjudged voices of our community. In the hopes of showcasing a different perspective.

As well as, to create a family legacy. Donna is regularly pushing out countless orders per week. However, what she enjoys the most is when customers reach out to her. She knows how much they enjoy the pillows, how they feel like they are being seen, and feeling that representation that we are lacking. She recalls it saying, "I am honoring the unspoken Black person. It truly feels as if I’m giving away a piece of my heart to these individuals. Each pillow has been crafted to embody an underrepresented, underappreciated, and prejudged individual in our community. When a customer purchases a pillow, it’s like they are claiming that message and being affirmed.

They are being seen."

Her best seller is the Melanated Bookworm which is a representation of herself. She wants to see her brand in stores, coffee shops, and dorm rooms.

Wherever there’s a space she wants her pillows to be there. She also hopes that this decor will spark conversations to create a sense of acceptance and understanding. She does this in an effort to normalize being Black. When she is not working on Melanin in America she enjoys Bollywood movies, Korean dramas, and anime. She’s a family-oriented person so she’s always having family game nights. In her free time, she is also actively signing petitions against racial injustice and other social justice issues. Most importantly she wants people to know that while her brand is meant to reach out to the Black community it is not solely for the Black community. If you are not Black you are encouraged to still engage with her brand! It isn't meant to exclude anybody, but rather to show a narrative that is just beginning to be heard in society! Anyone can have these pillows in their home and to recognize change starting from home and within. As Melanin in America grows she would love for more stories to be created out of it and for Black features to be celebrated! What story will your home be telling about you?

THANK YOU STACEY! Written By: Erica Scott

Stacey Abrams is getting her roses after her hard vote of getting Georgia to flip blue. She is the one who helped 46th President Joe Biden’s apparent narrow victory in the peach state, which Democrats have long dreamed of winning since 1992. This was works in the making after running for governor in 2018 but she lost to Republican Brian Kemp. This didn't stop her from the big picture of what she wanted to accomplish. She founded Fair Fight Action, a nonprofit voting rights group dedicated to fighting voter suppression and promoting voter participation nationwide, but specifically in Georgia. This woman, this black woman, this woman with a gap, has changed how people see the abilities of black women.

Although there were many black women before her she has made a difference in her lifetime and our current life time. She is doing the work and meeting people, our people at the middle and at their level. She stated “Georgia has had the potential for years,” she said in an interview shortly before the election. “It didn’t just start this cycle. This has been work that’s been ongoing for nearly a decade, and I’m just proud to see it come to fruition and for it to finally receive the level of investment it deserves.” And that it does Ms Abrams, without changing your focus and making a difference it would have never been possible without your investment of time, intention, and change. For that thank you and hopefully you will take that seat in 2022 for governor.

@shytheartist

Centonia Weston- Roy And the Niche Book Bar Enterprise What inspired you to create this platform?

C: "It came to me when settling in with a book and a glass of wine in 2016."

What do you want people to know about the Book bar ?

C: "It is focused on easy access to varied Black literature."

What Is the most important lesson you are learning through your events ?

C: "That I was not alone in feeling my reading experience was hindered by never seeing myself in books that aren’t trauma based."

What are 3 things that you consider when choosing a book for the book store?

C: "Genre/story, editing/professionalism, and whether they are by Black authors" .

What has been your biggest success with your book bike?

C: "My biggest success has been the community support and buy in! I love going places and people tell me they came to my event just for my books!"

What are your overall goals for your brand and platform?

C: My goal is for Niche to be a household, go-to name when generations of black families are looking for books that reflect them."

Are you close to opening the Book Bar? C: Yes I am close but will not open until we are at a place where having people in one Cozy space is safe."

How important is it for you to choose a book of color for young readers?

C: "It’s important so they can see themselves outside of trauma and as main characters!"

GET TO KNOW THE CHEATHAM FAMILY

@thecheathamfamily

GET TO KNOW THE CHEATHAM FAMILY Written By: Erica Scott How did you create this platform surrounding your family?

CF: "Initially we started a YouTube channel because our oldest daughter begged us to do it. I agree because I thought it would be a great way to document all of the fun things we were already doing on a regular basis. It would become sort of a video album of great memories that we could cherish later on in life. Soon the kids convinced us to start making Tiktoks. Somehow one of our videos went viral and we became very fascinated with Tiktok and the reach. We realized that people simply enjoyed seeing a big (black) family as our Tiktok followers rose to 100k.We made the transition to Instagram when rumors about Tiktok being shutdown started. We currently spend the most time on Instagram but we enjoy connecting with our followers and sharing our family on all three platforms. We love being a family people can check in with and get good wholesome fun big family content. "

Did you always know you were going to have a large family?

CF: My wife and I started dating when she was 15 and I was 16. We never spoke about having children at all let alone a large family. She got pregnant when I came back to Phoenix after college at the age of 23 and she has been pregnant almost every year since. So no we had no idea his would happen but we definitely know how it happen and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

How do you feel about more black family creatives jumping into the media space?

CF: I think black people in general have always been very creative but when it comes to good content there is a bit of a learning curve. It is inspiring to see how many people that look like us that are jumping into the space learning what makes good content and the technical side behind it like lighting, camera positioning, editing.

Where do you draw your creativity from when you create content?

CF: Honestly I surprise myself most of the time. But I keep everything that is great about our family in the back of my mind as well as what I want the social media community to know about us. I also make a point to keep my creative content creator lens on as much as I can so that I am ready when inspiration presents itself. I think it is important to use any and everything as inspiration. So really inspiration comes from the kids, the world around us, and quite frequently I am inspired by other creators. I think, how can that great piece of content fit into our big black family niche? Then the brain goes to work.

What's a typical workday for you? We are not full time content creators or social media people yet. We typically take Friday night and all day Saturday to have fun in front of the camera.

What's a typical workday for you? We are not full time content creators or social media people yet.

CF: We typically take Friday night and all day Saturday to have fun in front of the camera. Then we rest on Sunday… My wife and I work real full time jobs. She is a FMLA Case Manager and I work for an egg ranch.

Do you plan on having any more children to expand your family?

CF: We are not planning on having any more children but if it happens it happens.

What is your favorite part of your job? What has been your favorite production/ media collab?

CF: I think the best part about doing what we do is that we get to do it as a family. We make a point to include everyone as much as we can. At the end of the day it is about having something super cool to look back on. I also love that our content inspires people and makes them happy. Favorite video thus far has to be our little dance to “Dream Girl” by Ir Sais. We were so in sync, it was one of our first as a family, and it blew up big. It was originally created in tiktok.

What is your overall career goal for your brand or your family?

CF: It would be nice to live the “social media influencer lifestyle.” I could get used to spend every waking moment with our kids, traveling, eating fine foods and getting paid to post and stay connected to our followers… But that is not the goal. We just want our family to be happy and healthy. We will continue to work and pick up whatever gems social media offers us.

How would you describe your content?

CF: Creative authentic fun wholesome content from a big black family.

What are your hobbies when you are not at work?

CF: We love to watch movies, play video games, and skating with the entire family.

If there was one thing that you could do differently being a content creator what would it be? OR If there isn't anything you would change what is something that you think all content creators should do?

CF: I wish we would have started sooner. There were so many epic moments that were missed because we were too reluctant to press record. For those just getting started there is nothing you can’t learn how to do media-wise on Youtube.

Do you have any events you will be attending this year (in person/virtually)?

CF: We have nothing planned at the moment. But everything we do is spur of the moment. You may catch us live on Instagram every once in a while

@jadepurplebrown

The Manual AN INTERVIEW WITH JASON

BY ERICA Jason Lewis is also known as the founder of

These questions form a human side and a

the manual he is also dad, a firefighter, and a

connection beside the skin color we are no

community activist. The mission of "The

different when it comes to expressing ourselves.

Manual" is elevate voices and images of color

They also talk about the experience of life of

that we are still fighting to see. Also to

being a person of color and what that means to

connect people to action steps to do the work

them. Lastly he wants people of color express

to help correct the injustices towards people

what they hope for the future of humanity

of color. Jason has been speaking on a

treating their race. The biggest success for The

equality for people of color since high school

Manual was the launch of the website and the

and as time went on he left the issues be

hardest thing about the whole initiative is to get

known through several platforms to his

people to do the work. Jason says he will feel

spiritual group, online, and within his

that he has accomplished his goal when people

community but he still felt that people were

intentionally change in the way the hire, the way

not as open to listen. After the murder of

they spend their money, the way they teach, the

George Floyd he felt that he couldn’t be on

way they learn to listen and can advocate with

the sidelines anymore this is when he decided

him their social groups to raise awareness for

to go less of a traditional way of social

people of color. His hobbies include reading,

interaction and jump onto social media to get

traveling, spending time with his son, being a big

more attention. The topics that are the most

foodie, crossFit and jujitsu. Three pieces of

important to him are criminal justice system,

advice that he would give a future creative is "to

education, and financial literacy which are

have a clear vision, do it your way, and don’t try

three things that we constantly see people of

to be clever or cool or over exaggerate. Give the

color struggle with because of lack of

flat truth with no frills. When you tell truth gives

resources. When he interviews people he

you will get great value". All the future plans

wants to know the following, " who they are,

have been pushed back due to COVID. The

what their passions are, what gets them

overall plan with the manual is to host events

excited, what your family is like", and along

starting in their city of Seattle and then moving

with other questions.

to other cities in the area and then being able to go cross country to share active steps on how we can create change.

Milky Mama

Krystal Duhaney, CEO of Milky Mama. Since we last spoke, Krystal and Milky Mama hit their 7-figure month from their incredible marketing efforts during BreastFeeding Month. Also, she provided a scholarship opportunity for 30 women of color to become certified lactation coaches.

EM: What is your overall intention with Milky Mama? What inspired you to create this platform?

MM: My overall intention for Milky Mama is to help breastfeeding and pumping mothers worldwide (to date we have helped 1 million mothers) by providing a platform where they have 24 hour access to resources and community to assist them in their journey. My inspiration came from my very own breastfeeding journey. When deciding to breastfeed my first child, I was faced with so many difficulties and provided very little to no assistance. I was actually discouraged by my nurse when I expressed my difficulties. She simply advised me to stop against my strong desire and understand of health benefits of breastfeeding.

EM: How do you feel that more women of color are taking motherhood and maternal care more seriously?

MM: With Black mothers dying at an alarming rate, I believe more BIPOC mothers are taking charge of their birth experience by doing the proper research, hiring doulas and midwives of color directly relate to their journey for more positive outcomes.

EM: What would you say is a common problem that moms ask for your expertise on ?

MM: Breastfeeding, increasing milk supply, and proper latching.

EM: What has been your biggest success with Milky Mama?

MM: We reached our first 7 figure month , as well as, gave away 30 scholarships to BIPOC women looking to obtain Lactation Certification.

EM: What are your overall goals for Milky Mama?

MM: Provide resources/hub support for breastfeeding/pumping parents at any time as the process of reaching out to your healthcare provider isn't timely.

EM: What are three things that you would tell a BIPOC mom to be?

MM: - Prepare in advance. Take a breastfeeding course to educate yourself on the breastfeeding process to make the transition from prenatal to postpartum easier.

- Build a network of support as this is vital to ensure you have people to talk to and understand you during this process.

- Educate your family and close friends especially the BIPOC community on the breastfeeding journey and the health benefits. We find that the older generation may not be as informed about breastfeeding or the benefits EM: Do you have any events you will be attending/participating this year (in person/virtually)?

MM: We have an upcoming Black Friday +Christmas Holiday Promo. Visit www.milky-mama.com or follow us on instagram @milkymamallc

created by: @delaniewest

Thanks for contributing Abi Olsunya Keturah Williams Milky mama Shedavi Jeff Manning Durand Bernarr DR. aMBER sESSOMS ANTHONY ANDERSON DRUMS JADE PURPLE BROWN Delanie West LIAM& BROOKE The Cheatham Family JASON LEWIS CENTONIA WESTON-ROY THEOMGLLC Deun Ivory TYHIRA STOVALL

EQUALLITY Â A magazine TO SHOWCASE POC BUSINESSES, Brands, and Arts