Photo by Soulful Photography
, s er t is S y m o t Letter Audre Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” single-handedly sparked my journey to unleash my voice that had been stuffed into a cage long before I could recognize it among a crowd. The first time I read Lorde’s “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action,” I sobbed and it was as if, for the very first time, my ears heard my cry. It is no coincidence that a Black woman who had the audacity to define herself for those who’d call her name, also championed the liberation of Black women’s voices. It is natural--I suppose--for one who dares speak, to speak their own name, to prioritize the vocalization of their self; their identity.
This inaugural issue of My Sister’s Magazine is about us stating who we are as a publication and, within it, we present the words, display the images and thereby, amplify the voices of Black women who are daring to question or state the identities they have been given, those they reject and those they enthusiastically affirm. Whether through fashion choices, lyrical prowess or navigating getting older or new motherhood with a willingness to expand and refusal to be lost, the Black women who have dared to speak on this platform, to all of you, have accepted the challenge to state clearly for all to hear: “This is who I am. This land I tend, this industry I’m entering, this new stage of life I’m stepping into, serves as an opportunity for Black woman, inextricably tied. Daughter, exploration and the declaration of my eversister, my birthright. But what more? And evolving identity.” who gets to decide? Who--or what--is it that yields enough power to control one’s identity? Thank you for bearing witness. For lending A part of living, of evolving, of learning how a listening ear. For sharing this space, where to show up in each moment as a fully realized we all can let down our guards and exist in version of yourself, is accepting as truth: only affirming peace. We are so excited to have you you possess the power to define yourself. Only here, My Sisters. And we invite you to stay you can decide how full your identity will be. a while, soak in our images, experience our Some aspects of our identity are forced upon stories for-- we have carefully crafted them us, but we have an undeniable right to reject, with love. correct or accept any labels or expectations or presumptions made about us, on our behalf. Welcome to My Sister’s Magazine.
Danaya Hough
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
DANAYA HOUGH Editor in Chief
MILIKA ROBBINS Politics Writer
MYDASHIA HOUGH
MY 40 ACRES AND A MULE MARTYRDOM IN MOTHERHOOD UNCOVERING THE DIGITAL ABYSS FEATURE: STREET QUEENZ IT’S NEVER JUST ABOUT YOU SIMPLICITY SUMMER SKIN JOURNEY TO THIRTY GETTING TESTED ON A BUDGET THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK LITERATURE BOOK CLUB: THE STATE OF BLACK GIRLS
KEMI LAYENI
TYRABIA WOMBLE
AMANDA LEWA
CANEESHA ALEXANDER
ARI BEE
MALORY MUNDY
Guest Writer
Writer
Writer
Guest Writer
Writer
Writer
LEPA STYLES
MARLINE FRANCOIS-MADDEN
Stylist
Photo by Q&A Photography
Author
Guest Writer
FOLLOW US
CONTRIBUTORS
6 12 14 18 26 30 36 40 44 46 48
@mysistersmag Find more content and join our mailing list at mysistersmag.com
LIFEST YLE
My 40 Acres and a Mule b y K e m i L ay e n i
Dirt makes its way... Dirt makes its way underneath my fin gernails as I dig through the soil. The smell of composting material fills my nostrils. I am wearing old baggy Levis and my skin is soaked in insect repellent. I carefully spread a few seeds and cover them. Beads of sweat form on my forehead. In a few weeks I will be able to eat the fruit of my labor.
6
My Sister’s Magazine
mysistersmag.com
7
This garden is mine... I kinda fell into gardening. It was something I had always slightly been interested in. When I was eight, I attempted to grow a cherry tree. Let’s just say, it did not work out.
my hometown, and a heavy amount of student debt on my shoulders. Whatever it was, I needed something to do, an outlet, a way to keep myself from going crazy.
Again I tried when I was 17, attempting to grow peppers from a seed packet I bought at Wal-Mart. It sprung up after a few days...and then promptly died. Not long after its leaves were devoured by bugs.
So I decided to give gardening another shot.
I don’t know what changed. Maybe it was the sudden large amount of free time I had now that I was done with college. Or maybe it was the fact that I had no job, no friends in
SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS NUMBER 15 WAS ISSUED. IT READS....
Two years after I made that decision, my garden is now overflowing with tomatoes, okra, green beans, black eyed peas, eggplant, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and I could go on. This garden, this land, is mine.
January 16, 1865
“The islands from Charleston south, the abandoned rice-fields along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the Saint Johns River, Fla., are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the BLACKS now made free by the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States.” This was Special Field Orders Number 15, or as it’s commonly known as, Forty Acres and a Mule. It changed everything. And nothing, all at the same time. After the end of the Civil War, Black people were henceforward free.
8
My Sister’s Magazine
I H AV E T HIS GA RDEN Isn’t interesting how property was viewed as a natural and God-given right to all men? Of course Black people would be excluded from this natural right, when they were considered to be three-fifths of a person. Property and the right to land ownership has been an elusive thing for Black people since the beginning of time. How would the newly reunited United States of America repay Black people for their labor that built the country?
dream that was shared by thirteen colonies, the future leaders of the country were imagining what the nation could be.
Easy, a tract of land given to each formerly enslaved person, from sea to shining sea.
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence, famously wrote that all men were “endowed by their Creator with Certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”
But we all know what happened. Black people never really got the land they were supposed to get. During Reconstruction and after the assasination of President Abraham Lincoln, his successor, Andrew Johnson, overturned the Order in the Fall of 1865, and all the land was returned to its previous Southern owners. Again, Black people were left with nothing. Could you imagine what race relations would look like in this country today if Black people were given the land they deserved? When the United States was in its infancy, still a wild idea and a pipe
Jefferson was a man of the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and science. Many of his ideas for the Declaration of Independence were derived from English philosopher John Locke. John Locke believed that all men were born with natural rights, rights that could not be stripped away, for him these inalienable rights were life, liberty, and property.
Slavery. Black people were ripped from their lands and forcibly brought to another. Colonization. Black people were forced to work their own lands so that others can reap the benefits of it. Apartheid. Black people were relegated to 7% of arable land while the more fertile lands were distributed to Whites. Redlining. Black people were systematically excluded from purchasing homes and given subpar mortgage rates based on the neighborhoods they lived in. Gentrification. Black people are being pushed out of their own neighborhoods to make way for middle-class and wealthy white people. Is there any way to rectify these injustices? Will reparationsreperations ever happen? I don’t know. But what I do know is that I have this garden. mysistersmag.com
9
my
o w n . . n . e d r a g On the saltwater shores, a ship awaits. Multitudes of Black people in chains.
okra and black eyed peas. Two vegetables that are native to West Africa.
A girl with cornrows boards. In the darkness she lays on top of others. Still chained.
They had to have gotten here somehow.
There are seeds in her hair, grains of rice, put there by her or someone else, maybe to satisfy her hunger, or to have something to remind her of home. She plants the seed. And it grows. Taller and Taller. I am in my garden now. Harvesting
10
My Sister’s Magazine
Maybe I’ll make Nigerian Okra Stew. Or Moin Moin and Akara with the black eyed peas. Or maybe I’ll make some Gumbo and throw in the okra. I don’t know. But what I do know is that this small piece of land in my backyard. In the South. Is mine.
My Sister’s Magazine Contributor
K E M I L AY E N I K E M I L AY E N I . C O M Kemi Layeni is a visual artist, filmmaker, actress, and stand up comedian based in Hampton, Virginia. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia where she studied English Literature, Studio Art, and African & African American Studies. Kemi’s work focuses on the experiences and histories of black peoples and people of the African diaspora. Ultimately, she aims to create art that changes the world. For her, that isn’t a pithy statement or a platitude, it is the core of who she is.
mysistersmag.com
11
M A RT Y R D O M I N M OT H E R H O O D
by Caneesha Alexander 12
My Sister’s Magazine
I g av e b i r t h t o m y f i r s t s o n o n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 , 2015. Then I did the unthinkable and had another b a by b o y o n e s h o r t ye a r l a t e r. T h e m a t r i a r c h s o f m y f a m i l y i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n p r ov i d i n g l o t s o f u n s o l i c i t e d a d v i c e a b o u t t e e t h i n g, p o t t y t r a i n i n g, a n d d i s c i p l i n e. I w o u l d l a u g h a n d f e i g n i n t e r e s t a s t h e y ’d f o n d l y r e c i t e s t o r i e s f r o m t h e i r e a r l y days in motherhood. I was excited to be welcomed i n t o t h e i r v i l l a g e, b u t I k n e w s o m e t h i n g w a s b e i n g l e f t u n s a i d . I h a d c o nv i n c e d m y s e l f t h a t t h i s “ n e w l i f e, ” t h a t b e i n g a m o m , w a s e n o u g h , a n d I d i d n’ t h av e a n yo n e a r o u n d m e t o s a y o t h e r w i s e. My life changed suddenly; I was now a staya t - h o m e m o m o f t w o . I w a s i n s e c u r e, a n d I d i d n’ t u n d e r s t a n d m y v a l u e t o m y f a m i l y. B e c a u s e I w a s n’ t b r i n g i n g i n m o n e y, I e q u a t e d m y s e l f - w o r t h with housework. I quickly lost myself somewhere between the never-ending piles of laundry and frequent diaper changes. My daily interactions became more and more about my boys’ milestones a n d l e s s a b o u t m e. I u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y i s o l a t e d myself from my partner and my friends. My days were spent making sure everybody e l s e ’s d a y r a n s m o o t h l y ; I l i v e d i n c h a o s s o t h a t m y f a m i l y c o u l d l i v e i n p e a c e. M o t h e r h o o d i s n o t m a r t y r d o m , b u t i t d a m n s u r e f e l t l i k e i t . T h a t ’s w h e n I r e a l i z e d e x a c t l y w h a t w a s n’ t b e i n g s a i d – I d i d n’ t h e a r a n y a d v i c e a b o u t m a i n t a i n i n g a s e n s e o f s e l f w h i l e b e i n g a h o m e m a k e r. N o o n e advised me to do things for myself in the midst o f d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g f o r m y f a m i l y. T h e u n r e a l i s t i c notion that my life now belonged to my family w a s d e t r i m e n t a l t o m y e m o t i o n a l w e l l b e i n g, a n d ironically enough, affected my ability to parent e f f e c t i v e l y. B e c a u s e I w a s n’ t b e i n g f u l f i l l e d by j u s t b e i n g a h o m e m a k e r, I q u e s t i o n e d m y a b i l i t y t o b e a g o o d m o t h e r a n d a w o r t hy p a r t n e r.
Photos by Q&A Photography
Motherhood has become a jour ney of r e d i s c ov e r i n g myself and eliminating this martyrdom mentality that goes along with it. I am lear ning how to comfortably balance being a h o m e m a k e r, a l ov e r, a n d a f r i e n d . I ’v e b e e n i n t e n t i o n a l l y t r y i n g n e w t h i n g s i n o r d e r t o d i s c ov e r d i f f e r e n t h o b b i e s - l i k e j o u r n a l i n g a n d s e w i n g. This has allowed me to get to know myself in new w a y s , p r ov i d i n g a d e e p e r s e n s e o f s e l f - a w a r e n e s s a n d s e l f - l ov e. M y n e w s e l f - a w a r e n e s s h a s g i v e n
mysistersmag.com
13
me room to be more forgiving of myself as a m o m ; I d o n’ t j u d g e m y s e l f a s h a r s h l y a s I used to. Being more forgiving of myself has b e e n t h e m o s t l i b e r a t i n g p a r t o f t h i s j o u r n e y. I d o n’ t f e e l t h e ov e r w h e l m i n g n e e d t o t r y t o b e a p e r f e c t m o m , a n d I ’v e l e a r n e d t o g i v e myself some wiggle room for mistakes. I am finally beginning to understand the importance of self-care and different ways to practice it on a daily basis. Some days this consists of bubble baths and putting on makeup for no reason. Most days, self care is tur ning off Bubble Guppies and l e t t i n g C a s h M o n e y Re c o r d s t a k e ov e r f o r the ‘99 & 2000s. The most important thing I ’v e d o n e f o r m y s e l f - c a r e i s r e a s s i g n d a i l y responsibilities within my household. It t o o k f o u r ye a r s o f m o t h e r h o o d b e f o r e I finally realized that I automatically assumed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ov e r a l o t o f t a s k s , a n d n o o n e asked me to! My partner and I never sat down a n d d i s c u s s e d o u r e x p e c t a t i o n s f o r c o o k i n g, c l e a n i n g, o r l a u n d r y. L i k e m y v i l l a g e, a n d many other women, I automatically assumed responsibility for these tasks, believing that if I d i d n’ t d o e v e r y t h i n g, i t w o u l d n’ t g e t d o n e. I ov e r w h e l m e d m y s e l f w i t h t h e s e a s s u m p t i o n s and unrealistic expectations. Once I began to share the responsibility of housework with m y p a r t n e r, m y l i f e c h a n g e d d r a s t i c a l l y ! M y goal is to implement self-care into my routine so often, it becomes effortless. I’m looking forward to the day that I can put myself f i r s t w i t h o u t f e e l i n g g u i l t y a b o u t i t . I h av e c h a l l e n g e d m y s e l f t o s a y, “ g i r l , f o r g e t t h e m k i d s a n d t h e y d a d d y ” o n c e a d a y. S l o w l y, b u t s u r e l y, I ’ m b e g i n n i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t I a m a w o m a n a b ov e a l l t h i n g s . I ’v e r e a l i z e d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f c h o o s i n g a v i l l a g e b a s e d o n l ov e a n d m u t u a l s u p p o r t rather than respect for familial bonds. I c a n’ t s t r e s s t h i s e n o u g h : s u r r o u n d yo u r s e l f w i t h w o m e n t h a t e n c o u r a g e yo u t o m a k e more selfish decisions in motherhood. It was i m p o r t a n t t o h av e p e o p l e i n m y c o r n e r t e l l i n g me it was okay to put myself first – oftentimes i t ’s n e c e s s a r y. M y s i s t e r s , I e n c o u r a g e yo u t o f i n d yo u r v i l l a g e o f l i k e - m i n d e d w o m e n t h a t w i l l s u p p o r t a n d c e l e b r a t e yo u i n yo u r j o u r n e y o f s i m p l y b e i n g yo u . 14
My Sister’s Magazine
My Sister’s Magazine Contributor
CANEESHA ALEXANDER Caneesha currently resides in Darlington, SC with her family. As a mom of two toddlers, she enjoys the simple things in life: like eating alone and binge watching reality shows. She is passionate about sharing her personal experiences with others to promote the importance of self love and acceptance.
mysistersmag.com
15
N
ow that news outlets have migrated to digital spaces, news bombards us every moment of the day. Outlets provide subscribers with constant email alerts and app notifications for current events on a global scale. Even office spaces, transit flyers, and podcasts constantly remind us of the latest. These constant reminders should cultivate awareness, but the reality is they don’t. Effective news is inclusive and repetitive; if a topic is omitted or sparsely covered, there is a chance that it will go into the digital abyss. The lack of inclusivity by news outlets is partially rendered by a lack of inclusive reporters and leaders, whose focus tends to zero-in on issues that only seem to impact their immediate lives. It is no coincidence that events which are sparsely covered are also most pressing for poor and minority communities. However, this thought process is largely flawed, as we must recognize that events which impact the majority will always impact all other groups by default - and the negative outcomes are multiplied by 10. While we can’t save the current reporting environment overnight, we can bring awareness to 5 global crises that demand our attention. It behooves us all to consider why each crisis lacks accountability and humanitarian efforts, along with what we can do to help.
EBOLA, THE NEVER-ENDING STORY In 2014 the United States lost its shit over Ebola, with 11 cases within the country (4 of which were confirmed directly in the U.S.; the other 7 were medical evacuations from other countries). Since the U.S. officially cleared the disease in 2016, folks in this country have heard very little about it.
UNCOVERING THE DIGITAL ABYSS by Milika Robbins
16
My Sister’s Magazine
The World Health Organization reported that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda are currently in the middle of an outbreak - one of the worst in history. Since the outbreak began in 2018, the World Health Organization has reported 2,231 confirmed cases, and 1,469 deaths in the DRC alone. Other countries are preparing for Ebola to spread into their borders. Ebola will become a global endemic if continuously pushed under the rug. Health crises like Ebola cannot be eradicated solely through medical practices. Government institutions must advocate for their citizens’ best interests. However, due to political upheaval, this is an unlikely outcome in the DRC. According to the Brookings Institution, approximately 1.2 million DRC citizens were barred from voting in the most recent elections due to the outbreak. However, this practice was not put in place for other Ebola-ridden communities. Voter suppression and lack of transparency have led to a distrust of the Congolese government and its ability to help its citizens during this difficult time.
GENOCIDE IN MALI Mali is in the midst of a terrifying humanitarian crisis, marked with mass killing, resource feuds, and government distrust. Mali’s state of conflict is defined by ethnic group cleansing, militaryendorsed slayings of suspected ‘extremists’, and civilians caught in the crossfire. According to the United Nations, the constant conflict in northern and central Mali, along with recent flooding, has caused at least 120,000 people to be displaced from their homes. Resource insecurity is also a threat as thousands lack access to food and drinking water. NPR has reported about 100 deaths in early June due to the most recent attacks. This situation resembles the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which was sparked by France’s large role in the nation’s political realm. In 2012, Northern Mali claimed independence after staging a coup. The following year, France stepped in to help the government win the region back. While this effort was successful, today’s conflict is a reflection of these events. Tensions remain, resulting in hundreds of lives lost since 2013.
THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY In the United States, President Donald Trump stays true to himself in his legislation and naming conventions. As of July 19th, he expanded the Remain in Mexico Policy so that asylum seekers will have to stay in Mexico while waiting for their immigration hearings. This tactic, also known as ‘metering’, can be quite detrimental to those seeking safety and citizenship in the U.S. given how long the hearing process can take. Largely due to a long waitlist, the hearing process can take several months - and that’s the best-case scenario. This policy lies in the nucleus of a humanitarian crisis at the Mexico-U.S. border. Recently, images have surfaced from the Mexico-U.S. border camps, which show asylum seekers trapped in cages with very few basic resources to help everyone in need. Visitors have reported that these camps mirror concentration camps. The situation will only get worse with the Remain in Mexico policy, as it will increase the volume of asylum seekers in camps. Immigrants forced to remain in Mexico are susceptible to the very drug-related violence and trafficking that they are trying to escape from. The U.S. immigration system also limits the number of applications that can be reviewed and approved each year. Combined, this makes for a deadly cycle that ignores international and U.S. federal law.
SUDAN’S UPRISING You may have noticed that social media is sprinkled with individuals that are using a teal image for their profile picture. These teal images are meant to raise awareness of current events in Sudan that haven’t received much news coverage, especially in the United States. The lack of coverage is largely due to the country-wide internet outage that was backed by the Sudanese government.
mysistersmag.com
17
Sudan’s uprising began in 2018 when protests and demonstrations broke out due to the economic condition of the country. Sudanese citizens expressed apprehension with the unmanageable costs of living and the questionable decisions made by Omar al-Bashir, the ruling president for the past 30 years. These protests and demonstrations started off as peaceful, in which citizens requested economic reform and a change in leadership. In early 2019, the Sudanese government began to respond to protests with violence, in which at least 246 people have been killed according to Radio Dabanga. With al-Bashir ousted as of April 2019, the ruling military has been working to negotiate with citizens through the Forces for Declaration of Freedom and Change. The goal of the negotiations is to create a shared ruling arrangement between the military and citizens. However, the Associated Press has reported that these negotiations continue to be delayed as of July 2019. While citizens await an agreement for a fair government and manageable living costs, many are at risk for food insecurity and illness. Sudan’s uprising is taking place alongside an eminent Ebola outbreak that will likely cross into the country’s borders. It’s important that we recognize that these events are riddled with death, health concerns and economic crises for Sudanese citizens.
CARRIE LAM’S EXTRADITION BILL Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong, has recently introduced the highly scrutinized Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Bill 2019. This bill intends to allow Hong Kong to send citizens and visitors that are accused of a crime to mainland China for trial. While Hong Kong is a part of China, it is technically a semi-autonomous region that has its own passport and currency. Hong Kong and China are under a ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement. Given this arrangement, protesters in Hong Kong have been outraged at the implicit control that mainland China will have over the region if this bill is implemented. The protests and suspicion over the bill makes sense given that Carrie Lam is known as mainland China’s top pick for the Chief Executive Officer role in Hong Kong, according to BBC. Protests over Carrie Lam’s bill started off as peaceful, but recently police forces have become increasingly violent against peaceful protesters. According to the Washington Post, Hong Kong police are now using tear gas to disperse protestors, along with rubber bullets.
TAYLOR ENERGY’S 14-YEAR-LONG WHITE LIE Taylor Energy was an independent U.S. oil company, who recently was discovered to have contributed to the global climate crisis. For the past 14 years, Taylor Energy claimed that its oil production platform off of the Gulf of Mexico has leaked less than three gallons of oil per day. This oil leak was originally discovered after Hurricane Ivan struck Louisiana in 2004. According to NPR, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that more than 4,500 gallons of oil have leaked from the platform per day. The stark difference between Taylor Energy’s reports and the recent federal investigation brings into question why Taylor Energy blatantly lied, and why the government waited this long to confirm the dissolved company’s estimates. The Gulf of Mexico is a delicate ecosystem that has changed drastically over the past decade. Hurricanes have increased in number and intensity, while aquatic wildlife has been adversely impacted. Climate change in the gulf affects the weather and the tourism industry, leading to lasting economic uncertainty for many cities along the shoreline.
18
My Sister’s Magazine
A Call for Humanitarian Action and Accountability Throughout each of these topics, there is a lack of accountability and a failure of existing governments to protect both current and future constituents. We are often informed of global events but may feel hopelessness, as if any action we take will not make an immense impact. Collectively we can cultivate change through small steps. Here are ways we can stay up to date or donate towards the issues covered. Whenever donating to an organization, make sure to check it’s accountability page to see the percentage of proceeds that go towards administrative costs and the issues that they intend to tackle: • If you have the means, consider donating to the verified Ebola-response groups via the United Nations at https://ebolaresponse.un.org/donate. • Stay up to date on Mali’s current events via Al Jazeera at https://www.aljazeera.com/ topics/country/mali.html. In the U.S., Twitter has proven to be more reliable than traditional news sources on this topic, through the hashtags #mali #france #genocide and #rwanda. These hashtags may contain sensitive images or opinions, so please view with care. • Likewise, you can stay up to date on Sudan’s current events via Al Jazeera at https:// www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/sudan.html and at Radio Dabanga at https://www. dabangasudan.org/en. We’ve found that coverage of events in Sudan have been scarce, so we also recommend utilizing social media in conjunction with news outlets. If you have the capacity, keep up with these hashtags with care, as they may contain sensitive images or information: #sudan #sudanuprising #sudanmassacres and #sudanprotests. • Families at the Mexican-U.S. border are living in inhumane conditions via concentration camps. In the U.S., you can call Congress today to voice your disappointment in the treatment of immigrants at the border. ACLU is helping citizens make these calls via their website at https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/call-senators-defund-dhs. They’ve included scripting and news updates around the issue. You can also donate to ACLU’s work at https://action.aclu.org/give/protect-immigrants-rights. • The Washington Post has been updating all information on the protests in Hong Kong as they come, with date and time posts throughout each article. • Consider supporting efforts to conserve the Gulf of Mexico via the Nature Conservancy at https://www.nature.org/restore.
Here’s to uncovering the digital abyss!
mysistersmag.com
19
FEATURE
20
My Sister’s Magazine
STRE
Photos by: E.Lamaar Photography
EET QUEENZ
mysistersmag.com
21
Sisterhood. That’s the one word that comes to mind
as I reflect on the time I spent sitting around a table in a Starbucks cafe with the first known hip-hop trio comprised of Black trans women: Street Queenz. I met the ladies on their turf, in Charleston, South Carolina and engaged in a pretty dope conversation about their budding rap career, fears of facing the 35 year life expectancy of trans women in America, and pop culture hot topics like FX’s historic hit TV show, Pose. Blonko Rivers, Mercdeas Arline and Paris Pringle, better known by their stage names Queen Blonko, Queen MC and Queen P, respectively, make up--what should soon be--hip-hop’s newest sensation: Street Queenz. As soon as introductions were complete, Queen Blonko quickly established herself as a natural protector of her sisters. She initiated the responses until Queen MC felt comfortable enough to open up; and once she did, she shined. While Queen P is described as the “firecracker” out of the charismatic trio, she was fairly quiet for the duration of the interview. In defense of her general reservedness, save for some moments of laughter and necessary co-signs, she says “I don’t do too much talking until it’s time for me to snap.” If you ask Queen MC, that’s exactly what Queen P does on the regular in their text message exchanges. But don’t get it twisted. Queen P says she can pop off “all over” if necessary, not just via text. We hear you, sis. Often referring to each other as “sisters,” the collective has known each other for over ten years--with Blonko and Mercdeas’ friendship dating back over twenty years. For as long as they’ve known each other, they’ve also been rapping. According to Blonko, her and Mercdeas have been rapping “since we were like ten.” “We all used to hang at my grandmother’s house,” Mercdeas shares, “It was like a lot of us; and all of us used to [rap]. That’s what we used to do for fun.” While Paris says she, too, was rapping at a young age, Street Queenz wasn’t formed until a year ago this December. Blonko and Mercdeas recruited Paris for the group because they felt comfortable “looking for someone in the same crew as [them],” referring to the trans experience, “and figured she, [Paris], would be a good candidate for our group.” Paris recalls the phone conversation that started it all: “One morning Blonko called me and was like ‘What you doing?’ I was like ‘Nothing.’ ‘What you got planned for the day?’[Blonko asked.] I was like ‘Nothing.’ And she was like, ‘Well be at studio such-n-such at this time.’ And I was like,
22
My Sister’s Magazine
‘Yeah, okay.’” After that, we just hit it off.” Mercdeas says she started taking rap seriously when she first started listening to the radio and realized “Okay, I can do this too, if not better.” When asked which lane of hiphop they fit into, Paris spoke up, saying, “We’re versatile; however you want us to come, we can do it.” Blonko says that they are definitely in line with some of her favorite rap sensations like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and enthusiastically says “I’m a Kash Doll girl.” She also name dropped rap icons like Trina and Foxy Brown. In reference to Street Queenz’s musical style, Mercdeas states, “We don’t sound like no other person. We have our own type of music and we are unique in our own way.” She says that, similar to how New Orleans has Bounce, Street Queenz are creating their own subgenre in hip-hop. “We’re starting our own genre of music; we’re bringing our own thing.” While the group is unsure about how their hometown of Charleston will react if they attain mainstream success, they are still very confident that they will be the next big rap hit to come out of the South; the first to ever do it from--and in--South Carolina. “Charleston is still stuck in its ways... this is a very conservative state,” Mercdeas shares. “They don’t like change; they don’t like different.” Regardless, Blonko believes that they have “made a good impact on the hometown,” and their success “would mean a lot to a good bit of people.” Paris says Street Queenz is “highly anticipated,” and Blonko credits that anticipation to their “keep them on their toes” style of marketing. With a “couple of projects” in the works, we are definitely sitting on the edge of our seats, “waiting to see, like ‘What they about to do next?’” as Mercdeas suggests. In the meantime, check out their latest songs “Cash App,” “Wha Happen,” “Tax Season,” and of course, a favorite of ours that can be found on our Pu$$y Rap playlist, “Badd Bitch Alert.”
yh work
er.
QU E E N MC
ard
V er y
n. Heartfelt. An ex e k o tre -sp t me f so l
“We all used to hang at my grandmother’s house. It was like a lot of us; and all of us used to [rap]. That’s what we used to do for fun.”
mysistersmag.com
23
24
My Sister’s Magazine
. acker
QU E E N PAR I S
cr ire
Ve
h
ef
ry
ous. The outgoing e n a one nt o .T p s
“One morning Blonko called me and was like ‘What you doing?’ I was like ‘Nothing.’ ‘What you got planned for the day?’[Blonko asked.] I was like ‘Nothing.’ And she was like, ‘Well be at studio such-n-such at this time.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, okay.’” After that, we just hit it off.”
ov
ain
t ha t
u eps ther.
QU E E N B L O NK O
s toge
V er yl
rn hand. The ch
ke
.H ni g
s te a s a
“We were friends me and Mercedes for about over 20 years, probably. And we’ve known Pariss for probably about some years now...more than ten years. So, we felt comfortable looking for someone who was in the same crew as us. So, we figured she would be a good candidate for our group.”
mysistersmag.com
25
QUEEN MC ON FX’S HISTORIC SHOW, POSE: “It gives you, like, a real look at certain stuff...That same stuff they be going through, I be like ‘Oh my god! This is really like how it is!’ A house full of queens. Everybody just gotta go get their money how they get their money. But, what I like about Blanca is that she’s making her kids go to school. One of them she put in dance. One of them she made start modeling. Like, she don’t want them to turn to the streets...She’s like, real loving and I really love that about her. That [representation] is what the LGBTQ community needs.”
QUEEN BLONKO ON THE RECENT DEATH OF D E N A L I S T U C K E Y, B L A C K T R A N S W O M A N F R O M CHARLESTON, SC: “We knew her. We knew her very well. They [the local trans community], are coping pretty well. But, she had a lot of loved ones that, you know, miss her.”
QUEEN MC ON THE 35 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY OF TRANS WOMEN: “I was at Denali’s vigil and this lady said something and it put chills through my body. She said, ‘The average trans life expectancy is 35.’ And I was like, ‘I’m 31 years old. So you mean to tell me Ima be here for four more years?’ That’s scary. That’s a really scary thought...Like 35? You just starting life! ...35? You mean to tell me I gotta start putting a will together? No. That’s real scary. Something went through my body when I heard her say that. I’m definitely going to push past that mark right there...we gon’ make it!”
26
My Sister’s Magazine
STREET QUEENZ ON WHAT T WITH THEIR PLATFORM:
“When we get to our platform or whe definitely bringing plenty of other tra to be us. We’re just the first ones to k going to be plenty of us, whether it’s It’s a lot of us who are really talented going to highlight that because that’s the rug. A lot of them do makeup, ha of that. [We] will open the door for a in; and it will happen. We ain’t gon’ g come from. No, that ain’t happening. be happy, dancing, ballerinas, doing w
THEY PLAN TO DO
erever we go in life, we are ans girls; it’s not just going kick down the door. It’s doing pictures or videos. d and we are definitely s what gets swept under air, write books, act, do all a lot of the girls to come on get on and forget where we . We want all them girls to whatever they wanna do.”
STREET QUEENZ ON WHAT THEY WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT THEM AS A GROUP: “Recognize that we are actually the first, ever, rap trans group. [We] don’t think that is being publicized, but that’s the truth. Highlight that, and know that. That’s the only thing [we] want them to know and understand.”
mysistersmag.com
27
FASHION/BEAUT Y
IT’S NEVER JUST ABOUT YOU ON BLACK WOMEN’S IDENTITY AND STYLE BY AMANDA LEWA
W
hen you are Black, Woman, and American, the perception of your body depends upon, and is therefore skewed by, societal predeterminations of what gendered non-white racial identity signifies. Since we have been systematically denied the opportunity of a
28
My Sister’s Magazine
truly independent identity formation process, our notion of self can be explained as reactive, a manifestation or projection of double consciousness theory where we are “always looking at [ourselves] through the eyes of others [and] measuring [our] soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity.” This argument is
Can you actually be yourself as a Black woman in America?
primarily rooted in the belief that society provides the basis through which life gains meaning and significance. However, we individually engage in a mutually dependent relationship with society, where we rely on it for structure and culture, while its cultivation and creation depends on our actions. This idea is important to mention because it helps us to understand that the codependent relationship needed in the creation and sustainment of civilization requires unequal power distribution between its contributors--we, individuals and society as a whole-. As a result, the institutional reproductions of disparity that we see today are only an extension of the dynamic needed to preserve our nationhood. At this point, you may be asking, “Okay, sure, so what does have to do with Black women’s identity?” Well, let me explain. This is an anecdote that attempts to describe the factors affecting our physical presentations as Black women. The way that we show up in the world is a direct reflection of our experience and self-perception. Having said that, in the U.S. Black
women’s practice of self-representation is complicated by the synonymy of white and American. The historical idealization, standardization, and prioritization of whiteness within the United States has resulted in beauty cultures that assign value in relation to an approximation of whiteness. Since society subscribes to systems of social hierarchies; plainly put, “some bodies are worth more than others.” Styling is the act of managing these expectations. While most of us fluctuate between an assimilation and rejection of these ideals; others strictly adhere to one side. For example, some might perceive Black women’s adoption of straight hairstyles as assimilative while others might understand the adoption of a straight style in non-natural hair colors like pink or green or even the addition of cultural markers like styled baby hairs as a simultaneous denunciation and perversion of those same normative ideals. Styling, however, involves other aspects of material culture like clothing. It is something that everyone participates in to a degree – as it is legally mandated to wear clothes, at least in most parts of the United States.
mysistersmag.com
29
Photo by Baylee Gramling 30
My Sister’s Magazine
The outfit is an agent of communication, whether it is saying something – for example, about sexuality - or doing something – for example, seducing .Fashion operates as self – portraiture both at the individual and societal level; therefore, closets spatially embody actual and aspirational identity and house the material objects that help in the construction, negotiation, and performance of identity. Clothing choices are often strategically curated in order to attain specific interactional ends . Sometimes we dress ourselves for a particular reaction or goal. You might dress one way to a club if you intend on meeting a suitor, versus in another way on a job interview. Dressing the body is a profoundly emotional and social practice that involves the consistent mediation and reconciliation of individual preferences, institutional factors like the law, general expectations, and emotional reactions related to past sartorial choices. In spaces where bodies accumulate in the contest of sexual status – which is often the case for women- clothing operates as currency, in addition to its function as a representative of sexual identity . In these settings, clothing (as well as other means of adornment and self-presentation) are manipulated in order to be reflective of a particular audience’s hierarchy of desirability. The easiest example that I can think of to explain this would be the type of women employed by strip clubs. Clubs that appeal to the black community tend to present a homogenous look ranging from body type to skin color which speaks to a certain idealized version of black beauty. Clothing is defined by the bodies that wear them, and when those bodies are already stigmatized because of societal racist ideology that conceives them as inherently unattractive, such spaces become extremely arduous and complex spaces to navigate. I am not sure if there is a correct way to deal with such dilemmas, but what I can advise is to do what you are comfortable with. At the same time, however, it is important to understand that some of these feelings of contentment have roots in antiblackness. In the end, there is no one way to look or dress as a Black woman and to deny ourselves the opportunity to freely engage in different means of self-presentation would be a denial of our humanity.
Photo by Zip House Design
mysistersmag.com
31
32
My Sister’s Magazine
y it c i pl
im S
Style is defined as “a manner of doing something”. In fashion you are given the ability to express who you are without speaking. Not only that, it’s an opportunity to show the world what it means to create an image through different textiles and prints. How you “style” is up to you.
-Lepa mysistersmag.com
33
Simplicity Photo Shoot
| Simplicity
Photographer | @Tayojr Model | @Janaeedley Makeup Artist | @Darienloisbeauty Stylist | Lepa Styles
34
My Sister’s Magazine
mysistersmag.com
35
Look The Chinese wide brim hat paired with an oversized blazer jacket and beige neutral tones brings balance to complete the simple aesthetics of this look. The bright red lip gives just the right pop of color.
The bright red lip gives just the right pop of color.
-Lepa 36
My Sister’s Magazine
mysistersmag.com
37
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT AND DRINK A lot of people don’t realize how much their eating habits directly affect their skin. What you put in is what will show out on that pretty face of yours, so stay away from junk food. It’s like your toxic ex--comfortable, yet it brings out the worst in you. Try healthy snacks that are high in water content such as watermelon, strawberries, cucumber, celery, and tomatoes. And remember that nobody is perfect; you will slip up, but moderation is key.
SUMMER SKIN
Skin is our largest organ and it’s around 60% water. With that being said, drink up! While this alone will not solve all of your problems, it makes a huge difference! To spice things up, consider adding some lemon, lime, cucumber, and/or mint. They’re not only beneficial to your skin, but your digestive health as well. It only takes 21 times to make something a habit, so let’s jump on the water bandwagon, and leave cow milk alone while we’re at it.
38
H
ey Sisters! It’s summertime and I bet you’re all looking super fine! How’s your skin looking though? Clear skin doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re willing to put in the work, your skin will thank you in the long run. Whether you’re a Hot Girl or a Heart Girl, you will never feel more confident than when your skin is healthy and glowing! If you feel that it’s not up to par, I’ve got some tea to spill that will help you get that skin care routine in motion!
by Malory Mundy
My Sister’s Magazine
Unlike water, beverages like milk and alcohol are often the main causes of problem skin. Inflammatory cells and hormones found in cow’s milk makes your skin more prone to redness and acne. Almond milk is a tasty and healthy alternative. After a wild night out, alcohol can be dehydrating. For every one drink, you should drink twice as much water. We’ll be in this skin for the rest of our lives so mind what you put into it.
CLEANSE, CLEANSE AND CLEANSE SOME MORE! Now that you know what to keep in and out of your body, let’s talk about what you’re cleansing your skin with! Do you wear makeup? Do you work out? If so, you may want to try double cleansing! You can use witch hazel, micellar water, or your favorite makeup remover wipes to get all that sunscreen, foundation, sweat and blinding highlight out of your pores. Not everybody has the time or money to go to a dermatologist or an aesthetician, but many great cleansers can be found at popular stores, like Sephora. Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin, there is something for you! Whatever you do, do not go to bed without washing your face. Besides makeup, air pollution and sweat can clog your pores. Your face needs you to wash away the day! To thoroughly clean your face daily, follow this quick and easy guide: • Wash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle, exfoliating cleanser. Hot water will open the pores even more and make it harder for them to close causing them to appear more visible. • Count to 60 and allows your cleanser to thoroughly clean everything off and out of your skin. • Take it one step further and rinse in cold water to really tighten these pores up.
Photo by Baylee Gramling
mysistersmag.com
39
The Glow Up The best way to achieve that summer glow is to let your face and body marinate overnight. You can either use a mask or oils, or both if you’re feeling super dry. Oily skin is usually a sign of dehydration, so try to moisturize more. All skin types need to stay hydrated!! Whatever you do, make sure that your face is damp or else the oils will uselessly sit on top of the skin. Moisturizing while dry is like taking a shower with jeans on, it does not get the job done. Try moisturizing your body with baby oil gel immediately after showering. It keeps skin hydrated, soft & glowing. The off brand version that they sell at Family Dollar will do the job just fine. Believe it or not, you want to stay away from using coconut oil on your face! It’s a comedogenic oil, meaning it’s not easily soaked into your skin. Try rosehip oil with a couple drops of lavender and turmeric oil with a carrier oil like rosehip, almond, grape seed or vitamin e. While witch hazel should not be used as a daily toner, a cotton pad
40
My Sister’s Magazine
soaked in it applied to a pimple does magic! Burt’s Bees Complexion Stick also works wonders for dark spot removal. Remember: always test products out on less visible areas of your skin to avoid catastrophic breakouts and breakdowns.
Fun in the Sun Now it’s time for the most important tip... WEAR SUNSCREEN! You need an SPF on the daily. The sun will damage your skin and all of the hard work you’ve done will be for nothing. Be careful though--we live in a cruel world where they put harmful ingredients in the every sunscreen we use to protect ourselves. Beware of sunscreens that contain the following damaging ingredients: avobenzone, oxybenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Look for mineral sunscreen instead! These contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide to physically block the sun opposed to chemically blocking the sun with regular sunscreen.
REWIND
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Watch what you eat, it matters.
Drink lots of water and add some fruit in that thang.
Cow milk is for baby cows, so switch to almond milk.
Wash your daily skin sins away.
Coconut oil is not for your face .
SPF is the key to your skins’s success.
Love yourself and the skin you’re in.
mysistersmag.com
41
My Sister’s Magazine Contributor
MALORY MUNDY @ SUNS TA RCHIL D
Although originally from New York City, Malory is happy to call Chesapeake, Virginia home for over a decade. She has been able to explore her passion for skincare, cosplay, food and art while raising her charming son, Marc. When she isn’t popping pimples, you’ll most likely find this Aquarius relaxing at the beach or pretending to be a food critic at a locally owned restaurant.
42
My Sister’s Magazine
GETTING TESTED ON A BUDGET by Ari Bee
W
hen we think of budgeting, we often think of our consistent monthly expenses or trying to save up for something specific that we want. However, sometimes unexpected things that we need tend to pop up in the form of an expense at the most inconvenient times. I’m talking car trouble, a broken appliance in your home, or (in America) a health related issue. Unfortunately, we can’t even get sick in peace. That’s right. If you simply have the nerve to get sick, you’re looking at shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get treatment. This, of course, includes sexual wellness needs, like STD testing. Any sexually active adult should be getting tested, and black women specifically are at higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. But, unwarranted stigma (news flash: anyone, no matter how many partners they’ve had from 1-100 can contract an STD) and the resulting shame keeps a lot of us out of the doctor’s office. Many of us fear getting tested, and some of us can’t afford it. Even with insurance, depending on who you’re covered by, you can be hit with a bill upwards of $150 for getting tested “too frequently” --despite recommendations explaining it’s a good idea for some sexually active adults to get tested every 3 months. Getting tested isn’t just good for your health, it helps your partner (and their partners, and their partners) stay healthy as well. With this in mind, it’s important to remember there are some affordable options out there. The first thing you can do to find affordable testing sites
is simply google “free STD testing near me”. Depending on your region, you may find a long list of places that offer affordable or even free testing. More specifically, you can search through the department of health to find free testing sites near you. They are likely to have some free clinics and other resources to help you stay safe. Another option that is available in many states is Planned Parenthood. One of the main reasons Planned Parenthood is such an important establishment is that it offers healthcare services to those who aren’t insured. If you don’t have insurance, Planned Parenthood will work with you to come up with a payment based on your income. You may even be able to get tested for free. Lastly, you can also check if your city/ region has an LGBTQ+ advocacy center. Some of these centers offer free rapid HIV testing. Depending on your region, to get completely free treatment, you may have to mix and match. For example, you may go to a free clinic that offers free chlamydia and gonorrhea testing (but not HIV), and go to the LGBTQ+ center for a free HIV test. Yes, this may take a little time and there’s more people to contact to get your results, but it does the job of saving you some money! I’ll say it louder for those in the back: Any sexually active adult should be getting tested! Let’s stop the narrative that STDs are some type of “punishment” that happens when you are too “irresponsible”, and recognize that they can be a consequence of sex, no matter how much or with whom you choose to have it. Hopefully these budgeting tips will allow for more access to a necessary part of healthcare!
mysistersmag.com
43
RELATIONSHIPS/SEX/LOVE
Photos by Q&A Photography 44
My Sister’s Magazine
Journey to Thirty FINDING PURPOSE ALONG THE WAY
30 years on this earth is not a long time, but sometimes it feels like an eternity. A significant amount of my time has been spent in darkness and depression. But, seeing my life reflected in the lives of others has helped me find the light time and again. I’ve learned the value of storytelling, and I want to share a few things I have come to know. These thoughts are not based in fact. They are rooted in truth. My truth. My experiences. Looking back on where I’ve been became a way to shed light on my path. Questioning and reflecting became my navigator. And these are simple reminders I created for myself to use when I feel like I’ve lost my way. Do birds ever fear falling? Trust your instincts. You are meant to soar. For several months I’ve been a part of a Women’s Gathering that a close friend put together. This group is living, breathing magic. We come together, we share food, we share wine, and we share fears and dreams. We sit in silence and erupt in laughter. These gatherings forced me to step into my power, trust my intuition, and accept messages from the universe and the goddess within me that the noise of the world almost drowned out. Find your tribe, and surround yourself with queens who acknowledge your power when you enter the room. If only for a short while, stop doubting yourself and let go of all of the criticism. Let go of the fear – the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of the unknown – and truly start believing in your ability to live your life. To use your voice. To take up space. To recognize and embrace who you are and who you want to be. To understand that falling simply gives you another opportunity to rise. Is it helpful or harmful to suppress your emotions? Give yourself permission to feel your full range of feelings. I would be amiss if I didn’t acknowledge the ridiculous cost of healthcare in the US, and how inaccessible quality, holistic care is for Black women and people. It is a privilege to be insured and be able to take advantage of therapy and other resources. I don’t take any of this for granted.
by Mydashia Hough mysistersmag.com
45
46
I had my first experience with therapy in 2018 when my dad passed away unexpectedly. I was working at a nonprofit where I was literally traveling 6 months out of the year. Naturally, this came with pros and cons. Some of the cons: I had no time, energy, or motivation to care for myself, let alone work through the pain of losing a loved one. The stress of the work compounded with the grief nearly took me out. Being a workaholic is trendy, but the stress is real. Contrary to popular belief, you can have a strong work-ethic and recognize when it’s time to take a break. Or walk away.
In order to do this, I had to make a change. For me, turning 30 meant being able to choose myself and choose life. It meant creating an exit plan to leave my job. It meant starting therapy, not only to explore the grief and deal with the stress. I had years of pain that needed healing. It also meant surrounding myself with loved ones who were strong enough to hold me, to listen to me, to care.
When you don’t have the words to express your pain, or you don’t have the tools to process what you’re going through, it can sometimes manifest in your body in physical ways as it did with me. Your feelings are valid. But, that doesn’t mean you have to hold on to them or suppress them. Learn to work with them and through them.
Pursue Happiness.
My Sister’s Magazine
How do you ask for what you need? Take action. Show them what you need by providing it to yourself. Everything you need is already within you.
The idea of “pursuit” creates a visual of running after something, which automatically makes me think that whatever I’m chasing is actively running away from me. What would happen if I stepped into and embodied that which I sought? What would happen if I stopped pursuing
what I wanted in my life, and instead started promoting what I valued? Love, empathy, generosity, patience, hope. This already lives within me. I have the power to provide it for myself. If I find a way to share it with the world, in return, would it then begin to seek me? Eventually, we have to stop waiting idly by and start being active participants in our lives. Self-love isn’t a prerequisite to being loved by others. But you should give yourself unconditional love. Be patient with yourself. Create room for yourself to make mistakes. Forgive yourself. The world will bear witness and there will be no confusion when it comes to the desires of your heart… Throughout my 20s, darkness and loss managed to outshine many of my blessings. I’m only one month into this third decade of life, and it has already managed to exceed my expectations. I used to be skeptical, when people would say the older you get, the less value you place on others’ opinions of you. But already I have found this to be true. You only have one life, and one chance to live it. When you realize all of the months and years you spent
living for others, it seems impossible to continue on that path for one more day. I believe my “journey to 30” started when I realized it had the potential to be a new beginning for me. After surviving and growing through traumas and challenges, I needed a radical restart. Almost like a hard reset — you know, when you turn off your computer or phone for the first time in a long time, and it finally starts working smoothly again? But, I didn’t wait until my 30th birthday to press the button. Small steps were taken along the way, and lessons were learned. None of it was planned. It all just sort of happened. Sometimes, life does that. It just happens. And yet, I know none of it happened by mistake. You may or may not believe in coincidences. But always believe in purpose, even when the reason seems unknowable.
mysistersmag.com
47
B O OK CLUB
T H E I M P O R TA N C E O F B L A C K L I T E R AT U R E by Tyrabia Womble
“Ms. Tyrabia, why we gotta read this book? I don’t want to talk about slavery all the time. I’m tired of reading and seeing stuff like that. Can we read something happy?” Within this plea from one of my former high school students lies a bit of truth: the perception of Black American literature is one of cyclic, inglorious sufferings. Often, people deduce this genre to the slave narratives, civil rights speeches, and Harlem Renaissance poetry that they were forced to read in school during Black History Month. Unfortunately, the limited selection of Black American literature made accessible to the mass population, and the surface level engagement with these texts, perpetuates the damaging stereotype that Black American literature is the story of Black pain. Taught from this perspective, these stories and their Black authors become predictable, boring, and unimaginative; all of the things that Black American literature is not. To those who hold the view of my student: yes, the historical pain experienced by Black people within this country is detailed,heavily, in the texts that make up the canon of Black American literature. However, if explored beyond the slave narratives taught in school, you will find that this genre also makes room to highlight the joy, brilliance, innovation and humanistic aspects of Black Americans and our culture. There is an eerie connection between the socialization of Blackness and Black authors’ fight for legitimacy and meritocracy. Hence, many Black American written stories are overlooked due to the systematic tendency to contest the academic and artistic value of the cultural commodities produced by Black artists. In Unspeakable Things
48
My Sister’s Magazine
Unspoken: The Afro-American Presence in American Literature, Toni Morrison describes a literary canon as “The boom of power announcing an ‘officially recognized set of texts.’” She expounds upon this definition by equating the construction of a literary canon, the collecting of seminal texts, to empire building1. Faced by a constant threat of cultural dilution, acknowledging the existence of the Black literary canon inside and outside of American literature is quintessential; Black American art is informed by the duality of being an American citizen but not being fully accepted as American. This “othered” experience influences the ways in which Black literature engages with poetry and prose. The genre of Black American literature is important for various reasons: 1) it creates space to highlight the diversity in Blackness, 2) Black authorship helps showcase the importance of fantasy and imagination, and 3) it holds our history. Creating Space to Highlight Diversity in Blackness A common misconception of Black Americans is that we are all the same; we all struggle (as if misfortune is unique to Blackness), we all speak the same, and we all have intellectual limitations. The varying stories depicted by Black authors show that the only unifying force amongst us is our culture, crafted from our marginalized history. Outside of this, literature from authors like Sharon Draper, Jacqueline Woodson, August Wilson, and Alice Walker show the complexities within Blackness by addressing differences that are attributed by income, geographic region, and personal desires.
Historical Bank of Knowledge Zora Neale Hurston articulated this when she said, “If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.” While Black Americans have never been silent about their suffering or oppression, they have been fighting against attempts to be silenced throughout history. Whenever Black history has been told from the dominant culture’s perspective, damaging narratives of Black people have been widely disseminated and consumed. It is important to note that while the structure of white supremacy contributes to the impact of the reach of these stereotypes, Black authorship has been pivotal in resisting and rebelling against these prevailing narratives. Invariably, Black people have attempted to tell their stories and histories through the art of storytelling through written and oral accounts. The autonomy associated with being the writer of our own narratives has helped unearth and highlight Black people’s accomplishments, brilliance, and contributions to the global socio-political economy.
Photo by Taofeek Obafemi-Babatunde Black Authorship Helps Showcase the Importance of Fantasy and Imagination There has been a long-standing attempt to prove the intellectual inferiority of Black people. Mostly, this was, and continues to be, rooted in an attempt to justify societal mistreatment of Black citizens. The mere idea of the Black intellectual rejects this falsified notion of White superiority. Black authors are critical in pushing the boundaries set upon the Black imagination by utilizing the culture to create new ways of storytelling and reimagining futures. The vastness of Black imagination is emphasized within the sub-genre of Afro-futurism. Afro-futurism is the intersections of imagination, technology, the future, and Black liberation. Wakanda 4eva! Black women authors like Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, and N.K. Jemismuse afrofuturism to place the lived realities of Black people in the past and present, and re-examine the narratives to attempt to build new truths outside of the dominant cultural narrative.
My Sisters’ Magazine is devoted to immortalizing the brilliance of Black authorship and cultural production. We offer you the opportunity to participate in this effort by becoming members of the MSM Book Club, a book club dedicated to showing the diversity within Black imagination and experiences. It is important for us to expand our literary canon to incorporate texts that engage the present as well as the past; by doing so, we provide a sense of relevancy, not displayed by the remarks of my students, to the lived experience of Black Americans. As a member of our book club, your participation ensures the defense of the Black imagination and the meritocracy of Black literature.
mysistersmag.com
49
BOOK OF THE MONTH 50
T
his month the book club will be reading The State of Black Girls: A Go-to-Guide for Creating Safe Spaces for Black Girls by Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW.
Black girls. Her book is intended to address the specific ways Black girls experience trauma and offer solutions and coping techniques that are unique to them. The book has a lot of really cool activities within it that can not only help Black girls, Marline is a licensed clinical social worker but help us all ensure we’re creating safe with 15 years of experience, most of which spaces for the Black girls in our lives. was spent helping adolescent and high-risk My Sister’s Magazine
mysistersmag.com
51