Spring 2022 Tween Brown Sugar Box Mini Magazine

Brown

Sugar Box irls

nG r Twee

Fo

Spring 2022

What’s in Your Box?

What Does

the Music

Mean?

Zulaikha Patel Proves You're Never Too Young to Start a Movement

H e lp Chik a

with Her Nigerian Adventure

S pr ing Y

ou are just as much African as you are American. Our story began long before slavery in a far-off majestic place. If someone asked, “Where are you from?” you’d probably tell them about your neighborhood, or your city and state.

Not so fast! That is only the beginning of your beautiful story. Yes, you were born in one city but you’re from Africa. Okay so maybe there’s a little more to it than that, but it’s all in the name. African Americans are descendants of people from Africa. You come from a long line of chiefs, warriors, and queens on the second largest continent in the world. Your Spring Edition of the Brown Sugar Box celebrates the wondrous sights and sounds from the African the continent.

Young Queen Long Sleeve Tees

Life just keeps on getting sweeter and sweeter. This month we handpicked four tees with young queens like you in mind. You’re a star on the rise with plenty of beauty and brains to go around. You’ll receive 1 of 4 designs: Sweet Cocoa Beauty Sweatshirt, Queens & Things Sweatshirt, Beautiful Youth Sweatshirt, or Mood Long-sleeve Tee.

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Unity Charm Necklace

What you see is a charm necklace with a butterfly design. There’s a little more to it though. This symbol is derived from Ghanaian adinkra symbols that stand for various proverbs and expressions. This symbol, called ‘Bebe Saka or “sack of cola nuts,” represents a sign of abundance and unity. You’re a great friend who’s always looking to bring everyone together. This necklace was meant for you!

Pretty Patterns Satin Knotted Headband

Your edges are a sign of wealth. Jk! But no for real, protect them at all costs! This satin knotted headband comes in handy on wash day, while you’re at the gym, or simply as a cute accessory to set off your signature look.

One Crazy Summer

Three ordinary sisters learning to adjust to a new life with their mom are in for an unexpected journey when she sends them to a Black Panther summer camp! One Crazy Summer written by Rita Williams-Garcia is just that. These girls will become a little more revolutionary and radical for the cause, whether they know it or not. This is a story of learning to hold your head high even when nothing around you seems to make sense.

Abundance Bamboo Earrings

Ask your mama and aunties, bamboo earrings have been around long before you came on the scene. Every girl needs a throwback in her wardrobe.

These silver-plated bamboo hoops are very much giving ABUNDANCE!

Beauty + Brains Mini Bag

You were born with beauty and brains. Need we say more?! You’re the entire package and there will never be another you. This mini-bag does all the talking.

You’ll never want to leave home without it.

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What Does

The Music Mean?

By Saeeda Ruffin

H

ave you ever heard a beat or a song that made you just want to get up and dance?

Of course you have! Music can be very powerful. It has the ability to change your mood, get you excited, or to just make you think. Yes, music can do all of that! But, for those whose ancestors come from Africa, music can mean even more.

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It’s officially Black History Month, and this is a perfect time to put a spotlight on African music and culture. Little Sis, let’s learn more about those drums, beats, and rhythms, and how they are used in Africa.

You might be surprised to learn that music is not just for entertainment, dance classes, and parties there. In Africa, music has real meaning. Here are some ways music is used in African culture.

Historical Sounds Different areas of Africa are known for different styles of music; however, they all use music to keep the members of their tribes connected. Music is passed from generation to generation. Africans use songs as a part of the storytelling when sharing their tribal history.

When you think of music being used for storytelling, you probably think of lots of drums beating. Well, that would be right! Drums are the heart of the community, and they are almost always accompanied by some type of dancing or singing. Keep in mind, the singing may not be what you are accustomed to hearing on the radio or from today’s rappers or pop stars.

Tribal singing can include chants and even animal sounds.

Work Music In Africa, those who do the chopping, digging, farming and other physical jobs usually make music while they work.

Work music typically includes repetitive beats, humming, and tribal sounds. This allows workers to communicate with each other and maintain a steady rhythm when working in a group. It’s so cool when you think about it!

Music For Important Moments In Africa, every significant event has music associated with it.

Whether it’s a marriage, a tribal ceremony, or even when a baby is born, there will be music.

For the more social events, the music will be really lively, and of course, there will be singing and dancing. That doesn’t mean that all of the music is happy music. In fact, when Africans are humming, wailing, and showing a lot of emotion during a song, that signifies something super important going on. One of the most fascinating things is that Africans don’t just use the sounds coming from drums and other instruments, they use their own bodies to make music.

Africans are crazy talented!

The next time you hear a really bumping beat, think about how the music makes you feel. Does it make you want to dance and sing? Does it make you think about doing your schoolwork or chores? Does it make you want to celebrate with your family? If it makes you want to do any of those things, that’s awesome!

Told you, music can be very powerful! Music is a major part of African culture, so enjoy it, have fun with it. Let music touch your heart and soul, just like your ancestors have done. Happy Black History Month!

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T he

Str ength

By Saeeda Ruffin & Racquel Parker

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Y

oung queen, do you know how much strength you have inside of you? You guessed right, it’s a whole lot. Black women are everything and that’s a fact. Where do we draw all our strength from? The answer is a place we call the “Motherland” …Africa. Yup, right back to the home of our ancestors.

Keep the Family Together In Africa, women were responsible for the health of the family, caring for the home and so much more while men focused on being providers. The men might be gone for long periods of time, hunting and working, to provide for their families. During those times, the women had to shoulder the responsibility of making sure that everyone was taken care of and that the homestead remained intact.

As a result, women created these amazing and unified communities -- yes, Sis, the Village! The sisterhood they built and nurtured allowed them to lean on each other, grow together, and love each other’s families like their own.

Even today, that sisterhood lives on.

Leadership Roles Beyond the village, there were other women who were tasked with even greater leadership roles. They were the real-life African queens. These queens were incredibly powerful, with their riches and sovereignty over their lands.

They led men and warriors and were required to fight for their people. They were about their business and giving up was definitely not an option. Many are descendants of those queens. Their fight and determination live on in Black women today.

Remember your strength comes from within and it’s fueled by your ancestors. Don’t ever let anyone hold you back from being great. Remember you’re a queen and flex your strength every chance you get.

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Here’s a few snapshots from previous tween boxes.

Our Brown Sugar Tweens are THE BEST! We LOVE all the pictures you shared of them and their boxes! Here are a few highlights from previous boxes.

Congratulations to last box’s WINNER! Ka’Trina was randomly selected from everyone who shared their last box on social media to WIN her next box FREE. Thank you to everyone who shared! We appreciate you! Don’t forget to share this box using the hashtags #IzzyandLiv #BrownSugarBoxTweens and tag @izzyandliv for your chance to win next month’s giveaway.

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Chika’s

Worksheet

Nigerian Adventure

By Girl Tyler

H

i! My name is Chika. I live in Texas and I’m Nigerian. Well, I’m not exactly from Nigeria. My parents were born there and they came to the United States in the 1990s as immigrants. First, they had my older brother Jide, then me! We’re as traditional as they come. My dad makes the best Jollof and I’ve been learning how to make it on my own. This summer, we’re going to Africa. I’m really nervous because I’ve never been to Nigeria before. Well actually, I have, but I was really little and barely remember a thing!

Most of my family is there, like my favorite cousin Sade and my grandparents. We FaceTime a lot.

When I get there, I can’t wait to stuff my face with akara! I’ve seen many pictures of Nigeria from our family photo album and Sade sends me pics too, but I really want to make the most of my time there.

Yikes! We’re only visiting for a week! I need to make the most of this trip.

What should I wear? Are there any festivals I should check out? What about the market? What foods should I pick up?

Here’s where you come in! Can you help me plan an unforgettable adventure? In the space below, help me compile a list of sites to visit and activities I should try during my family vacation to Nigeria.

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Zulaikha Patel Proves You're Never Too Young to Start a Movement

By Girl Tyler

I

magine going to school and being reprimanded every day by the principal for the texture of your hair. Sounds pretty insane, right?

Unfortunately, for young girls at Pretoria High School for Girls in South Africa in 2016, that was reality.

The school imposed a strict code of conduct that required “conservative” and “neat” hairstyles in line with its school uniform policy. While Black girls weren’t directly called out, it was pretty obvious that the school had a bias against curly haired girls. Students complained that administrators asked them to straighten their afros or change their hair completely. Girls with locs faced even harsher criticism. This policy was not new, instead, it was considered to be social retaliation from the region’s dark racial past.

Apartheid is South Africa’s version of the South’s Jim Crow laws. Segregation was the goal in social and political environments. The alternative often resulted in violence. Up until the end of South Africa’s apartheid in the early 1990’s, Pretoria High only admitted white students. Once the country’s strict apartheid laws were lifted, schools were also integrated. Lawmakers and people in positions of power found indirect ways to be racist, but Zulaikha Patel had finally had enough. At age 13, she took a stand that would forever change the course of Pretoria High and the fate of other Black students experiencing hair discrimination.

Zulaikha rose to prominence in 2016 when she criticized the school’s

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racist hair policies and prejudiced rules that impacted Black girls. To stop the students from organizing, Zulaikha says administrators forbade more than three Black girls from gathering at a time. The girls were threatened with disciplinary action and even arrest.

Undaunted, Zulaikha led her classmates in a demonstration. Videos of the silent protests spread like wildfire across social media all the way to the U.S. A security team was sent to the school which escalated the situation. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Other schools joined in the movement, activating more teens to confront systems that unfairly treated Black girls. Thanks to Zulaikha’s bravery, the school revised its code of conduct and an investigation was launched into claims of racism.

Today, Zulaikha is a social justice activist and author of My Coily Crowny Hair. She is a reminder that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You can raise awareness of issues that are near and dear to your heart.

When you speak with truth and sincerity, you’ll get your message across. All it takes is one person to spark change. You can be that person. Stand up for what you know is right.

Follow Zulaikha on Instagram @zulaikhapatel_

For your parents Frequently asked questions WHEN WILL I BE BILLED FOR THE MONTHLY RECURRING MEMBERSHIP? Box Season

Renewal Billing Dates

Shipping Begins

Summer 2022

April 15

Second half of May ‘22

Fall 2022

July 15

Second half of August ‘22

Winter/Holiday 2022

October 15

Second half of November ‘22

Spring 2023

January 15

Second half of February ‘23

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To cancel your subscription, log in to your account and click on the Subscription tab, then click “edit” next to your subscription.

You can also email us at support@izzyandliv.com to request that we cancel for you.

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I RECEIVED MY BOX AND I AM MISSING AN ITEM, ONE OF MY ITEMS WAS DAMAGED, OR MY SHIRT IS NOT THE SIZE I ORDERED. CAN I GET A REPLACEMENT? If you received your Kids & Tweens Brown Sugar Boxes and you are missing an item from your box, an item has been damaged in shipping, or you received the wrong size shirt, please email us at support@izzyandliv.com within 7 days from receipt of your box and we will replace the item for you.

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