Once Upon a Time Before "Black Owned Business" was a Trend

I am feeling a bit nostalgic today.  I know a lot of it has to do with being a person of a certain age, but a lot of it has to do with our current state of affairs.

I grew up in a time and a community where we loved being Black.  We loved living as a community.  We all knew each other's names and we could shop freely within our own communities and were treated with respect.  Whether you were a single mother on welfare or were one of the professionals in the community, maybe you worked at the bank, or the post office or you worked in an automotive plant and made "good money" for our time.  We didn't discriminate against each other.  We were united by God, our community and our southern roots (never forgetting from whence we came).

We didn't have to be reminded to spend our money with folks who looked like us.  We wanted to spend our money with folks who looked like us.  We didn't do it for "likes" or "clicks" or because it was "trendy."  We did it because we did.

I realize that tech has taken over and we don't even have to leave our sofas to order up groceries on our smart phones.  There are very few Black owned small businesses because the owners have passed away and the children are now all well-educated and enjoy successful careers.

This is just a friendly reminder that we can still support each other - even if it's not at the corner store.

(Bonus points if you can spot the pig feet)

"Seven Days in June" by Tia Williams

I first discovered Tia Williams when I read "The Perfect Find."  Liked it so much, I read it twice.

"Seven Days in June" was so different from "The Perfect Find."  I expected it to be a spinoff.  I'm glad it wasn't.  

So completely different and intoxicating.  I love Black Love.  If you've ever had a teen love that you've never forgotten, you'll totally get it.  I think we sometimes forget how hard we love in our youth.  I needed to remember what that was like.  Age can jade you. It can also make you see what you weren't able to see when you're living it.

A multi-layered love story.  Like peeling an onion.  

I especially appreciated the flaws in the characters, the fact that it was realistic, not sugar-coated, erotic, poetic and so many other adjectives I could use to describe what is one of my favorite reads of this year.

Highly recommend.

"The Other Black Girl" by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Can you say "on point?"

I've always been super excited to see a sister girl join the company (every company I've ever worked at) and unfortunately more times than not, it hasn't resulted in the bond which I yearned for.  That doesn't stop me for being happy for and celebrating and in the words of Issa Rae "rooting for everybody Black."

For me, "The Other Black Girl" was one of those "It's a Black Thang, You Wouldn't Understand" moments.

This is for all the Black women who have ever tried to "fit in," "code switch" and just plain old survive in Corporate America.  Zakiya Dalila Harris "sees" you.

In fact, I don't know when I have felt so seen.  And, for me, even though I'm not at the beginning of my career, it made me realize that whether you're just starting out or winding down, the game never changes.

Witty, engaging and just a great read.

BOOK REVIEW: A LITTLE BIT OF KARMA - Reshonda Tate Billingsley

A LITTLE BIT OF KARMA

If you like urban fiction and mystery - this one's for you.

Shannon and Jay Lovejoy have the entire package.  

They're a beautiful power couple dispensing advice on their radio advice show.  

On the outside, they seemingly have it all together.  But, there's more to the story than meets the eye.

Kind of reminds me of something my mama used to say "Don't do as I do, do as I say do."  Which often works, until it doesn't.

It's got romance and suspense and a twist at every turn of the page.

So good that I took my time reading it because I didn't want to see it end.

Reshonda Tate Billingsley is one of my all-time favorite authors. A great writer with an incredibly descriptive writing style.

"A Little Bit of Karma"

Available on e-reader and in hardcopy - or you could do like me and get both.

Long Time, No Blog - Time to Wake up and Smell the KAHAWA 1893 Coffee

KAHAWA 1893

It has been far too long since I retreated to my little corner of the blogosphere.  I will be honest.  Pandemic life has not been easy for me.  It's hard to focus and I just have been in a holding pattern.

But, today's the day.  I'm back!

Good news.  

THE FIRST BLACK OWNED, WOMAN OWNED

COFFEE BRAND HITS TRADER JOE'S SHELVES 

THIS MONTH!

Kahawa 1893

This is big news for all coffee lovers.  And if you're not a coffee drinker, buy a bag to gift to a friend or colleague.

Whew, Chile - The Digital Dictionary Finna Add New Words and I Just Don't Know What to Say

 The newest additions to the "digital dictionary," dictionary.com has decided to add two new words to its database to represent the culture.

Both "finna" and "chile" will now be official.

I could add my two cents' worth about what this means and whether I think it's a good thing or a bad thing.  

Hey, representation matters.

Black History Month 2021

 

I'll admit that I've been in a bit of a writing slump.

I've been trying to fake it, but the pandemic has taken its toll on me emotionally.  

And here we are almost at the end of Black History Month and I haven't posted one thing.

I started to think about how Black History Month has become so "mainstream" and how everyone is cashing in (remember to Buy Black Owned products) and it just made me feel like, well, how I've always felt.

Black History Month is every month for me.

I've been Black a long time.

I don't need the calendar or one month to make me realize the importance of my history and my people.  I need to make sure that 12 months out of the year, I'm doing my part to educate myself and others.  Allies are welcome.  But, please walk the talk.

2020 brought the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Movement has pulled back the covers on a dirty secret.  Wasn't a secret to me or to you.  We already knew.

But we don't have to make February the only time we dedicate to our culture, causes, issues and milestones.

Peace and Blessings.