Issuu

ISSUE 01

Breaking New Ground The South carries a creative and cultural wound that has never been fully named. And maybe that is where we start, right there, in the unnamed thing. Because I believe if we can name it, we can begin to heal it. We are focusing on the Southeastern United States, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi, with hopes of expanding to more states in the future. Across this vast, complicated, and beautiful land, there are people scattered in every corner, artists, writers, musicians, healers, farmers, builders, and dreamers, who have been doing sacred work in complete invisibility. Not because their work isn’t worthy, but because the systems that decide what gets seen and what gets remembered were never built with them in mind. With us in mind. And we have been quietly creating anyway, in the margins, in the dark, in the in-between, waiting for someone to say: we see you. We are looking for Black creatives in these Southern states who would like to contribute to that conversation. Growth Magazine is that witness. A living record that says plainly and without apology: we were here. We created. We survived. We made beauty out of everything that was meant to break us. And that includes the spiritual. Because you cannot tell the story of Black life in the South without talking about God. This magazine will be a space for honest, open spiritual conversation, about how we connect to God within our current cultural landscape, and within the contemporary Church as we know it today. Not to tear anything down, but to ask the questions that so many of us are already asking in private. About faith, about doubt, about what it means to seek the divine when the world around us is shifting. That conversation belongs here too. We also want to be clear about what this magazine is and what it is meant to do. Growth is a creative compilation, but it falls into the category of general interest. It is not just for one kind of reader or one kind of mind. We will do our best to cover the whole person, your creativity, your spirit, your culture, your questions, and your everyday life. Think of this magazine as a resting place during a time of great shift. A place to exhale, to reflect, and to be reminded that you are not alone in what you are carrying. And let me be honest with you this magazine is not always going to be comfortable. Some of what you find in these pages will challenge you, about this culture, about where we are and where we are headed. That discomfort is not here to hurt you; it is here to wake you up. To reignite whatever spark inside of you has started to dim. And I know it has. We need this. All of us do. We are not here to be explained or pitied. We are here to be known, in our full complexity, our beauty, our ambition, our faith, and our deep cultural pride. We are the scribes of a movement, and we take that responsibility seriously.

This is your mirror. This is your record. This is your invitation to finally, fully be seen,Welcome. Latasha Shantel Hyatt, Founder -Growth Magazine

letter from the editor

GW RO HAM ZE INE IS E10 1 GRO TW H TM GA G ZA IN · I· S S USEU0

Read it front to back. Every piece is listed order Read it front to back. Every piece is listed in in thethe order you'll ﬁnd it. you'll ﬁnd it. O P EONPI E NN GI N G

Breaking New Ground Breaking New Ground

the editor · Latasha Shantel Hyatt LetterLetter from from the editor · Latasha Shantel Hyatt

Naming the unnamed thing, South Naming the unnamed thing, andand whywhy thethe South needs its own mirror. needs its own mirror.

Cover On On thethe Cover

T C & UCLT U LT A RATR& U RUER E

Making Art With NoFormal Formal Making Art With No Training, and Calling WhatItIt Training, and Calling ItItWhat Is... Art Is... Art Who built front door, and why you were Who built thethe front door, and why you were never obligated to wait at it. never obligated to wait at it.

Waukeshia Rhymes · Kashe' Collections, Dothan, AL Waukeshia Rhymes · Kashe' Collections, Dothan, AL A hairstylist who rebuilt from nothing and found A hairstylist who rebuilt from nothing and found a second language in paint.

Before She Knew theWorld World Before She Knew the

Contributors Contributors

against God's promises.

a second language in paint.

Fifteen voices from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Fifteen voices from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. North Carolina, and Texas.

James Parks Photography James Parks Photography Greensboro, NC

Greensboro, NC A painter's eye and a documentarian's spirit in A painter's eye and a documentarian's spirit in every frame.

every frame.

HEALING HEALING

Ninundria · Miami, FL Ninundria · Miami, FL A multidisciplinary artist putting "what if" up A multidisciplinary artist putting "what if" up against God's promises.

Oﬀ the Record with JayJay Oﬀ the Record with JayJay

Commentary on the music shaping today's Commentary on the music shaping today's culture. culture.

Through the Lens of Becoming Through the of Becoming A conversation withLens William Midgett

A conversation with William Midgett From Chicago to Atlanta, a photographer the From Chicago to Atlanta, a photographer the world almost missed.

world almost missed.

The M Collective: Herbs Rooted in TheWisdom M Collective: Herbs Rooted in Wisdom Our people have always known how to heal. A

ROOTS ROOTS

80 Pounds. 13 Years. One Mission. 80 Shana Pounds. Years. Mitchell 13 · Fit by Shana One Mission.

leaves us.

Our return peopleto have the always land. known how to heal. A return to the land.

Shana Mitchell · Fitto bysurvive, Shana then to thrive, then to She set out She bring set out to survive, thrive, then to every womanthen with to her.

bring every woman with her.

CONTENTS CONTENTS

The Frequency of Healing Healing TheRah Frequency of Healing

Rah Healing Bridging sound, spirit, and the Black South from

Bridging sound, spirit, and the Black South from the Wiregrass. the Wiregrass.

A Hug From Home A Josephine Hug From Rumph Home

Josephine Rumph The place we ﬁrst called home never quite Theleaves placeus. we ﬁrst called home never quite

The Cost of Purpose The Cost of Rabb Purpose Johnetta Shonte

Johnetta Rabb you were created to do, and DoingShonte the things Doing the things what it asks of you you.were created to do, and

what it asks of you.

When a Legend Meets His Story When Legend Meets His Story Angela a Newkirk Angela Newkirk in Birmingham, a play, and the A classroom invitation that sparked a revolution. A classroom in Birmingham, a play, and the

NFNT-PIX Photography Judith NewbyPhotography Seay NFNT-PIX

invitation that sparked a revolution.

began years ago.

Being BlackV.in the South is being essential to the Pastor Matthew Johnson Sr., PhD shape of the thing, and is absent the picture Being Black in the South beingfrom essential to the of it.of the thing, and absent from the picture shape

JudithANewby Seay Dothan photographer whose love for the lens beganphotographer years ago. A Dothan whose love for the lens

Grandmama Was Depressed Grandmama Was On naming what our Depressed people lived with, and looking what back our withpeople softer eyes. On naming lived with, and looking back with softer eyes.

Dark Matter PastorMatter Matthew V. Johnson Sr., PhD Dark

of it. CLOSING

From Breaking Down to Breaking Through From Breaking Down to Breaking Tameeka Spates, aka Ameek Spirit Through

CLOSING

There is no health without mental health.

to be ready. You just have to begin.

There is noaka health without Tameeka Spates, Ameek Spirit mental health.

What We Were Never Given Permission Feel Given What We Wereto Never Alyson Brown & Dara Jones Permission to Feel · The Healing Gathering

Two founders the· mother wound and healing Alyson Brown & Dara on Jones The Healing Gathering in community. Two founders on the mother wound and healing in community.

The Last Word: On Beginning Latasha Shantel Hyatt On Beginning The Last Word:

Carried from Indiana to Alabama. You don't have Latasha Shantel Hyatt to be from ready.Indiana You justtohave to begin. Carried Alabama. You don't have

Call for Artists & Contributors Nowfor accepting submissions for upcoming issues. Call Artists & Contributors

growth-mag.com/submit Now accepting submissions for upcoming issues. growth-mag.com/submit

Faith, creativity & liberation in the South · Alabama · Florida · Georgia · Mississippi · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee

On the Cover WAUKESHIA RHYMES · KASHE' COLLECTIONS

Hair, canvas, and a life rebuilt in Dothan.

NFNT-PIX Photography JUDITH NEWBY SEAY

Landscapes and light from the Wiregrass.

80 Pounds. 13 Years. One Mission.

The Frequency of Healing

SHANA MITCHELL · FIT BY SHANA

RAH HEALING

The story of a sustained transformation.

Sound, spirit, and the Black South.

Before She Knew the World

Through the Lens of Becoming

NINUNDRIA

WILLIAM MIDGETT

Painting "what if" against God's promises.

Chicago to Atlanta, and who he's calling in.

On the cover

Our cover artist for the Inaugural Issue is Waukeshia Rhymes, owner of Kashe’ Collections, located in Dothan, Alabama. When Keshia moved to Dothan in 2013, she was starting over. “I had lost everything,” she recalled. “I was in a bad relationship, moving around a lot. After the breakup, I ended up living in a hotel, just working in a salon to keep money coming in.” Step by step, she rebuilt. A new apartment, steady work, and eventually, a renewed sense of purpose. But her story doesn’t stop with hair. Alongside her career as a hairstylist, Keshia discovered another outlet: painting and drawing. “I’ve always been creative, but people didn’t always know that side of me,” she said. “Art gave me peace, and it connected me with people who inspired me to keep going.” Keshia sees a strong connection between hair and art. “When I style hair, I’m sketching in my mind, layering, shaping, adding texture. It’s the same process when I paint. My first real art piece actually came from experimenting with hair imagery.” For Keshia, creativity is deeply spiritual. “When you step forward, God meets you with more steps,” she explained. “Art gives me patience, peace, and a way to express love without always being in the spotlight.” She also thinks about the future. “I can’t say exactly where art will take me, but I know that creating ensures I won’t be forgotten. Even my grandson shows interest, maybe he’ll follow in my footsteps.” Whether through hair or canvas, Keshia’s work reflects resilience, faith, and a desire to leave something meaningful behind. “I don’t want it to stop,” she said. “I just want to keep creating.” To find out more about Waukeshia’s work, follow her on Instagram and Facebook at Kashe’ Collections, or visit our website at www.Growth-Mag.com.

Contrib 4

butors ! 1.

4. 7. 10. 13.

Waukeshia Rhymes Acrylic Painter Owner of Kashe’ Collections -Alabama

Shana Mitchell Fitness Owner of Fit By Shana -Alabama

Tameeka Spates (AKA “ Ameek Spirit”) Poet /Writer -Flolrida

James Parks Photographer Owner of James Parks Photogrpahy -North Carolina

Rah’ Healing Healing Arts Owner of Rah’ Healing -Alabama

Alyson Brown Dara Jones Healing the Mother Wound - Alabama

Jay Jay Musical Commentary and Influencer -Alabama

11.

Shonte Rabb Singer/ Community Arts Advocate -Alabama

14.

William Midgett Photography Design -Georgia

Angela Newkirk Teacher/ Author Writer -Texas

Charlotte Franklin Writer /Poet -Florida

Judith Newby-Seay Photogrpaher Owner of NFNT-PIX -Alabama

Ninundria Allen Artist/Painter -Florida

12.

Josephine Rumph Author/ Writer -Alabama

15.

Matthew V Johnson Teacher / Spiritual Thought leader Mentor / Pastor -Alabama

JAMES PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY

James Parks Photography Greensboro, NC James Parks is an artist at heart a photographer who doesn’t just capture images, but preserves essence, energy, and soul. Rooted in a lifelong love of visual storytelling, James brings a painter’s eye and a documentarian’s spirit to every frame. While he works across portrait, travel, and lifestyle photography, his deepest passion lies in nature photography finding the sacred and powerful in the natural world others walk past without a second glance. Inspired by his father a gifted freelance photographer and formally trained with an A.S. in Visual Arts/Photography, James has spent years developing an eye for raw, honest beauty. From sweeping landscapes to intimate portraits, his work honors creation in all its forms. Please scan the QR code to explore his work or book a session.

“What is done to the body, echoes in the spirit.” - African proverb

The M Collective:

Herbs Rooted in Wisdom

Our people have always known how to heal. Long before waiting rooms and prescriptions with side effects longer than the condition itself, there was the land. There was wisdom passed down through hands and kitchens and quiet knowing. That knowledge never truly disappeared it just got set aside for a while. And more of us are finding our way back to it. Wellness looks different for everybody, but one thing is clear: our communities carry a heavy health burden. Black adults experience higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and chronic illness than the general population and many of us are looking for ways to support our bodies alongside whatever care we’re already receiving.That’s where plants come in. Herbs have been part of Black and indigenous healing traditions for centuries. They aren’t a replacement for medical care, but they can be a powerful complement to it gentle, accessible, and rooted in a wisdom that predates the modern pharmacy. Here are three herbs worth knowing a little better in the black community.

Moringa - The Miracle Tree Is African

Moringa has been cultivated throughout Africa for over 2,000 years what wellness culture calls a superfood, our ancestors called medicine. Research backs its benefits for high blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. Add the powder to your smoothie, your tea, your soup. It grows well in Southern climates. This one is ours.

Milk Thistle - Protect Your Liver

Your liver is quietly filtering everything toxins, medications, processed food, stress. Milk thistle has been supporting that work for centuries. Researchers call it “the most well-researched plant in the treatment of liver disease,” thought to improve liver function by fighting free radicals, preventing scarring, and keeping toxins from attaching to liver cells. Find it in teas, capsules, or tinctures at most health food stores.

Motherswort - For the Ones Holding Everything Together

Her Latin name means lion’s heart. She was made for strength under pressure. In one clinical study of fifty patients with hypertension and anxiety, 80 percent reported significant improvement in both anxiety and depression after just 28 days. She also eases menstrual cramps, reduces hot flashes, and helps regulate blood pressure. For Black women who are undertreated for pain and overrepresented in stress-related illness motherwort isn’t just an herb. She’s a conversation about what we deserve. Works Cited Center for American Progress. “Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity.” americanprogress.org. Swami et al. “A Health Survey of African American Men in the Southern United States.” NIH/PMC, PMC8478342. Vergara-Jimenez et al. “Bioactive Components in Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Disease.” NIH/PMC, PMC5745501. UJAMAA Spice. “Moringa 101: A Short History.” ujamaaspice.com. Please consult a healthcare provider before starting Cleveland Clinic. “Milk Thistle: 6 Potential Benefits.” health.clevelandclinic.org. Flora et al. “Milk Thistle in Liver Diseases: Past, Present, Future.” PubMed, PMID 20564545. any new herb or supplement, especially if you are RxList. “Motherwort: Uses, Side Effects, Dose & Precautions.” rxlist.com. pregnant, nursing, or taking medication for blood Corina Wood Herbal. “4 Benefits of Motherwort Tincture for Women.” corinnawood.com.

pressure, diabetes, or heart conditions.

80 Pounds. 13 Years. One Mission. The Story of Shana’s Sustained Transformation

She did not set out to build a business. She set out to survive. And then she set out to thrive. And then she looked around at every woman still sitting in the silence she had fought her way out of, and she decided she was not leaving without them. Shana is a fitness coach, pole fitness practitioner, and founder of Fit by Shana. She has maintained an 80 pound weight loss for over 13 years through divorce, motherhood, financial rebuilding, and the daily work of becoming. This is not a story about weight. This is a story about what it takes to stay.

Growth Magazine: Take me back to the moment you decided to start Fit by Shana. What was happening in your life and what made you say now is the time? Shana: Honestly, I had already maintained my 80 pound weight loss for over a decade. And I had walked through the valley for real. Divorce, identity shifts, financial hardships, and recalibration. Just going through the process of redefining myself as a woman and as a mother. One day I realized something powerful. I was not just maintaining my weight. I was maintaining the discipline that it required to do something of that nature. I was maintaining boundaries. I was maintaining the belief I had in myself. I thought about how many women, Black women particularly, in my community were struggling silently. We are strong for everybody else. I was strong for my family, my children, my husband, but not really talking about how depleted I really was going through all of that. I knew I had something to offer that went beyond a workout. I also needed to supplement my income after the divorce. I told myself I needed at least three thousand dollars more a month to maintain the life I was accustomed to. But more than the money, I wanted to create real change in my community and build something my children could look at and say, my mom built that. My mom put in the work. That is when I said now. My life was not perfect, but I was ready and it was time. Growth Magazine: How did going through a divorce shape your approach to building this business? What did that experience teach you about starting over? Shana: Divorce stripped me down. That is the truth. It forced me to ask, who am I when the title falls away? When I am not a wife, who am I when comfort is removed? That experience taught me resilience and resourcefulness. I learned how to rebuild emotionally and how to rebuild financially. I am still going through that. I do not claim to have all the answers. But I have lived experience. And what I learned is that starting over is not a failure. It is a refinement Fit by Shana is built mostly from understanding. I know what it means to feel lost and to find yourself again. So I do not look at what I do as training bodies. I look at it as helping women rebuild their identity and realize that starting over is not scary. It was at first. But it is not anymore. Because I have done it. I am starting over and I am here. I am still alive. Not only am I surviving, but I am thriving. I do not look like what I have been through and I am thankful to God for that. Growth Magazine: What does it mean to you personally to be a newly single Black woman building a business in the South right now?

Shana: It means courage. In the South there are strong expectations around marriage and womanhood and having it all together. To be single, healing, and visible requires boldness. And I am here to take up space in all the right ways. I am not building from desperation. I am building from purpose. And that is what grounds me. I am showing my sons that we can create stability, impact, and legacy on our own terms. It is not going to be some perfect fairy tale storyline. It is real, it is raw, and it is powerful when you choose to stay grounded in purpose. That is what drives me every day.

pie. So I deliver it with love. Because coming from someone who has been there, who has been 240 pounds and knows what it feels like on the inside, it lands differently. It lands as tough love. I have been there. I know better. And now let me walk with you. Growth Magazine: What lies did you believe about yourself and your body before your transformation? And when did they finallybreak?

Growth Magazine: How does Southern culture, the food, the expectations, the tradition, complicate conversations about weight loss and wellness for Black women? Shana: Food in the South is love. It is community. It is survival depending on the season you are in. So whenever you start talking about weight loss it can feel like rejecting your roots. When I put restrictions on you, it can feel like I am asking you to push back from your grandmother’s table. And that table is a labor of love. The expectation that Black women should be strong, unbothered, and always serving others also complicates things. Wellness can get labeled as vanity. Healthy boundaries can get labeled as selfishness. But I like to teach women from my own lifestyle that honoring your body is not betrayal. It is stewardship. You have been given a vessel to house your spirit in. What are you doing to upkeep it? And when you find out that you are in control of what goes in your body, that is empowering. Because once you have self discipline over your eating, that discipline can be applied to any aspect of your life. I will not be controlled or conformed just because something is sitting out at a gathering. Growth Magazine: Sunday dinners, church gatherings, family reunions. How do you help women navigate Southern food culture while honoring their wellness? Shana: I do not teach restriction. I teach strategy. I encourage you to attend the Sunday dinner, attend the gathering, go out, and still honor your goals. It is about portion, about balance, about hydration, about being intentional. I encourage women to bring a healthier dish. Bring your own food if you have to. And do not feel any type of way about it. More importantly, I want women to know that one meal does not define you. One slip does not define you. What you habitually do is what defines you. And shame is more damaging than sweet potato

Shana: It is still a process. Even after 13 years, even after maintaining an 80 pound weight loss, I still look in the mirror sometimes and cannot believe it is me.I believed that was just how my body was. I heard people say that all the time and I almost let myself settle into it. But in my mind I was not going to settle for not being pleased with who was looking back at me in the mirror. From an early age I had an image in my mind of what I was supposed to look like. I was a nineties fine type of woman. And I told myself I was going to get there and I was going to maintain it. Growing up I had a younger sister who was always beautiful to me. But we got compared more than we got complimented together. It was always, well your sister, she looks better. She is thin. And I could not help but absorb some of that. There was a certain color hierarchy too. If you were light skinned you were seen as prettier and I internalized all of it. What I found out later was that

my sister had always looked up to me. She struggled with her own identity because in her eyes I was the one getting celebrated for my accomplishments and achievements. We were both walking around carrying each other’s shadows without knowing it. When I found that out, it gave me even more motivation to stay the course. Because I was her role model and she was mine. And I had something inside of me the world needed, that the women in my community needed. So I said, Lord, use my story. Use this transformation to inspire other women to keep going. Growth Magazine: Where do you see Fit by Shana in five years? What does success look like beyond the metrics? Shana: In five years I see a strong online coaching community, a mentorship program, wellness workshops inside churches and community centers, and consistent income that grows into something my family can build on. My sisterin-laws, my sons, they will be able to see what I started and keep building on it. I am laying stepping stones. That is the foundation I am building from purpose, not desperation. Growth Magazine: What do you want every Black woman reading this to know about her capacity to transform, not just her body but her whole life? Shana: You are not stuck. You are not too lazy. You are not too broken. If someone like me can lose 80 pounds and maintain it for 13 years while navigating divorce, rebuilding finances, raising sons, and building a business from scratch, you can transform too. Your body can change. Your life can change. And you do not have to have it all together to start. You just have to start.

Healing is not a destination. It is the discipline of showing up for yourself every single day.

Shana is a fitness coach, pole fitness practitioner, and founder of Fit by Shana located in Dothan, Alabama. She is a contributor to the Spring 2026issue of Growth Magazine. Scan the QR Code to visit her website.

THE FREQUENCY OF HEALING How Rah Healing is Bridging the Gap Between Sound, Spirit, and the Black South

There are some people who carry their purpose so visibly that you can feel it before they ever speak. Known throughout the Wiregrass region as Rah Healing, he is one of those people. A grower. An herbalist. A sound healer. A young Black man from Dothan, Alabama who went out into the world, gathered wisdom from the soil of tropical lands, and came back home to pour it into the very community that raised him. What he is doing is rare. What he is building is necessary. And the South is only just beginning to understand what it has in him. Where It Began Rah Healing did not discover healing in a classroom or a wellness retreat. He found it the way most true callings are found, through living, through searching, through following something he could feel but could not yet name. His travels took him through several tropical countries where he immersed himself in the study of herbalism, plant medicine, and the ancient relationship between the earth and the human body. He learned from the land. He learned from the people. He came back carrying something that most of his hometown had never seen before, and he came back on purpose. Dothan, Alabama is not a place where sound healing has historically had a seat at the table. The Wiregrass region is deeply rooted in faith, in hard work, in the kind of quiet endurance that has defined Black Southern life for generations. Wellness, in the way that Rah practices it, was not part of the common vocabulary. And yet Rah Healing returned anyway, called back by something stronger than comfort, stronger than the pull of the free and open life that the tropics had offered him. He came back because his people needed what he had learned, even if they did not know it yet. The Man Between Two Worlds To know Rah Healing is to understand a particular kind of tension that lives in gifted people who are ahead of their time. There is the life he could live, rootless and sun-soaked, immersed in the tropical landscapes that first awakened his craft, and there is the life he feels summoned to, present and grounded in the very community where his roots run deepest. He has been living beautifully and honestly in the space between those two calls. That tension is not a flaw. It is a feature of every trailblazer who has ever had to choose between freedom and purpose. What makes Rah Healing extraordinary is that he keeps showing up anyway. He keeps planting seeds in soil that is still learning to receive them. That is not frustration. That is faith in action. Sound Healing and the Body Before we talk about what Rah Healing does, it is worth understanding why it matters. Sound healing is the therapeutic use of sound frequencies, through instruments like singing bowls, tuning forks, drums, gongs, and the human voice, to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. It is one of the oldest healing modalities on earth, used across Indigenous African, Asian, and Indigenous American tradition.

Research has shown that sound healing can reduce cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone in the body. It has been shown to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, improve sleep quality, and support the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. For women specifically, sound healing has demonstrated promising effects on hormonal regulation, supporting the body’s natural rhythms by reducing the chronic stress load that disrupts endocrine function.

long before it found its way into modern wellness spaces. At its core, sound healing works on the principle that the human body is vibrational. Every organ, every cell, every system operates at a particular frequency. When the body is under stress, grief, or illness, those frequencies fall out of alignment. Sound brings them back. Research has shown that sound healing can reduce cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone in the body. It has been shown to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, improve sleep quality, and support the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. For women specifically, sound healing has demonstrated promising effects on hormonal regulation, supporting the body’s natural rhythms by reducing the chronic stress load that disrupts endocrine function. And this matters enormously for the Black community. Black Americans experience chronic stress at disproportionate rates. According to the American Psychological Association, Black adults report higher levels of stress related to discrimination, financial insecurity, and racial trauma than any other demographic group in the United States. Studies show that Black women in particular carry a stress burden so significant it has been linked to accelerated cellular aging, a phenomenon researchers have called weathering. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Black women. Hypertension affects Black Americans at some of the highest rates in the world. The body keeps the score, and the Black body in America has been keeping score for a very long time. Sound healing does not fix systemic racism. But it does give the nervous system a place to land. It gives the body permission to exhale. And in a community that has been taught that rest is laziness and healing is weakness, that permission is revolutionary. Breaking New Ground in the Black South Rah Healing is not just offering a service. He is offering a reframe. For Black men especially, the role of healer is one that has been culturally complicated. Black masculinity in America has been shaped by the demand to be strong, to be stoic, to be providers and protectors with little room left over for the softer, more intuitive work of healing. A Black man who works with sound, with plants, with energy and vibration, who dedicates his practice to the healing of women’s bodies and hormonal health, who holds space for community members to be vulnerable and still, is doing something that disrupts a very old and very limiting script. Rah Healing is disrupting it quietly, consistently, and with deep compassion. His work began to take its public shape at the Carver Museum, where he facilitated his very first sound healing session and introduced the Wiregrass community to something it had never quite experienced before. The community showed To experience Rah Healing’s sound healing sessions or to find his herbal products, visit Well Rooted in Dothan, Alabama. Follow his journey and inquire about upcoming events and bookings through his community channels scan the qr code. Growth Magazine was proud to partner with Rah Healing for a sound healing event at Test X.

NFNT-PIX PHOTOGRAPHY JUDITH NEWBY SEAY

Hello and welcome to NFNT – PIX Photography by Judith Newby Seay! I am a local photographer and a 2026 Best of Alabama--photography nominee by the Guide to Alabama directory, based in Dothan, Alabama and whose love for photography began years ago with a simple photograph for my mom that resulted in a growing desire to capture and preserve moments that are timeless and award winning in the Wiregrass area and beyond!’ From weddings and special events to landscapes and more! NFNT – PIX Photography features an infinite yet intimate photographic view of life, love and everything in between! Are you looking for a budget-friendly photographer for your prom, graduation or family event? Let’s create your infinite moment! Explore an array of breathtaking photographs along with the story of my photographic journey@ www.nfntpix.com and call @ 334-790-8869 or email nfntpix@gmail.com today!

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NOT EVERY BURDEN YOU CARRY HAS YOUR NAME ON IT.

GRANDMAMA WAS DEPRESSED On naming what our people lived with, and learning to look back with softer eyes.

Grandmama was depressed. Nobody called it that. They called it tired. They called it „leave her alone today.“ They called it the back room with the curtains drawn, the Sunday she didn‘t come to church, the way she could go quiet for a week and then get up and fry chicken like nothing happened. She didn‘t have a word for it because nobody gave her one. There was no safe space, no group chat, no therapist who looked like her within two hundred miles, and even if there had been, who was going to pay for it? Who was going to watch the kids? Who was going to explain to the family why she needed to go sit in a room and talk about her feelings when the light bill was due? So she did what you do when there‘s no outlet. She found her own. Some of our people found it in the bottle. Some found it in a string of men who each promised to be the last one. Some found it in the church seven days a week, in work that never stopped, in a silence so deep the whole house learned to walk around it. We call it self-medicating now. Back then it was just living. And here‘s the part we have to sit with: a lot of us grew up on the other side of that silence. We remember what they didn‘t do. We remember the hugs that didn‘t come, the words that landed wrong, the door that stayed shut. We‘ve spent years in our own healing cataloging every place they fell short, and some of that is fair. Harm is harm. Naming it is how we stop passing it down. But somewhere in the healing, the question changes. It stops being what did they do to me and starts being what were they carrying when they did it. Because we are adults now. We know what it‘s like to be tired in a way sleep doesn‘t fix. We know what it‘s like to snap at somebody we love because we‘ve got nothing left. We know what it costs just to get through a Tuesday. And we have language. We have therapists and pod-

casts and friends who ask „how are you, really.“ Our parents had none of that. They had a Bible, a bottle, or a closed door. You cannot do what you do not know how to do. That is not an excuse. It is a fact. Just because our generation has the words now doesn‘t mean the thing existed for them then. Judging our parents by knowledge they never had access to is like being mad at somebody for not calling when there were no phones. So do we owe them a reckoning or a pass? Maybe neither. Maybe we owe them the truth, told with tenderness. Yes, Grandmama was depressed. Yes, it shaped the house. Yes, it shaped us. And yes, she got up every morning anyway, with no name for what she was fighting and no one to fight it with her. That is not weakness. That is a woman going to war unarmed for forty years and still making sure there was dinner. Compassion is not the same as letting it go. It‘s looking at the whole picture. It‘s saying: I know what you didn‘t give me, and I‘m learning why you didn‘t have it to give. The healing is in holding both. We are the first ones in a long line who get to say it out loud. That is a gift, and it is a responsibility. Say it for yourself. Then say it for her. Grandmama was depressed. She didn‘t have the word.

We do. -Growth Magazine

PHOTO BY COLBY RAY COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

“Breaking Down, To Breaking Through”

By: Author of “Pretty Eyes Ugly Cries” Tameeka Spates aka ameek spirit The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, stating “there is no health without mental health”. Mental health is a crucial part of overall physical health and well-being. Mental and physical health are interconnected, as poor mental health can cause physical illnesses and vice versa. Usually one brings about the other. There are many mental health disorders, as well as many stigmas and stereotypes surrounding them. Have you ever heard of the saying “crashed out” or gone postal”? These sayings have become synonymous with mental health as well as certain movies depicting patients in insane asylum rooms and straightjackets. Unfair beliefs have been developed from these images and sayings that have been embedded in the minds of millions, thus making mental health taboo to discuss and hard for some to seek help due to the fear of facing discrimination. In 2021, I awoke in critical care from a blood clot in my brain. This near death experience was very traumatizing. After overcoming what doctors informed me was an Ischemic Stroke, weeks later I would be diagnosed with three out of the five most common mental health disorders: Anxiety, Depression, & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) . These conditions are intertwined and affect similar areas of the brain. They are characterized by a breakdown in communication between the emotional center (amygdala) and the cognitive control center (prefrontal cortex) of the brain. They also involve the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), which manages stress, memory, and emotional regulation as well. Before being diagnosed I just thought of anxiety as worry, depression as weakness, & ptsd as something soldiers who’d fought in combat dealt with. It took me some time to accept my diagnosis because I refused to be labeled and discriminated against. I also didn’t believe in taking medication due to their side effects. I didn’t want to be misunderstood; having a condition and learning how to deal with a new normal was very exhausting; however, consulting with various medical staff to educate me so that I could then educate my loved ones in hopes of getting the support I so greatly needed. Who could’ve known something simple as bright lights, the beeping sound a scanner makes, things so minute to me before, would cause my brain to become overstimulated. I mean, a simple

trip to the grocery store would lead to my heart racing, to feeling lightheaded, dizzy, panicking, feeling like I was about to meet my maker.. This experience made me search for other options, after all my son and I had to eat and survive. Walmart delivery was one of the resources that helped to make my living less frustrating and a little easier. The physical pain I endured couldn’t be felt, therefore, friends and family couldn’t sympathize. Figuratively it was all in my head; literally to them it was all in my head, “ I was over reacting”. This led me to wanting to be alone. I took control by placing myself in a controlled environment, which had its pro’s and con’s. I would try to avoid anything or anyone that brought me discomfort. I also wanted them to feel at ease and for Heaven sakes I didn’t want to traumatize anyone. It wasn’t their fault they didn’t understand. Less interactions, less noise, worked out for the better in the beginning. As time went on, I’d discovered treatment wasn’t one size fits all and the type of medicine and the amount of milligrams mattered. I learned that being vulnerable and transparent was of great importance because pretending to be ok when you’re not can jeopardize proper healing. In the beginning of my healing journey, the ability for me to see that I was causing myself more harm than good was such a disservice, I had such a rocky start. Having faith in God that I would one day completely heal, didn’t mean I should not take the medicine prescribed, not trust my care team, avoid grocery stores, & avoid people. I just needed to have faith and not enable myself and surround myself with those who were willing to understand the new me. I just needed to trust that God already had everything worked out and push through the fear. I’d eventually embrace my condition. After all, it could happen to anyone. Throughout my journey, I went from feeling helpless to feeling hopeful. I’m not just a survivor, but a miracle. Although I face some challenges to this present day, I proactively exercise my mind, after all a mind is a terrible thing to waste. I am grateful that I have the ability to continue writing poetry and get to inspire, motivate, and educate my peers creatively. I’ve found escaping to a beautiful quiet place like the beach or a flower garden is very calming. I had to take time to enjoy the view and smell the roses. When there are rainy days, listening to soft music, or listening to sounds of the ocean on youtube can be just as soothing. Self care isn’t just about how you look on the outside, but how you feel on the inside. I encourage others who may be feeling shamed or misunderstood to use their voice to educate and bring awareness to the condition(s) they may battle with. Don’t allow anything to define you. I say to those who aren’t knowledgeable about mental health, remember, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. You never know what state of mind someone’s in, and the things you say or do can have long lasting effects. Being a non-judgmental listener may be all the support they need. If you or anyone you know may be struggling with their mental health, seek professional help; you are not alone, look for support groups in your community, and last but not least, never be ashamed. Tameeka Spates is a long-time resident of Jackson County and a Chipola College graduate. Her life would change drastically due to a near-death experience. Having to choose her health over a promising career; the former para educator relied on one of her greatest passions, writing of poetry. Tameeka, a.k.a the “Paint’n Poetess’’, loves to paint pictures with words literally and figuratively. She has written poetry since childhood and credits the late great Maya Angelou and Tupac Shakur two of her biggest inspirations. In 2019, Tameeka became a published author with her poetry book titled, “Pretty Eyes Ugly Cries”, one of her greatest achievements to date. Tameeka continues to use her gift to aid in her healing and hopes to inspire others to “take an easel in life & wordplay”. She currently volunteers her time showcasing her talent at Open Mics,church programs, and other events in Jackson County and surrounding areas.

scan here to purchase Tameeka’s Book

A Conversation with Alyson Brown and Dara Jones, Founders of The Healing

WHAT WE WERE NEVER GIVEN PERMISSION TO FEEL

Growth Magazine: What inspired you to create the Mother Wound Healing event? Alyson: In January 2023, Dara reached out to see if I would be interested in partnering with her since our individual platforms and causes were so aligned. During that time I happened to be in a space where discouragement was starting to get the best of me regarding this sacred work. I had not been consistent with producing content or planning events for Healing From A Mother Wound. So when Dara reached out, it felt like divine alignment. I needed her and she needed me, and God knew that before either of us did. Dara: I had such a testimony and so much knowledge trapped inside from my own healing journey that I felt I was bursting at the seams. For months, the Lord had been nudging me to reach out to Alyson, who I did not know very well at the time. When I finally reached out, it was so clear why she was the best choice. Our causes were so aligned and our friendship was instant. We both had such conviction for generational healing that finding the best way to share that healing with others was the logical next step. Growth Magazine: Can you describe the purpose and goals of the event? Alyson: The purpose of The Healing Gathering is to provide a space where moms and daughters who were raised and wounded in strict religious households can find spiritual freedom and emotional healing. Our goal is to create a safe, judgment-free atmosphere where women feel seen and supported. To offer tools and language for navigating complex mother-daughter dynamics. To spark honest conversations that lead to generational healing. And to connect attendees with other women on similar journeys so they leave feeling less alone and more empowered to continue healing beyond the event. Dara: To add to what Alyson said, we want to create community. There is nothing that helps to support and cover those who have been wounded like a community of like-minded people who have experienced the same challenges and who care enough to help others through.“We want every woman to leave feeling less alone and more empowered to continue healing beyond the event.”

Growth Magazine: What moments from this particular event stood out to you most? Alyson: What stood out to me most was the number of mothers who attended with their daughters, and the beautiful range of age groups represented in the room. Every woman showed up with an open heart, ready to receive. One of the most meaningful moments for me personally was having my own mother in attendance. This was her first time being present at an event I have hosted, and she came with a spirit of openness and was genuinely receptive. We experienced a deeply personal breakthrough in our relationship, something I will carry with me forever. Our hope is always that each attendee walks away with some measure of healing and breakthrough. To experience that myself, in real time, was incredibly special. Dara: It was so touching to see the many mothers with their daughters who came ready to listen, receive, and be exposed to difficult conversations. My favorite moments were those spent with my mother on the panel. She is usually quite reserved and avoidant of the spotlight, so I was honored that she agreed to be on the panel. And she did such an amazing job. I am grateful for her willingness to pour into my purpose even in the face of her own discomfort. Growth Magazine: How did the attendees respond? Were there shared themes or emotions that emerged? Alyson: The attendees responded with deep emotion and overwhelming gratitude. Many shared that the panel discussion sparked a fire within them, leading to powerful self-reflection and a desire to pursue healing in new ways. A recurring theme was the appreciation for a judgment-free space where women could have honest healing conversations. It means everything when our attendees have the experience we prayed they would have. Dara: We prayed that the event would be a catalyst, and I believe the Lord delivered just that. I heard from so many women how freeing it was to see that they were not the only ones who had difficult relationships or difficult seasons with their mothers. Growth Magazine: Were there any unexpected takeaways or lessons from hosting this event? Alyson: The biggest lesson I received was this: stop playing small and do exactly what God told you to do. When Dara and I created The Healing Gathering, our vision was simple. Fun, chill meetups where women could relax and enjoy meaningful adult conversation. And while those moments were beautiful and healing in their own right, there was always a divine tug calling us deeper. Both Dara and I run coaching businesses that are, at their core, healing ministries. So why would The Healing Gathering be anything less? The moment we

took the limits off and allowed the vision to evolve into what God intended, everything began to align. Provision started flowing. Peace started flowing. Clarity came. Opportunities opened. We have witnessed undeniable favor since surrendering to what God placed in our hands. Yes, we would love to be the women who simply host vibey dinner parties with pretty decor and good food, and in some seasons we still might be. But at the end of the day we are on assignment. We are called to bring healing to families. And honestly, that is a vibe too. Dara: I think Alyson said it all. But really just to be obedient and to stand tall in our calling. And to remember that our gifts will make room for us.“No matter who we think we should be, or who we wish we could be, it is always best to be exactly who God has called us to be. There is grace there. There is power there. And most of all, there is freedom there.” The Work Behind the Work Growth Magazine: What approaches do you use to create a safe and supportive space for healing? Alyson: Creating a safe and supportive space begins long before the event starts. We strive to embody what this gathering represents in our everyday lives. Before we curate a safe and supportive space, we are that to each other. Dara has quickly become my friend in real life and is absolutely a safe and supportive place for me. We are not hosting women’s events just to

fill a calendar. Our deepest desire is to see bound women walk in freedom and broken women experience wholeness.We lean on God’s wisdom as we plan, pivot, and make decisions. We think carefully about where we gather and who we invite into the space to speak. From the layout of the room to the tone we set, we want every detail to reflect love, safety, community, and care. Our hope is that the environment feels just as healing as the conversations happening within it. Dara: We put so much thought into the experience. We consider what it will look like, what music will be playing, the flow of the event, the comfort level of our attendees with each topic addressed, and the overall atmosphere. And we prayed for not only the event, but for our attendees for weeks prior to the event taking place. We take the responsibility of creating a safe space seriously because we are purposed to do so. Growth Magazine: What are some common misconceptions people have about mother wound healing? Alyson: Many people think healing the mother wound is simply about fixing the relationship with your mom. But the truth is it is so much deeper than that. It is more than accepting what happened, releasing resentment, and forgiving and reconciling. Mother wound healing produces radical self-acceptance. It allows us to release shame and become our own advocate. We heal the mother wound to get our voice back. Our power back. That is

why this healing work is so personal and sacred. It changes how we show up in the world, not just in our families. Dara: I don’t think people realize how critical our first relationships, those between us and our parents, are to the way we relate to others and the world at large. Every single relationship we have is impacted in some way by the way we are shaped in childhood. I would go as far as saying that healing childhood wounds is the key to strengthening our relationships with God as well. So much of our identity is wrapped up in the complexities of our trauma. When we are not focused on the fact that we are wounded, we are free to courageously spread healing.‘We heal the mother wound to get our voice back. Our power back.” Growth Magazine: How has leading these events and conversations impacted your own personal healing journey? Alyson: Leading these gatherings has been both stretching and sacred. It is one thing to journal or talk about healing in private, but to facilitate it in a public space has required me to confront parts of my own story I might have otherwise ignored. Hosting these events has made it impossible for me to hide from myself. It has made me braver, more honest, and more compassionate toward my mom and myself. The most unexpected blessing has been the restoration of hope in my own story. I have always believed in healing for others, but there were

moments when my faith for my own prayers was shaky. The Healing Gathering has reminded me that healing is possible for me too. I am not exempt from the work. I am walking through it in real time. But doing it in a safe community has reminded me that I am not alone. Healing does not have to be perfect to be powerful. Dara: We are so incredibly grateful for our community. The fact that God trusted us with his daughters is so humbling. Like Alyson said, I have been stretched as well. My faith, my comfort, and my obedience have been stretched throughout this process. The events have inspired me to share my story, to have hard conversations, and to be grateful that my mom is willing to be my partner in healing. Growth Magazine: What advice would you offer to someone beginning their own healing journey? Alyson: Practically, I always encourage people to start with curiosity. Get honest about your triggers. Pay attention to the patterns in your relationships. Read the books. Find a therapist or support group that understands generational trauma. Come to The Healing Gathering. But do not rush the process. It is okay to take it one layer at a time.The most important piece of advice I could give is to invite the ultimate Healer, Jehovah Rapha, into your journey. These burdens are too heavy to carry alone. This journey is too unpredictable to walk without guidance. Holding a mirror up to ourselves can be scary, but with God all things are possible. We need Jesus and therapy. Jesus and journaling. Jesus and community. Healing requires both spiritual and practical tools, and with God at the center it is absolutely possible. Dara: Like Alyson said, invite Jesus into the journey with you. There are moments in this journey where you will be confronted with ugly, messy, painful truths. Give those things to Jesus. Ask Holy Spirit to help you understand the why, accept the past, and move forward. And from a practical standpoint, give yourself grace. You are deconstructing, learning something new, and some of you are putting things you just learned into practice immediately. It won’t always be perfect. But if you forgive yourself and commit to doing a little better each time you mess up, you’ll look up one day and realize that you don’t even do that thing anymore.“We need Jesus and therapy. Jesus and journaling. Jesus and community.” Growth Magazine: How can people get involved or support the work you are doing?

Alyson: There are a few ways to support. First, spread the word. Share our content, invite others to attend future gatherings, or simply tell a friend about what we are doing. Second, partner with us. We are so grateful for our many amazing sponsors, Growth Magazine among them, who help make these gatherings possible. We are still funding much of this out of pocket, so donations go a long way. Third, pray for us. This work is deeply spiritual and your prayers matter more than you know. And finally, engage with us on social media. Follow us on Facebook at The Healing Gathering. Comment, share, and let us know how the work is impacting you. We love building community with women who are serious about healing. Dara: Everything Alyson said. And I would add, just show up. Show up for yourself, show up for the women in your life who are healing, and show up for the next generation. Your presence and your willingness to be open is itself a form of support. We do this work because we believe in the power of community, and every woman who walks through the door makes that community stronger.

Healing does not have to be perfect to be powerful.

MAKING ART WITH NO FORMAL TRAINING, AND CALLING IT WHAT IT IS...ART YOU KNOW THE MOMENT. SOMEBODY SEES THE THING YOU MADE, THE COLLAGE ON YOUR WALL, THE SHIRT YOU PRINTED, THE PHOTO YOU TOOK OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S HANDS, AND THEY ASK, “DID YOU DO THAT?” AND BEFORE YOU CAN STOP YOURSELF, OUT IT COMES. “OH, I JUST MESS AROUND.” “I’M NOT REALLY TRAINED.” “IT’S JUST SOMETHING I DO.” YOU SPENT THREE NIGHTS ON IT. YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY WITH IT. AND YOU STILL HANDED IT OVER WITH AN APOLOGY ATTACHED, BEFORE ANYBODY EVEN ASKED FOR ONE. THAT HESITATION DIDN’T START WITH YOU. SOMEBODY TAUGHT IT TO YOU. AND ONCE YOU SEE WHO, IT GETS A LOT HARDER TO KEEP SAYING SORRY.

WHO BUILT THE FRONT DOOR MOST OF US GREW UP BELIEVING THERE’S ONE PROPER WAY INTO ART. YOU GO TO SCHOOL FOR IT. YOU STUDY UNDER SOMEBODY WITH CREDENTIALS. YOU PUT IN THE YEARS, AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN, YOU GET TO USE THE WORD. ANYTHING ELSE IS A HOBBY. BUT THINK ABOUT WHO THAT PATH WAS BUILT FOR. ART SCHOOLS COST MONEY. STUDIO TIME COSTS MONEY. GETTING YOUR WORK IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED ON KNOWING THE RIGHT PEOPLE. FOR A LONG TIME IN THIS COUNTRY, NONE OF THAT RAN THROUGH BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, SMALL SOUTHERN TOWNS, OR FAMILIES WHERE EVERYBODY WORKED. SO THE FOLKS MAKING THINGS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, IN THE CHURCH BASEMENT, ON THE BACK PORCH WITH WHATEVER WAS ON HAND, GOT A DIFFERENT LABEL. HOBBYIST. FOLK ARTIST. SELF-TAUGHT. THOSE WORDS SAY LESS ABOUT THE WORK AND MORE ABOUT HOW FAR THE MAKER LIVED FROM THE MONEY. THE LINE BETWEEN TRAINED AND UNTRAINED WAS NEVER ABOUT TALENT. IT’S A GATE. AND GATES PROTECT WHOEVER BUILT THEM.

WE DO IT TO OURSELVES HERE’S THE HARD PART. NOBODY HAS TO STAND AT THAT GATE ANYMORE, BECAUSE WE STAND THERE FOR THEM. WE’VE SEEN THIS PATTERN BEFORE. THERE’S A RIGHT WAY TO TALK IN A MEETING, A RIGHT WAY TO WEAR YOUR HAIR TO AN INTERVIEW, A RIGHT WAY TO WORSHIP. THERE’S ALWAYS A VERSION OF US THAT GETS APPROVED AND A VERSION THAT GETS WHISPERED ABOUT. ART IS NO DIFFERENT. A TECHNIQUE LEARNED IN A CLASSROOM GETS CALLED SKILL. THE SAME INSTINCT, PICKED UP BY WATCHING, TRYING, AND FAILING AT HOME, GETS CALLED RAW OR NATURAL. THOSE SOUND LIKE COMPLIMENTS. THEY’RE NOT. THEY’RE WAYS OF HOLDING YOUR WORK AT ARM’S LENGTH FROM THE WORD ARTIST. AND WE LEARN TO DO IT FIRST. WE SHRINK THE WORK BEFORE ANYONE ELSE CAN. THAT’S WHAT RESPECTABILITY DOES. IT DOESN’T STAY IN THE INSTITUTION. IT MOVES INTO YOUR OWN MOUTH.

WHAT ART ACTUALLY REQUIRES SET ALL OF THAT DOWN FOR A MINUTE AND LOOK AT WHAT ART REALLY IS. SOMEBODY FEELS SOMETHING, OR SEES SOMETHING, OR CAN’T SHAKE SOMETHING, AND THEY GIVE IT A SHAPE OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES. THAT’S IT. THAT’S THE WHOLE LIST. A DEGREE HAS NEVER BEEN ON IT. BEING SELF-TAUGHT EVEN HAS AN ADVANTAGE NOBODY TALKS ABOUT. YOU NEVER LEARNED WHERE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STOP. SOME OF THE MOST HONEST WORK ANYWHERE COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T KNOW A MOVE WAS “WRONG,” DID IT ANYWAY, AND FOUND OUT IT WAS EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT ISN’T A GAP IN YOUR EDUCATION. THAT’S AUTHORITY YOU EARNED THE LONG WAY, THROUGH TRIAL AND REPETITION AND PAYING ATTENTION.

SAY IT PLAINLY CALLING YOUR WORK ART, WITH NO QUALIFIER IN FRONT OF IT, IS A SMALL THING TO SAY AND A BIG THING TO MEAN. IT’S YOU DECIDING THAT A SYSTEM BUILT WITHOUT YOU IN MIND DOESN’T GET TO NAME WHAT YOU DO. SO THE NEXT TIME SOMEBODY ASKS, “DID YOU MAKE THAT?” TRY ANSWERING WITH JUST THREE WORDS. “YES. IT’S ART.” LET THE AWKWARDNESS SIT THERE FOR A SECOND. IT WILL PASS. THAT DISCOMFORT WAS NEVER PROOF YOU WERE WRONG. IT WAS JUST THE SOUND OF A GATE YOU WERE NEVER OBLIGATED TO WAIT AT. THE GATE WAS NEVER THE POINT. THE MAKING ALWAYS WAS.

-GROWTH MAGAZINE

NINUNDRIA Before She Knew The World,2026 Oil on Canvas Unframed 18x24

NINUNDRIA is a multidisciplinary artist from Miami, Florida. Although she did not seek an education in the art field, that did not stop her from pursuing a gift that can only come from The Creator. Battling with life's woes and trying to adjust to a new city, she struggled to find purpose until she decided to put the dramatized "what if" scenarios up against God's promises over her life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" With this written on her heart, Ninundria has decided to BOLDLY bet on God and pursue His best for her life. "I am my best when I am creating. Creating brings me a joy I can not put into words." Her mission is to show others that the joys and pains of life are a testament of God's faithfulness and beauty isn't just one color.

Off The Record with JayJay “Insightful commentary on the music shaping today’s culture.” Album artwork courtesy of Rochelle Jordan Album: Through The Wall Artist: Rochelle Jordan Genre: Pop Release Date: September 26, 2025 Rochelle Jordan… my oh my. I was first introduced to a song by the British Canadian singer through an old special friend (‘Lowkey’ released 2014). I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of her sooner, but I must admit ‘Through the Wall’ is the album that won me over. If you’re looking for an album that will make you feel; light on your feet, confident, and sexy, then you’ve found it. The album starts subtle with track 1 titled ‘Grace’. She soulfully commands you to say your grace... because you are indeed about to get fed. I mean what else do you do before you eat the best meal of your life?? *wink wink*... it then transitions into an upbeat ‘Ladida’ which is one of the singles from the album. This track sets the tone for the album and the intensity you’re about to experience. I won’t go over every song on the album, but I will highlight my top 5:

I take from this is regardless of what’s going on, it’s important to have faith that there’s more out there. Overall Rating: 9/10

1. ‘Bite The Bait’- undeniably my favorite track on this album. In this song she’s setting the scene. As she enters a party alone, looking good, BODY TEA she notices someone noticing her. The attraction is intense, and she sets out to make him “bite the bait”. The production on this track is PHENOMENAL... electronic, bass heavy, while simultaneously smooth. This song will make you sway no doubt. Perfect to play while you’re getting ready for a night out or you need to hype yourself up to pull you some -as the kids say- “fine shit”. 2. ‘On 2 Something’ - How many times does she say “Body” in this song? ALOT. Normally I don’t care for songs that talk about enticing someone else’s partner... but this one eats bad! The production of this song makes you want to bounce (like many on this album). Something about the way she breathily says “Body” along with subtle backing vocals really ride the beat so beautifully. 3. ‘Get It Off ’ - Can’t lie, this one makes me want to hit the highway. This track sounds like a cool night in the streets. Perfect for wanting to get out of the house and waste your gas on straight vibes. It’s that breakup song where you know you’ll be missed. 4. ‘Sweet Sensation’ - This is a smoooooth mf. It really makes me want to do a mean two step. Lush breathy vocals over an 80s style beat? Yes. Singing about a night out and some intimate excitement, it’s a breath of fresh air. The production alone sounds sweet just like the song speaks of. 5. ‘Eyes Shut’ - This one speaks to me in a lyrical sense. She sings about the world and how things have changed, love lost, painful truths have been revealed, economic struggles, etc. However, she maintains the belief that “there’s got to be something more.” What

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Album artwork courtesy of Destin Conrad Album: Love on Digital Artist: Destin Conrad Genre: Contemporary R&B Release Date: April 25, 2025 If you grew up on Vine (social media app) like I did, then you know who Destin Conrad is. I feel like I watched him grow up. AS humorous as he is, I did not realize he was musically inclined as well. With that being said, ‘Love on Digital’ is probably my favorite album that was released this year. This album feels like love in the millennium. He gives us early 2000s production with silky vocals and risqué subject matter. Truthfully, I contemplated doing this review because of the social climate in the south, but good music is good music. This album is phenomenal. Let’s get into some of my personal favorite tracks.

4. ‘Make It Up’- A slower song that expresses feelings of being in love with someone but wanting to take time for yourself. Destin croons over a delicate guitar and light percussion as He lets his love know that he will make this up. 5. ‘Cari’s Honeymoon’- A personal favorite of mine. This track is short, but it’s sweet. It’s written and performed by Cari. Cari is a London native and seemingly new to the scene. This song was my introduction to her. She sings about a love that is emotionally intoxicating, hence her repetition of the phrase “sticking to me like glue.” This is what love can feel like at times. It can be beautiful and feel like a honeymoon, but when it’s that deep, the bad can

1. ‘Kissing In Public’- This is the first song on the album, and it really sets the tone. It’s vibey, bouncy, and makes you want to dance. The chorus is catchy as it talks about public displays of affection. Destin wants to be loved out loud and he’s making it clear... Kiss me in public. 2. ‘Bad Bitches’- I absolutely LOVE the production on this song. It’s bass heavy and has a loop that is almost addictive. I don’t club, but this is a club banger if I haven’t heard one. It’s a fun song featuring Kehlani. Her velvety vocals add a sexiness to the song that she is known for providing. 3. ‘Party Wit U’- Have you ever seen someone and immediately felt intrigued? If so, this song fits that vibe perfectly. He sings about someone that he’s interested in. He sees this person around at times and wants to make a move but is unsure how. He expresses this over production that sounds tropical like a night party on the beach.

Album artwork courtesy of Summer Walker Album: Finally Over It Artist: Summer Walker Genre: R&B Release Date: November 14, 2025 Summer Walker... blessed with beautiful vocals and a pen that shows depth and vulnerability, I must be honest this album disappointed me immensely. Though I adore Summer, I’m confused because with the album titled ‘Finaly Over It’, I expected to hear more growth on the subject matter. While I acknowledge that ‘Over It’ is a series, I assumed that with this being the last one it would sound similar but be more uplifting and selfassuring. I didn’t get that from this album. My personal opinion is that this album felt more like a woman scorned than a woman ready to reclaim her power in love. Now I will note that there are songs that show a glimmer of hope. However, the album in its entirety was lackluster and too reminiscent of previous albums. It honestly felt, dare I say, superficial. Regardless of my opinion on the project, I do have a few songs I enjoy (Primarily the production) 1. ‘1-800 Heartbreak’ 2. ‘How Sway’ 3. ‘Baller’ (loved Nene’s cameo LOL) I won’t elaborate on these choices, but I will say I loved some of the

production and samples used. I just personally would’ve preferred more depth from Summer because I know how amazing her pen is. Overall Rating: 6.5/10

THROUGH THE LENS OF BECOMING A Conversation with Photographer William Midgett

There is a version of William Midgett that the world almost missed. The dark-skinned boy from Chicago who did not see himself in movies, who grew up quietly absorbing the emotional intelligence of every woman around him, who picked up a camera during a pandemic not because it was trendy but because he needed somewhere to put what he was feeling. That boy grew into a photographer with a voice that is still becoming, still sharpening, still finding its full range. And Growth Magazine is proud to be one of the first rooms to let it echo.

Growth Magazine: You grew up in Chicago and studied at Morehouse. How did each place shape your eye and your discipline? William Midgett: Growing up in Chicago, I was the only boy in the family. My mom was a single parent for most of my life and I was raised around her, my twin sister, and two older sisters who are also twins. My mom never knew her father, so there was that gap running through everything too. Being in that space made me more vulnerable and more attuned to people’s differences. My three sisters are completely different from each other, different heights, different interests, different energies, and watching them taught me early to appreciate the beauty in that. I would say my Chicago foundation is really centered around my family and the photography community there, which is huge. I learned a lot just by asking people how they achieved certain edits and absorbing everything I could. Going to Morehouse was a completely different world. I went from living with all women to living with all men for the first time in my life. I had never really traveled out of state before college so it was a new city, new people, new experiences all at once. I was heavily influenced by my environment in those early years. I kind of set the camera down for a bit because the camera was a very personal and emotional thing for me and I was hesitant to bring that side of myself into a new space. You have to feel safe before you can create like that. But eventually Atlanta became a playground. The pandemic hit while I was on campus and the whole world went still. Everyone was bored, everyone wanted to be outside, and suddenly I had willing subjects everywhere. I started putting into practice everything I had been learning through YouTube videos, color theory, composition, long exposure, dark photography, and now I was doing it with actual people. It forced me to communicate, to direct strangers, to speak up and say can you pose like this, can you move here. That was new for me and it elevated everything. I eventually left Morehouse for two years and got my associate’s degree in photography.

and classmates, and got the experience of creating within real constraints and assignments. Before that I was entirely self-taught. Everything came from YouTube and curiosity. You have to feel safe before you can create like that. Growth Magazine: The work you took in Chicago versus Atlanta, was the energy different? William Midgett: Very, very different. Chicago is full of skyscrapers and culture. A lot of my photography there was street photography, spread out across the city, the lakefront, nature areas, parking garages, my house, the neighborhood. I had room to move and room to explore. Atlanta during the pandemic was a different kind of challenge. I did not have transportation and the world was on lockdown so I had to find creative spaces right where I was. But you would never know looking at the photos that they were all taken within the same campus area. I found spots in garages, on top of signs, on tennis courts, in stairwells, on streets. Places that had no business being beautiful. I made them speak anyway. My subjects changed too. Back home my photography was mostly myself and women, and a lot of people with dark skin tones similar to my own family. Atlanta brought more male subjects and more diversity in skin tones and hair textures, which pushed my technical skills in a new direction and made me a more complete photographer. Growth Magazine: What are the pressures photographers face right now? William Midgett: The industry is very crowded. Everybody and their mother is a photographer now because of social media and phone cameras. So you really have to define what makes you different, not just for the world but for yourself. That line between a photographer and someone with a phone and a filter has gotten blurry and you have to be intentional about where you stand. Access to knowledge and resources is still a real barrier, especially for Black photographers who are not already dominating the field. You have to understand what paths are available to you, wedding photography, concert photography, sports, editorial, influencer content, and find where your work actually lives. But the deeper issue for me is AI and what it is doing to originality. AI is a real threat to creative existence. We are losing jobs and we are losing the ability to think originally. People see something and copy and paste it. In the seventies artists had to physically connect with each other to create. There was no internet. There was a spiritual openness, real instruments, communal energy, and people were doing the deep work by hand. That is why we are still talking about it. Now we are distracted, overworked, eating badly, and we do not have the mental space to conjure that kind of energy anymore. AI is not all bad. It should be a tool, a resource, just like anything else. But it should not replace the true

energy of a project. When you inject your own energy into your work the return is greater than anything mechanical or forced. The Earth responds to that.When you inject your own energy into your work the return is greater than anything mechanical or forced. The Earth responds to that. Growth Magazine: When you are photographing, who are you speaking to? Who are you trying to call in? William Midgett: When I started I wanted to speak to everybody. Over the years I have learned that I am only one person and I can only truly speak to what I know and what I have lived. As a Black male those are the strongest subjects I have. That is where my work is most honest. I think we as Black people carry an inherited guilt about centering our own community in our work, Growth Magazine: What subject feels easiest for you to photograph?

William Midgett is a photographer based in Chicago and Atlanta. Scan the QR code to learn more.

William Midgett: Black people. That is really what this whole conversation has been circling. I do not have much experience photographing other races and honestly there is a real and significant technical difference in how you expose and color grade for darker skin tones versus lighter ones. The way light lands differently, the way you have to adjust your approach. Growth Magazine: When someone puts your work down and walks away, what do you hope stays with them? William Midgett: I hope they walk away with the ability to see the beauty in themselves and in others. The biggest issue we have right now is that we do not truly see each other and we do not truly hear each other. I photograph ordinary spaces and I want people to understand that beauty already exists where they are. A lot of my Atlanta portfolio is literally a college campus and you would never know it. Garages, rooftops, tennis courts. I want people to love their life right now, love their space right now, regardless of what it looks like. What is already beautiful before the gentrification? What can we appreciate about where we are before the world decides it is worth something? My younger self had what felt like three things working against him. I was a dark-skinned Black man. I was short until eighth grade. And I did not see myself in movies. I loved Iron Man. I loved Captain America. They did not look like me. I appreciated Miles Morales but still wanted to see more emphasis on darker hues, on four-c hair, on the version of Blackness that does not come softened or ambiguous. I am making work for that boy. The one who did not feel seen. I am making work for that boy. The one who did not feel seen because beauty already exists wherever you are

BEAUTY ALREADY EXISTS WHERE YOU ARE.

PHOTO CREDIT :WILLIAM MIDGETT

A HUG FROM HOME BY: JOSEPHINE RUMPH.

The place we first called home never quite leaves us. Its streets still live in our dreams. The corner store that always seemed to have an endless supply of Laffy Taffy was more like a landmark than a store. The smell of honeysuckle that ushered in summer also gave permission slips to hang out with friends for hours each day. We can still hear the baseball games that gathered communities for a Saturday afternoon of friendly competition. Over the years, these towns have changed their faces. Many are hollow now. The park where we learned to ride our bikes has gone to seed, its swings unmoving, its benches waiting on stories that no longer arrive. However, there are towns that have become too polished to recognize. The field that welcomed laughter and games is now home to banks and pharmacies. The wooded area just outside of town is now filled with shops and a crowd of people who are unknown to many of us. All too often the churches, once the heartbeat of a Sunday morning, stand quieter now. A few faithful souls keep the doors open and the lights on. Often, they are helped along by envelopes mailed from those who moved away but never quite let go. The choir is smaller, the shouts softer, but the old pews still remember every bowed head and whispered prayer. Maybe it is time to take a trip back home. Take a weekend and slip into the stands at a high school homecoming game, clap along with the band, call an old classmate by name. Set the alarm early and make a special trip just to

sit in that church again, singing the hymns you thought you had forgotten.Understandably, home isn’t the same for everyone. Not everyone left by choice. Some doors can no longer be knocked on. Sadly, some voices are no longer there to greet us. That’s just the reality for many people. For those of us who still have the freedom to go back home, what if we paused for a moment, stepped out of our busy lives, and gave our hometown a little of our time? A long, unhurried visit, a slow drive down the streets that raised us, might offer the peace we’ve been craving. Let our hometown wrap us in its sweet, familiar memories. Remembering the quiet joy of a simpler time, and recognizing how it still lives in us, can be the breath we didn’t know we needed. Every one of us needs a break from bills, career pressures, and everyday responsibilities. Sometimes the best reset is reconnecting with a place that once held our laughter, our dreams, and our beginnings. Even if home has changed, we still know what it was for us. That kind of home never stops being home. Scan the QR Code to grab a copy of Josphine’s book, Broken Soul

THE COST By: Johnetta Shonte Rabb

OF PURPOSE Purpose is often described as doing the things you were created to do. We grow up navigating through life, always trying to find ourselves and discovering through very subtle things what we like and don’t like about ourselves. I like to think that somewhere along the way we pick up passions, uncover talents, come across hobbies, finding joy in everything that makes us unique, and either we fall into those things, or we hold ourselves back. I believe that the lights we were born with shines unapologetically until something happens that makes us cower down. In the early 2000s you use to be able to go into Shoe Carnival and spin the wheel and maybe win a coupon on whatever latest sneakers were available. I remember going in and being so excited knowing they would have a mic for me to grab, and to my anticipation there was a showcase-your-talent-get-a-prize contest, and I was ready, or at least it seemed; I mean I had been singing all my life. I saw this beautiful little girl in this pink dress grabbing the mic and she started to sing her ABCs and to my surprise, the crowd went wild awing and clapping and just so amazed at this little girl. The cheers and claps got louder as the whole store seemed to stop listening to LMNOP, and for the first time I felt small, maybe even jealous that this simple song was getting all this hype. As my turn approached, I knew in my heart to sing my favorite song, I’m going Down by Mary J Blige, but my mind was already made up. Let’s just say ABCs the second time doesn’t get the same reaction. So, why am I telling you a story about a little girl singing her ABCs? It’s a testament that we are all, even as little kids are very much aware of our potential. The fear we accumulate overtime starts with a small seed of doubt, like comparison, or not feeling good enough, but , I’m here to remind you that, every one of us was created with a purpose, on purpose, in purpose. There is no mistake of intention behind the gifts and talents we possess. The responsibility is not just in knowing what you have and can do but, actually executing the idea and giving your all in everything you do. Purpose is not a one size fits all approach. Some people know exactly who they are and pursue greatness relentlessly while others struggle with insecurities. I believe that no matter the path, the testimony is what makes for a great story for whoever is supposed to read it. How we show up for ourselves by affirming our gifts has a

great effect on how we view ourselves, our circumstances, and the ability we have to accomplish the goals we set in place. Fear creeps in like a sudden cough and can have a crippling influence as well, especially if it’s never dealt with or acknowledged. It’s okay to be scared, but, the issue is the stagnation that often comes with it. The cost of purpose involves more than just letting life happen to you, it’s about taking life for what it is, full of the ups and downs and all arounds, and still realizing that the space you take up has significance. It is your God given right to exist and do everything you were created to do. To step into alignment, it takes discipline, self-control, being intentional, and accountability. To get results it takes time and effort and that involves continuing to go even during times it may seem like you gave up. I’m learning that the biggest obstacle is not the thing in front of me but dealing with whatever is inside of me that doesn’t believe I’m capable of doing what I’m literally made to do. I challenge you to get involved in your own self-development which may look like taking a leap of faith, joining a community that is in alignment with what it is you’re wanting to do, and persevering to the finish line. You are more capable that you realize but, it takes just a small act of faith to walk into purpose. Remember the path to what you’re called to do may not look anything like the way you think it should and that is okay too. The time to become everything you’ve been destined and created to be is not tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year, the time is now.

2 Corinthians 8 :10-12 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

WHEN A LEGEND MEETS HIS STORY

BY: ANGELA NEWKIRK

“It Never Rains in Southern California,” is a catchy old tune that sneaks into your spirit and gently persuades your shoulders to sway. I thought about that song the day someone made a similar declaration while I was teaching at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama. It happened to be one of the biggest days of my life, a day when history was about to collide with my classroom. The iconic Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a man whose courage helped bend the moral arc of this nation, was coming to my school to witness a play I had written about him. And then nature decided to play comedian. Snow. In the forecast. In Alabama. By morning, the campus carried that strange Southern hush that only snow can summon. The sky hung low and gray, and students moved a little slower, as if unsure whether to believe what the weather report had promised.

ment. According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, it was Shuttlesworth who extended the invitation that brought Dr. King to Birmingham. I called it “the invitation that sparked a revolution.” I will never forget asking my theatre class, “How would you all like to participate in a play about Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth?” You know, the man the airport is named after, the man with a street named after him too.” My voice quivered with anticipation. After I shared the depth, courage, and sheer audacity of this maverick of a man, the class responded with a resounding yes. In their faces I saw pride. Many of them had grown up driving past those signs without fully knowing the sacrifice behind the name.

I told Michell Wilder, the real estate agent assigned to us, about my idea. She eventually became my First Lady as my husband and I joined Bethel Baptist Church, where How could this be? When I told my class about the imRev. Shuttlesworth once served as pastor. She casually pending meteorological betrayal, a chorus erupted. “It said,“Well, I know Rev. Shuttlesworth’s wife. You can call never snows in Alabama!” Their confidence was so bold it her for permission.” Just like that, a door swung open. echoed off the classroom walls. I exhaled a long, theatriMrs. Shuttlesworth was gracious, warm, and encouraging. cal whoosa, grateful for the reassurance. Still, beneath my When she gave her blessing, the project stopped feeling smile, I felt the flutter of nerves. This was not just another like an assignment and started feeling like alignment. I production. This was history breathing. My family had traveled to Louisiana for our annual Thanksgiving with recently relocated to Alabama.We packed up our lives and hope that a spark would unlock my creativity and allow me followed my husband’s job transfer, landing in a place rich to write the script for the production. The family visit was with history, complexity, and stories waiting to be told. I met with all of the tradition, but I needed something else. did not yet know that Alabama would hand me one of the I needed to put the story on paper that was already alive in most sacred stories of my life. Our relocation agent, whose my heart. husband pastored a local church that we later joined, welcomed us with warmth from day one. Our connection was My body was present for the holiday, but my mind kept instant, and our kinship has endured ever since. drifting back to Birmingham, to Rev. Shuttlesworth, to an empty page waiting for courage. On Saturday, we would As I began researching the extraordinary life of Rev. Fred caravan to the Bayou Classic…the legendary rivalry Shuttlesworth, I became captivated. The deeper I dug, the between Southern University and Grambling State. That more he revealed himself as a giant whose footsteps shaped particular year, the cold was so fierce it felt like the wind the very soil of Alabama. Born in 1922 in Mount Meigs, had a personal vendetta. I wore enough layers to qualify as Alabama, Fred Shuttlesworth grew up under the crushing a walking laundry basket. After the game, back at the hotel weight of Jim Crow, but he refused to accept a world built and wrapped in all that warmth, creativity struck. While on fear. After becoming a Baptist minister, he transformed my family slept, I sat at a small desk near the window, the his pulpit into a command center for justice. In 1956, he heater humming steadily in the background. I stayed up founded the Alabama Christian Movement for Human half the night writing, letting everything I had learned Rights when Alabama banned the NAACP, instantly beabout Rev. Shuttlesworth pour onto the page. It felt less like coming a primary target for white supremacists. I was creating and more like I was uncovering something that had been waiting for me. His story came alive, bold, On Christmas Day that same year, the Ku Klux Klan unfiltered, and powerful.There was only one problem. By bombed his home in an assassination attempt. I remember the time I finished, the cast was entirely male. It was not pausing in my research at that detail, staring at the page intentional, just how the inspiration landed. I paused to and picturing smoke rising from splintered wood, tryconsider how often women’s labor in movements lives being to imagine gathering your children from rubble and hind the curtain of official history. Thankfully, the females still believing in justice. Yet he walked out of the debris in my class stepped up with grace, ready to run the behindunharmed and more determined than ever. He led bus the-scenes enchantment that makes theatre possible. boycotts, school integration efforts, and relentless protests that drew national attention. His boldness eventually I assembled a cast of first-time thespians, eager, nervous, pulled Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian and determined to honor a man who helped change the Leadership Conference into Birmingham, setting the stage course of Alabama’s history. After weeks of rehearsals, the for one of the most pivotal confrontations of the moveexcitement was electric. Lines were memorized. Cues were

sharpened. Costumes were adjusted again and again. Then the big day arrived. My son, a kindergartener at the time, was right by my side. I wanted him to witness history in real time, to see that ordinary classrooms can hold extraordinary moments. We had secured space on campus, printed programs, and set the stage. And then it happened. Snow. Real snow. Alabama snow. Large flakes drifted down, soft but insistent, covering sidewalks and dusting car hoods. For a brief moment, I wondered if the weather would silence the room before the curtain ever rose. But then came the miracle. The door opened. And there he was. Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth himself, being gently wheeled in by his wife. Time slowed. My breath caught in my throat. My hands trembled. For a moment, I was no longer the playwright. I was a student of history standing before it. It is not every day you write a play about an icon, and the icon shows up to watch it. It felt as though destiny had taken a seat in the front row. My students performed beautifully, moving across the stage with reverence and fire. I watched Rev. Shuttlesworth watching them, his gaze steady, his focus unbroken. I wondered what memories were rising in him as young voices carried his battles, his prayers, his defiance. In that moment, I realized what had happened. I had written about history. And history had come, wrapped in a winter coat and quiet dignity, to witness itself remembered. They said it never snows in Alabama. But that day, it did. And sometimes the rarest things fall from the sky just to remind us of limitless possibilities

BEING BLACK IN THE SOUTH IS BEING THE DARK MATTER

ESSENTIAL TO THE SHAPE OF THE THING ABSENT FROM THE PICTURE OF IT. DARK MATTER:THE INVISIBLE STUFF THAT HOLDS THE UNIVERSE TOGETHER , KNOWN ONLY BY THE PULL IT EXERTS ON EVERYTHING YOU CAN SEE.

Jim CROW

GODDAM!

Alabama’s gotten me so upset Tennessee made me lose my rest And everybody knows about Mississippi, goddamn! Nina Simone (1963)

I’ve been in love with the South from as early as I can remember. If that old fading farm buried in Brunswick County, Virginia had been a religion my compulsion would have been called a “calling.” I was born to one of those strong traditions where the South was always home and those that lived and were born abroad were in something of an exile, which required regular returns for renewal. I went early and often before my grandparents retired and took me back home to live with them. My second home was my beloved Great Aunt’s place that came equipped with a fully stocked farm pond. The house sat on a steep hill that slopped away to the North and east. The pond lay at the foot of the small mound about fifty yards from the house. A budding fisherman, I was delighted to discover that there was no tide. I had learned to fish on the Hackensack River in New Jersey; a part of the tidal system that governs the Hudson Bay. This limited the amount of time we could spend productively at water’s edge. I had often walked alone , from my home to “Riverside Park,” rod in hand, worms in a bag only to find that the water was out too far to reach with my reels. “Down South” you could fish when you pleased. Almost heaven… No tide! But the talk that ensued with my Great Aunt, Sally, upon this life altering discovery soon cast something of a shadow upon the whole affair that would follow me the rest of my life. One afternoon, I received “the talk”- southern style- and it was an altogether different vibe. I was warned of the dangers of being “caught” out too far alone and the need to be vigilant or generally watchful around white folk. Her subtle and not so subtle suggestions were punctuated by the horrifying tale of a man who had been “lynched over in Dolphin.” They found his body with “everything that hung off, cut off, from head to toe.” I was horrified; she chuckled. I had gotten the point. The charmed air of a May magnolia bloom quickly morphed into the sickly-sweet smell of an August roadkill. This was around 1970 or 71. I would have been roughly nine years old. Segregation had been “defeated,” and a new world was in reach. A few more “strides toward freedom” and the multiracial, democratic order of peace and justice for which all true Americans aspire would be within our grasp. And the “signs” were gone. Yet, for all of that, the terror lingered in the air and depending upon the way the wind blew, you caught the smell of magnolia or the acrid air of a kill somewhere on the big road. “Jim Crow, Goddam!” Roughly twenty years later, on a cold, typically dreary Chicago afternoon, I sat at my desk toiling at my graduate school course work. The phone rang. It startled me. On the other end, a relatively faint voice rose, hardly-above-a-whisper, along a crackling wire connection. It sounded eerily as though it spoke in the moment but from another space and time. I had recently assumed the senior pastorship of the once prestigious Monumental Baptist Church in the heart of South Side Chicago. We shared joint Thanksgiving services with Dr. Clay Evens and the Fellowship Baptist Church at the time, and I had very recently delivered the joint holiday message. This “voice” called to compliment me on the sermon and my beautiful family. As he did so, he gave clear indication he knew a lot more about us than he was saying. This was the first of several such calls. They were all very encouraging, but we had espied a disturbing pattern in our conversations. He always steered clear of questions of identity and would rush the call to a speedy conclusion if we pressed him on it or how he seemed to know so much about us. Finally, the curiosity got the best of us. So, we determined to make inquiries into my wife’s side of the family since that was clearly how he seemed to know who we were. What we found was far more disturbing than the rather well intended tease first seemed to imply. And it did not take long to discover. We first approached my father-in-law; and that was as far as we had to go. After describing the cryptic calls, the kind of questions “the voice” asked and what he already seemed to know, the response was decisive. After a pregnant pause he responded to our inquiry with a deep sigh, a memory and another cautionary tale. For now, I had children of my own. Sometime back in his childhood, my father-in-law, Samuel Nicholson and some of his kin was working a field. They had been at their task since sunup, and it was now time to eat dinner before returning to the field for the second shift. It would last until sundown.

A young boy of their kin, too young yet to work the fields was sent to retrieve them. They hurried to the house but took note of some white men lurking down in the woods. The youngster however lingered, playfully, as they rushed on to their afternoon meal. Upon finishing they noticed that the youngster had yet to reach the house. They were told to send him home when they saw him. When they saw him, he was running toward the house, clutching the rags that were once his clothes and bleeding from his backside. When they returned to the house that evening, he was gone. He had been spirited away for his own safety. Violently ripped away from his home as he was now called upon, in his little crucifixion, to bear the weight of his rapist’s sin. His suffering compounded by the malefactors’ impunity and power. The family never mentioned it openly again, but the traumatic echo had bounced back through their children some forty years later. Generational trauma clings to your shoes like graveyard dirt. It leaves a dust trail along your path in life, always leading back to that tragi-traumatic field in which our collective paths integrate to form a canonical web of origin in which we all share. “Jim Crow, Goddamn!” Everybody knows about Jim Crow. It always seemed an odd and curious term. I never liked it. There were two crows that appeared relatively often in the popular cartoons that once populated Saturday morning TV. Perhaps my childish association was picking up something more sinister, because I inevitably thought of those two clowning black crows whenever I heard the term, “Jim Crow.” When you think about the term there is nothing really serious about it. It is rather cartoonish and as it turns out, it was meant to be. How things are named or symbolized determines their intellectual, emotional and spiritual horizon. Symbols function like semiconductors facilitating the flow of some things while prohibiting the flow of others. If ordinary words are the CPU’s of the linguistic universe, symbols are the GPU’s facilitating a much broader range of visualization and emotional reach. Both “words” and to a more expansive degree, “symbols” are enabling and constraining. Words and symbols do not have unlimited range in their capacity to express or explain human experience, create understanding, build empathic bridges, or establish truth. A deep dive AI summary on Google lays out clearly the essentials of the popular understanding of the history and meaning of the term. It will be sufficient for our purposes. Origin of the Term -The Character: The name originated from a blackface minstrel routine called “Jump Jim Crow,” performed by white entertainer Thomas Dartmouth “Daddy” Rice in the 1830s. -The Caricature: Rice portrayed “Jim Crow” as a dim-witted, exaggerated caricature of an enslaved man, which helped popularize racist stereotypes.` -Transition to Law: By the 1880s and 1890s, the term transitioned from a stage persona to a shorthand for the system of laws and practices used to reinstate white supremacy after the Reconstruction Era. The outline above explains the term’s origin and offers a functional definition. What this description will not tell you is that the symbolic function of the term is far more impactful than what can be garnered from a distillation of its cultural logistics and juridical implications. It will not tell you how this term functions and continues to function as a key ideological component of the neo-liberal whitewash of black oppression. It will not tell you that naming Black trauma and pain after a cartoonish blackface character intended to degrade black life in every way must be one of the most thoughtless indulgences the Black intelligencia has ever cosigned. And, moreover, to carry this idiocy any further into the 21st century (for sentimental reasons?) would be unconscionable. To symbolize your pain in a racist cartoon character and wonder why the world doesn’t heed your witness or take your pain as seriously as it should, is to court the absurd. They don’t because you don’t. “Jim Crow, Goddamn!” What we endured for centuries is nothing short of “terror” and that’s how the institution of white supremacy should be treated and named. It was not about this or that particular incident. But rather about how this or that incident powered and sustained the chronically stressed “field” in which Blacks are embedded. Black people have endured an historic and institutionalized reign of white terror since this colonial project of genocidal slavery became the West’s policy of imperial expansion. We didn’t suffer Jim Crow. We suffered and continue to endure raced based terror. The image of Jim Crow is another ultimately flaccid effort to shield whiteness from its own intrinsic rot and the depth of its horror. “Jim Crow” is at the core of a “critique” many white liberals can live with while they extend enough access to a few privileged Blacks to sustain the myth of progress- as they plow, farm and troll us in other ways. “Jim Crow, Goddamn!” “Jim Crow” has a primarily symbolic function. As such, it functions as noted above. Like a GPU it allows for the flow of colorful information that confirms the optimistic vision of the American nation in righteous pursuit of a more perfect union. It prevents however the flow of the dark matter that would put that myth to the lie. In this way we see its ideological function. Alas! Symbols reveal and conceal at the same time. As a result of the distillation performed by the term Jim Crow all unwanted information is captured by the “signs” (segregation) and discarded. This effectively erases the terror from view as it continues now to wreak havoc on Black life; an experience they can no longer name. So, we

use vague words like oppression that inevitably flatten out our story with everyone else’s who plugs into the term and…, a whitewash in the back spin. The liberal side of the white supremacist posture may now rest comfortably on its “laurels” while the Black community remains embedded in the field as well as stagnant if not receding across every major social and economic indicator. This is an example of why special care must be put into the analysis of the terms and symbols we take for granted; particularly when black people have borrowed so many of their analytical tools from the “oppressor’s” spiritual and intellectual workshop. “Jim Crow, Goddamn!” For a relatively short illustration of how the absurdity replicates itself and reinforces the relatively fixed white supremacist framework, I offer this tragi-comedic, if not historically accurate, scenario. After Blacks bought into the neoliberal moral obfuscation through colorless terms like oppression, whites reclaimed the moral high ground by adding white women and gays; then criticized Blacks for the sexism implicit in “Jim Crow.” Chastened, the Black intelligencia added “Jane” Crow and called it progress! All the while still trapped within the preestablished parameters of a system that degrades our reality and devalues our pain. For a relatively short illustration of how the absurdity replicates itself and reinforces the relatively fixed white supremacist framework, I offer this tragi-comedic, if not historically accurate, scenario. After Blacks bought into the neoliberal moral obfuscation through colorless terms like oppression, whites reclaimed the moral high ground by adding white women and gays; then criticized Blacks for the sexism implicit in “Jim Crow.” Chastened, the Black intelligencia added “Jane” Crow and called it progress! All the while still trapped within the preestablished parameters of a system that degrades our reality and devalues our pain. “Jim Crow, Goddamn!” Viewed from the perspective of “Jim Crow” one tends to see that side of the reality where Blacks were kept out of and away from white things. This perspective also tends to reinforce the (bad) narcissism at the heart of most if not all racist ideologies by couching whiteness as not only normative but desirable. Thus, adding to the potency of “access” denial. Moreover, it functions almost like a psychic intoxicant lifting even the poorest white man to an elevated and inflated state of mind, bordering at its height on delusions of grandeur. But alas! You would miss that other key element of the White Terror and that is its primary function, keeping the ex-slave, colonized folk contained. When conceived of in these terms, southern racism begins to look a lot like its northern kin. The removal of the signs hardly meant the loss of or lack of containment. They were only a visible “sign” of a deeply rationalized and institutionalized reign of terror. The terror is not primarily to keep Black people out by keeping them away; but to keep them contained so they can be monitored, controlled and continually subject to multi-dimensional exploitation. The signs were largely ceremonial reminders of our colonial captivity. The White Terror was not merely an exaggerated “Keep Out” sign. It was the careful cultivation and grooming of a captive to render them available for use at the whim of the ruling racial class. “Jim Crow, Goddamn!” The overtly legal apparatus that gave bone and structure to America’s ruling racist regime seems to have collapsed under the weight of an historic African American struggle. That part of the skeletal structure of white supremacy broke down perhaps but quickly cooked into a light crude easily processed through the heat of white rage into negative energy and kinetic political power. We have no need to look any further than this present hour. To be sure, we are witnessing an outbreak of the demonic, a moment when some evil “geist” has captured the handlebars of history and gone careening off-road. There is a virus at work in the veins of American culture that strengthens periodically to further sicken the body politic with fear, suffering, cruelty, death and division. Institutionalized and culturally routinized terror is America’s chosen method of management for the marginalized. This has always been the case and those that worship at the altar of whiteness have declared that it ever more shall be. “Terror now, terror tomorrow and terror forever!” should have been George Wallace’s battle cry while blocking the doorway to Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama. He would have still been relevant. “Jim Crow, I’ll be damned!”

Pastor Matthew V. Johnson Sr. PhD Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Pratt City

THE LAST WORD ON BEGINNING

I CARRIED THIS MAGAZINE FOR YEARS BEFORE IT HAD A NAME. IT LIVED IN NOTEBOOKS, IN THE BACK OF CONVERSATIONS, IN THE BOXES I PACKED AND UNPACKED AS I CARRIED IT FROM INDIANA TO ALABAMA. I KEPT TELLING MYSELF I’D START WHEN I HAD MORE TIME, MORE MONEY, MORE CERTAINTY. NONE OF THOSE EVER SHOWED UP. WHAT SHOWED UP INSTEAD WAS A QUIET, STUBBORN FEELING THAT IF I DIDN’T MAKE THE THING, IT WOULD KEEP MAKING ME RESTLESS. SO I MADE IT. ALONE, AT FIRST, THE WAY MOST OF US START. LATE NIGHTS, MY OWN PHOTOGRAPHS, MY OWN MISTAKES. THEN TWO PEOPLE SAID, “LET ME HELP,” AND I LEARNED SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ALREADY: LIBERATION IS NOT A SOLO ACT. IT NEVER HAS BEEN. EVERY CREATIVE I’VE MET IS HOLDING UP SOMEBODY ELSE’S DREAM WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR OWN ALIVE WITH THE OTHER.THAT’S WHO THIS MAGAZINE IS FOR.

I CALLED IT GROWTH BECAUSE I DON’T BELIEVE IN ARRIVING. I BELIEVE IN THE SEED THAT GOES UNDERGROUND AND STAYS THERE FOR A SEASON THAT FEELS TOO LONG. I BELIEVE FAITH IS WHAT YOU PRACTICE WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE THE HARVEST YET. AND I BELIEVE CREATIVITY, FOR US, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FORM OF FREEDOM, A WAY OF SAYING “I WAS HERE, AND I SAW IT THIS WAY.”THIS IS ISSUE ONE. IT’S NOT PERFECT. IT’S HONEST, AND IT’S OURS. A SEED NEEDS SOMEONE WILLING TO PLANT IT, AND THE SEED MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT WAS GIVEN BY THE ALABAMA CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER THROUGH THE VERDANT GRANT. WE ARE THANKFUL.SO HERE’S MY QUESTION FOR YOU, SINCE YOU’VE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK: WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU’VE BEEN CARRYING? THE PROJECT YOU KEEP STARTING IN YOUR HEAD. THE STORY NOBODY ASKED YOU TO TELL YET. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE READY. YOU JUST HAVE TO BEGIN. AND WHEN YOU DO, TELL US ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THERE’S A PAGE FOR THAT . -LATASHA

faith, creativity & liberation in the South Now accepting submissions for upcoming issues

Call for Artists & Contributors Growth Magazine is a publication for Southern creatives, a place where the work that comes out of our churches, kitchens, porches, studios, and streets gets the room it deserves. We are looking for painters, photographers, poets, essayists, designers, makers, and storytellers across seven Southeastern states whose work speaks to where we come from and where we are going. More Southern states are on the way. Alabama

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