VIOLET SUMMER ZINE ISS. 9 1
© 2020 Violet Summer Zine, All Rights Reserved. Published by: Mel Writes, LLC
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PANDEMIC EDITION 3
Melissa Henderson
Ashley Uzer
Nicole Lockhart
Melissa is the founder of Violet Summer Zine and loves the beach. Any beach, really. She is currently working on digital rights advocacy projects and hopes to participate with more activities around the community and/or for the greater good. When she is not writing, she is at a workout class, eating mussels, or streaming a series like Greenleaf, watching Youtube how-tos and mini gossip sessions, or reading a book. Follow her work on www.violetsummerzine.com
Ashley is a writer, artist, and blogger with a focus on affordable fashion, plantbased food, travel, and lifestyle. She also sometimes get on her soapbox and talk about her soberish lifestyle or her obsession with gratitude journals. Ashley has written for DC Magazine, Galore Media, Bustle, HelloGiggles, VICE, and more. Follow her on Instagram @AshleyGiov Read her work on page 19.
Nicole Lockhart is a writer living in Harlem, NYC. Her first novel, “ nadequate” was self-published in 2014. She is also an accomplished filmmaker, her visual-poem “All My Black Sons” was an official selection of the Harlem International Film Festival. Her work focuses on the giving narrative voice to our greatest wishes and our deepest fears. Her forthcoming title is a memoir, “Mrs. Putnam & Marcy” and will be published Fall 2020. Read her work on page 12.
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Aramide A. Tinubu
Kahlil Haywood
Stephanie Alexandre
Aramide A. Tinubu is a film critic and entertainment journalist. Her work has been published in EBONY, ESSENCE, Bustle, The Daily Mail, IndieWire and Blavity. She wrote her master’s thesis on Black Girlhood and Parental Loss in Contemporary Black American Cinema. She’s a cinephile, bookworm, blogger and NYU + Columbia University alum. Follow her at @awordwitharamide. Read her work on page 24.
Kahlil is a writer and editor from Brooklyn, NY. His talents have been shared with such sites such as Bossip, Madame Noire, and Everything Girls Love. He has been a part of web series such as “Ask A Black Man” and “When Black Men Listen To Black Women.” He loves the bar “I’m not a biter, I’m a writer for myself and others” as he believes it best describes the spirit in which he creates. Read his work on page 21.
Stephanie Alexandre is the founder of En Soleil. “At En Soleil we help our customers extend their day by avoiding a long commute home between work and play, thus giving them more time to spend living in the sunlight! En Soleil is launching Summer of 2021 at the Refinery Hotel NYC. The space will be a relaxing, luxurious retreat where guests can unwind, decompress, and transition from work to play.” Visit www.ensoleilnyc.com/.Read our feature on page 26
Collaborators 5
Lacey Wilson
Alanna Heavenly
Raina Asid
Lacey is a published author, poet, and lover of all things creative, artsy, and design. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, enjoying a cup of coffee, making local travel plans, or spending time in the California sun. Read more of Lacey’s work on her website, laceycherice. com, and Instagram, @ laceycherice. Read her work on page 10.
Alanna is a Reiki Master, Energy Worker, Channel.She is the fire that ignites and illuminates your divinity. She facilitates healing by channeling energy that is specific to your needs, providing personalized intuitive guidance to help you form a better relationship with body, mind and soul. Let’s create heaven on earth together. https:// www.alannaheavenly.com/ and @alannaheavenly on Instagram. Read her work on page 45.
Raina Asid is a graphic designer trying to make the world more aesthetically pleasing one image at a time. She is a consistent creator or some pretty dope illustrations. When is she not infront of her computer, she somewhere deep in The Golden Girls universe. To see more of her work, follow her on instagram: @asidchronicles Check out
the zine’s art direction.
Collaborators 6
Features Reader Spotlight Love & Protest Poetry How To Love Us Reflections On Love Good Energy When Being Upfront Goes Wrong... Summer Flings Writing Prompt #1 En Soleil BLM Protests In Los Angeles Digital Rights Update 5 Reasons Why Racism Is Wrong Writing Prompt #2 Eliminating Racism in the Medical Field Skincare Highlight: Yateou Violet Summer Solutions Sanity Addiction Part 5 Spiritual Love Notes
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Summer Flings By: Aramide Tinubu
On a warm evening in early September, we said goodbye. I stood outside of my apartment building clinging to you, desperate to memorize your scent and the way your body felt molded against mine. All those months earlier, I’d jumped out of an Uber in the middle of a rainstorm in Harlem, nonchalant and unexpecting. You “got” me from the jump, your sexy stoic nature, matching my whimsical and often outlandish one. Over Sylvia’s Soul Food right off of 125th street, I felt my soul reconnecting with an old friend. I was so floored by that feeling that I told you then, on that first date (never one to hold much back) and you laughed, taking no offense because you inherently understood. Long winding walks through the Bronx zoo, pizza and Disney flicks, and milkshakes. The reverence that you showed me and my brown skin, kisses at 4 am, back rubs and black silk sheets and so much freedom to speak; to be me. I floated through those long sticky days; secret smiles a constant on my face. I’ve always thought summer had magical qualities, (perhaps it’s because I was born in the middle of July), and that proved true because it brought me you. As I sit in silence now, the scent of my zillion candles wafting through my apartment, I can still see you and hear you; as if your arms were still around me. That loud laughter that you always inspired; bubbling up inside of me begging to be released; desperate to be released. That’s the thing about flings, though; they exist in a magical snow globe of sorts; encasing you in protectively from the world as all of that marvelous joy swirls around you. But inevitably you shake the globe too hard and the glass cracks, splintering up the sides until it shatters completely; leaving you bare and exposed; but wistful and longing nonetheless. 24
Writing Prompt Do you ever come down on the people you love too hard because you’re afraid of them? Write about the intersection of love and fear.
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BLM Live from Los Angeles By: Bellamy Brewster
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