CLEMENTINE ZINE summer 2016 the love issue
A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Clementine Zine’s first birthday is coming up and it’s been the wildest journey. We’ve gone through four platform changes, two waves of contributors, editors have come and gone but our readership has stayed strong and is full of some of the most inspiring young femmes we know. Every time we get an email, whether it’s a submission or pitch, we’re blown away by the talent of the girls that approach us. We started Clem, as we affectionately call it, out of frustration. We were sick of having to search for representation, sick of having to listen for whispers in a crowd of people yelling over us. We were so, so inspired by our friends who had started zines for young femmes and for youth of color. Doing shit for ourselves and supporting our siblings that do the same is so, so important and, arguably, the most important thing to come out of this journey. No matter how many times we’re shouted over, no matter how many times our ideas are stolen by larger, whiter publications, we continue to create. Art and struggle are really the great connectors and we’re nothing but thankful for all of you who stick around. Here’s a small sample of some of the work we’ve been doing.
AND I CREATED HER LAURYN ELIZABETH
And she started as a friend, and she started as a confidant. She'd sit, and she'd marinate. Marinate in the woven fabric of my woven socks. I remember how proud she was when I was polite, when I was well-mannered.
I gave her a name before I gave her a face. I'd knock quietly, quietly knock on the tiny door of my white painted dresser. She'd answer quietly, so quietly, in fact, that only I could hear. Her voice was muffled by the woven fabric of my woven socks. I'd open the door and she'd offer me tea. Chamomile-mint, mint-lavender, lavender-vanilla.
She swam, she swelled in the world that I'd made. And as I blew on my tea, she'd braid my hair. I told my mom that I just really loved to be alone. I'd paint the floor with the tips of the tips of my toes. And we'd sit and whisper, and we created ourselves, and I created her.
ON OPEN RELATIONSHIPS
MASHA RODIONOVA
ROMANTIC LOOKS FEAT. THE PASTELS We asked YouTube trio The Pastels to provide us with some summery, romantic looks and they delivered! Chanel, Clara, and Anabelle make up the Australian-based YouTube channel and offer diversity in the YouTube beauty world, one that has proven to be disappointing for women of color. This talented group of lifelong best friends provide inspiring statements of culture and identity while also remaining positive and fun to watch.
A CONVERSATION ON BEING A BLACK GIRL WHO LIKES GIRLS
ARFIE AND REBECCA
Rebecca Alright so should we start with dating? Arfie Yeah sure. I have to admit I have like no experiences dating girls, all my experiences when flirting with girls have been kind of confusing, do you feel that? Rebecca Oh my god, totally. It’s like, how do I ask you out? Also, are you flirting? Who knows anymore honestly! It’s weird actually like… girls never hit on me it’s always me that instigates things. Arfie Really? Rebecca Yeah and I think it’s because people just assume if you’re a black girl that you’re definitely straight. It’s fucked with me for a while because if it’s only ever guys hitting on me, and that’s what I respond to because of that, can I really identify as lesbian? Arfie Oh my god, exactly! Like, I’m way too shy to approach people, and because I’m coded as straight, especially by black men, when I’m approached by them, I’m more likely to be responsive. It’s such a hard cycle to deal with. Rebecca It really is. Not to mention the trauma that comes along with it like, and I feel this especially with black guys, too, when I’m noticed by them, because it’s so rare that they’d be into another black girl, I’m like excited about it? Arfie Same. Totally, same. I went such a long time being, like, completely ignored by black men that, now that I’m older and perceived as sexual, when I get approached by them I feel like an obligation to live up to their expectations. Which is so scary when you actually like girls.
Rebecca Right, and the reality is that we don’t really have anywhere to lament our struggles. All the LGBT spaces where my white bi and lesbian friends find people to date are just that, overwhelmingly white. And it’s easier for them, I’m assuming, because they’re already perceived as desirable, they don’t have that extra layer of being considered ugly because of blackness.
Arfie Right and not just that but the overwhelming depiction of lesbian-ness is of white women. Like that white woman with short hair, Tegan and Sara-esque depiction that I couldn’t fit even if I tried. Rebecca Honestly! And even within online spaces like I know a lot of us meet our friends and potential dates online, but even online it’s not the best situation. I feel like it’s definitely easier to seek out other girls who like girls but even then, they’re not usually into black girls. I’ve had some really shitty experiences talking to girls online. I don’t know, dude it feels hopeless and it doesn’t help that there’s like no good representation for us either. Arfie Yeah I was thinking about that earlier. I feel like all the representation we get in mainstream media is half-assed. I remember being so excited about Poussey on Orange is the New Black but they fucked that up, too. All the good representation we have is made by ourselves, which is important but it would be nice to have that, like, outside validation. Rebecca If the most we can do right now is support ourselves and uplift our own, then that’s fine with me. We’re really something else.
A PHOTO SERIES ON FRIENDSHIP AND SUMMER HANNAH SIEGFRIED
And getting to spend time with people in real life after forming a bond outside of every day life is something that is so crazy and cosmic when energies just click! I really wanted to capture these summer days spent with friends--the warm humidity after a rainy afternoon and the splash of cool pool water on sun soaked skin.
Summer Lovin’ A playlist for sweating and gushing
Summer Breeze – The Isley Brothers All I Need – Noname My Jamaican Guy – Grace Jones Stop On By – Rufus ft. Chaka Khan Get to Know Ya – NAO Maayo Wadi Dyam – Baaba Maal Bury Me at Makeout Creek – Mitsky Inspiration Information – Shuggie Otis Inni Mneeh – Mashrou’ Leila Into You – Ariana Grande Thanks Vision – Toro Y Moi