IN THIS ISSUE HEALTHY FOODS SELF HELP EMPOWERMENT
MUSIC REVIEWS BOOK REVIEWS WRITER’S BLACK
NATURAL WOMAN ON THE SCENE: CINCINNATI MUSIC FESTIVAL
Natural Woman
Magazine
LETTER from
THE EDITOR
It was 1968 when J. Morris had the audacity to produce the very first Miss Black America pageant right across the street from the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City NJ. It is that same energy that drove me to create this platform to reflect our back our Black Excellence by sharing our truths. The Miss Black America pageant helped to defy the meaning of Black Beauty by planting the seeds of positivity in every woman that has ever walked the Miss Black America stage. Natural Woman Magazine is honored to add to the Miss Black America legacy by featuring Nicole Lyn, Miss Black America, 2016 in this issue. We also had the pleasure of attending the Cincinnati Music Festival that featured some of the biggest R&B music acts to date. I even got to meet the amazing Tom Joyner and the beautiful Afrobella creator Patrice Grell Yursik be sure to check out the Natural Woman Magazine photo gallery to see the amazing photos from the concert.
Check out the Natural Woman Magazine Photo Gallery
Azizah Nubia @azizahnubia Editor in Chief
Our mission at Natural Woman Magazine is to promote, empower, and inspire you to live a more abundant healthy life.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Azizah Nubia
MARKETING DIRECTOR
AZ8 Media Marketing
ADVERTISING/SALES
Gracie J. Perry
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Trazana Staples Tammarah Overton Zephanie Garrett Nikita Anderson Lauren Grimes
PHOTOGRAPHER
AZ Media
QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK Phone: 220-252-0109
www.asknaturalwoman.com
Nulputetum amcorero conseqau amcommy niatet, quat gait la faci
NATURAL WOMAN ON THE SCENE THE CINCINNATI MUSIC FESTIVAL Known as one of the biggest summer concerts in the Midwest the Cincinnati Music Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Sponsored by Proctor & Gamble the Cincinnati Music Festival The 2017 Cincinnati Music Festival featured performances by Usher, Mary J. Blidge, KEM, Anthony Hamilton, Kid Capri and more at Paul Brown Stadium. The concert kicked off with the 2nd annual “Throwback Thursday� party hosted by Dougie Fresh, Rob Base, and Kid Capri. The event featured appearances by the Tom Joyner and a fashion show put on by Chanel Meyer of Shango Fashions. The Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF) began in 1962 and is one of the largest music festivals in the United States attracting over 75,000+ people from around the country with its roster of leading R&B, jazz, soul and hip-hop artists creating an economic impact of $11 million for Cincinnati.
THE CINCINNATI MUSIC FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY P & G
Procter & Gamble is the presenting sponsor for the Cincinnati Music Festival for the third year in a row. P&G was proud to #ShareTheRhythm at the 2017 Cincinnati Music Festival, connecting thousands of music lovers with the sights, sounds, and spirit of the “Queen City” through musical entertainment, new experiences, and bringing P&G brands to life.
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
For more than 50 years, thousands of people have come to the Queen City each summer to attend. The 2017 Cincinnati Music Festival line-up includes the following: Thursday, July 27 Party with a Purpose: Doug E Fresh, Kid Capri, Rob Base Friday, July 28: Mary J. Blige, KEM, SWV, En Vogue, Bell Biv Devoe, Ed Thomas Saturday, July 29: Usher, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, Confunkshun, Ro James The Cincinnati Music Festival ended with an amazing performance by R&B super star Usher Raymond and special guest DJ Lil’ John. Usher is currently facing a 10 million-dollar lawsuit from allegedly exposing a woman to herpes this past April. But judging by his performance he hasn’t let that slow him down, he gave the city of Cincinnati a show worth watching. Thursday, July 27 Party with a Purpose: Doug E Fresh, Kid Capri, Rob Base Friday, July 28: Mary J. Blige, KEM, SWV, En Vogue, Bell Biv Devoe, Ed Thomas Saturday, July 29: Usher, Fantasia, Anthony NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
Hamilton, Confunkshun, Ro James The Cincinnati Music Festival ended with an amazing performance by R&B super star Usher Raymond and special guest DJ Lil’ John. Usher is currently facing a 10 milliondollar lawsuit from allegedly exposing a woman to herpes this past April. But judging by his performance he hasn’t let that slow him down, he gave the city of Cincinnati a show worth watching. rformance he hasn’t let that slow him down, he gave the city of Cincinnati a show worth watching.
MOVERS & SHAKERS A LOOK INTO SOME OF THE INDUSTRY’S MOVERS & SHAKERS.
ISSA RAE AND SOLANGE HOSTED AN EVENT TO HELP STRUGGLING BLACK BUSINESS OWNER Issa Rae and Solange Knowles combined their star power to help a black-owned soul food restaurant stay open. The two stars hosted a fundraising event called “Wind and Grind” to help Los Angeles-based chef Alisa Reynolds. Earlier this summer Reynolds created a GoFundMe page to help settle a $130,000 lawsuit her restaurant, My Two Cents, was facing. Reynolds shared, “For the past two years, I have suffered in silence because of a legal battle. Honestly, I am facing the biggest obstacle of my professional life.” “If I do not raise $130,000 by August 15, 2017, I may no longer be able to continue working at 2 Cents LA,” she continued. “My absence will affect the other 17 beautiful people who work with me and pour their hearts and souls into the food that they prepare each day.”
Life. Beyoncé, Jay Z, Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and other stars also made an appearance. All proceeds from Wine and Grind are going to Reynolds’ restaurant. The amount raised has yet to be disclosed.
Issa Rae and Solange heard Reynolds’ cry for help and organized a dinner and fundraiser at a secret location to save 2 Cents’ restaurant with the help of the singer’s company Saint Heron. The sold-out event was intended to “bring together the community to support the imprint chef Alisa has cultivated through food, love, and fellowship,” per news outlet Cassius NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA DETOX TONIC HOT DETOX TONIC ALOE VERA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF MEDICINAL USE, DATING ALL THE WAT BACK TO ANCIENT KEMET. THE PLANT IS NATIVE TO NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHERN EUROPE, AND THE CANARY ISLANDS. TODAY, ALOE VERA IS GROWN IN TROPICAL CLIMATES WORLDWIDE. PRESENT DAY RESEARCHERS ARE JUST BEGINNING TO REDISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF THIS UNIVERSAL PLANT AND WHY OUR ANCESTORS HELD IT SO HIGHLY. CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BENEITS HEARTBURN RELIEF KEEPING FRESH PRODUCE AN ALTERNATIVE TO MOUTHWASH LOWERING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR A NATURAL LAXATIVE SKIN CARE POTENTIAL TO FIGHT
DID YOU KNOW? ALOE VERA HOWEVER, IS ALSO A GREAT PLANT TO IMPROVE YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY. IT IS EASY TO GROW (AND HARD TO KILL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT POSSESS A GREEN THUMB) AND IT HELPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME FREE FROM BENZENE WHICH IS COMMONLY FOUND IN PAINT AND CERTAIN CHEMICAL CLEANERS.
Brother Polight’s History Lesson via Social Media Experiment: A Deep Look Into Dashki BY: AZIZAH NUBIA Fashion Attire Many of us have grown to love the teachings of Brother Polight, author of over 90+ books, dynamic lecturer, and savvy businessman. Many of us who consider ourselves a part of the “black conscious” community have gained a great deal of knowledge from celebrity mentor and public speaker. Polight recently bought a historic fashion fact to the forefront via social media.
dress and helping push Afro-centric fashion.
He conducted a social experiment where he posted images of him with a photo of a non black model wearing a dashki dress. Almost immediately he received backlash from mostly women of color for his controversial experiment. The first post was a photo of him and playboy model @ jillisaylnn with her wearing an African print mini dress. In the post Polight asked the public #CanBeckyWearAfricanAttire. He further asked “Is it wrong to get the white women in African Attire? Will the Black man get love for his influence or will you condemn him and call it treason to have “Becky” in African garb? Do we set the trends and limit other races or is it free for all on the African Market” He ended the post by saluting @Jillislynn for rocking the
Many of his followers along with his faithful legion of social media trolls went in on him with thousands of comments displaying anger and disappointment in Polight’s message. Many people felt that Brother Polight was being hypocritical of his “The Black Woman is God” philosophy, by glorifying a white woman on his social media page, others viewed his activity as “selling out” to white people and a traitor to his community. This isn’t the first time Polight’s loyalty to the Black community has been in question. Polight rise to money, power, and popularity has helped him cross over into a mainstream audience that has left his beloved “black conscious” community feeling concerned.
Now we all know Brother Polight isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit when it comes to helping elevate the lives of others especially the lives of black people through his platform. And until Brother Polight can address fully his method behind this social experiment many are left to assume their own interpretation of the cryptic message he was sending out.
3 days after posting the first #CanBecky-
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
WearAfricanAttire post, Brother Polight posted a video sharing some history behind dashiki fashions. In this, he explains that the pattern is a Dutch inspired garment that was exposed to West African slaves. The style was brought back to West Africa where it has been mass produced all over the world as authentic African Attire. This entire experiment resulted in a lot of unhappy responses, but it has also sparked some very serious dialogue among African Americans and our history with fashion. Is it wrong for Caucasians to wear African fashions especially when African Americans can profit from it? Or should Caucasians be condemned for wanting to wear African Fashions no matter who is profiting? And is the garment truly an African design when it has Dutch inspired origins? It should be no surprise to anyone that Caucasians throughout their existence have taken the customs of other cultures and have made them their own. And now with capitalism, it is easy to profit millions of dollars off of anything especially the African culture. “It’s just good business” as they say, this is probably what Polight was trying to convey in his unorthodox approach, #CanBeckyWearAfricanAttire? Should she should? The bigger question that everyone failed to address is who will be selling #Becky the attire? Our community spends billions of dollars with nonblack businesses every single day. And a huge amount of that spending goes to the fashion industry, from Nike, Chanel Bags and of course “them bloody shoes” Red Bottoms. Our community spends big when it comes to what we wear, and the majority of that spending goes to non-black designers and companies. So why shouldn’t black owned fashion businesses sell to all races that want to buy? The reaction from Polight’s post reflected back alot of anger and betrayal from the black community. The image of a non black woman in a Dashki dress is a culture shocker that many of us were not ready for. Everyday more African Americans are waking up to our indegeous African roots. We are proud of our hair, our heritage, our beautiful skin complextions, we are breaking free from the chains of self hate. And because of this we are creating new ways of self expression. This is true in the fashion arena as well. African inspired fashions are becoming
Javanese batik are made by hand-drawing motifs on cotton cloth and involved the use of wax and resistdye. After being colonised by the Dutch, Javanese batik was introduced to Holland and consequently to other parts of Europe but did not gain popularity.
more popular giving our new style a mainstream audience. Let’s face it, we are the most sought after group of people in the world. Everything we create as a culture gets copied, packaged, and sold through the hands of other races. If we do not play our cards right we may miss a prime opportunity to advance economically off of our own cultural creations. We must first learn how to work together and support other black owned businesses, especially in the fashion industry. We must adopt the “spend with our own first” mentailty. If we have the collective buying power of a trillion dollars why aren’t their more black billionaires, millionaires, and mega business empires? Why get mad at #Becky for wearing a $50 dashki dress from a black owned business when #Kiesha said $50 was too much? Brother Polights experiment was
a good one not only did it cause a social media frenzy, it also sparked alot of great coversation.
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
Claire Ford, Miss Black America 1977
A MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY Because of the lack of black women in the Miss America pageant. J. Morris Anderson created and produced the Miss Black America Pageant on August 17, 1968, at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlantic City. With support from Phillip H. Savage, Tri-State Director of the NAACP, the pageant received nationwide press coverage as a protest against the Miss America Pageant, an event that Mr. Savage and other NAACP leaders had long condemned for exclusion of black women contestants. In September 1977, The Miss Black America made its television debut, NBC televised the Miss Black America contest, the day before CBS televised Miss America. NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
THE LEGACY CONTINUES A TALK WITH MISS BLACK AMERICA The Miss Black America Pageant has served as a platform for Black Excellence for almost half of a century. For 49 years the Miss Black America Pageant has helped produce some of the most influential black women of our time. Whether through winning the crown or representing their city, each woman that graces the stage and takes the oath of positivity instills in her the power to create her destiny by making her voice heard through the Miss Black America platform. This is no different for our current reigning Miss Black America title holder Nicole Lyn, singer, songwriter, and lecturer, who has used the Miss Black America platform to share her message of Authenticity through Self Affirmation. Nicole has spent her reign, touring the country performing and speaking at several schools, churches, and events about the importance of believing in yourself. Nicole aka The Sacred Songbird made her musical debut in May of 2015 as a street performer before winning her Miss Black America Crown in 2016. Nicole has always been involved in singing and songwriting ever since she was a little girl, from church worship to school talent shows Nicole has always had a beat in her step and music in her heart. In addition to music, Nicole is a writer, artist, looper and fashion designer. All of which she used during her Miss Black America journey to seize her crown. Nicole captured the hearts of the crowd and judges with her talent competition performance where she performed with a loop machine allowing her to create her own song on the stage for the crowd. Nicole also showed off her amazing fashion design talent by designing pageant grown. Nicole represented the state Delaware and won 3 out of the 5 categories which include Projection, Talent and the Overall Crown. She tied in her fourth category for Miss Positivity. Since winning her Miss Black America crown Nicole has been featured on several media platforms, talk shows, and events. She was presented with an official tribute from the Mayor of Wilmington. Nicole has planned after her Miss Black America reign to try her talents in the world of film. She shares that she has several film projects in the works and she will continue to make music. Be sure to catch her current new album “Off the Beaten Path” released in July on her website www.sacredsongbird.com and her new EP “ Fly Higher” Nicole’s wings have moved her to use her growing platform in continuing to take a stand for the power and beauty of the black community.
BY: AZIZAH NUBIA
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
10 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MISS BLACK AMERICA 2016 1. What’s your favorite Color? My favorite color is green but I’m falling in love with mauve 2. What’s you favorite Movie? My favorite movie is The Matrix. I actually love The Matrix Trilogy 3. What do you like to do if you get bored? When I am bored I like to read, and make crafts. 4. What is your favorite Hobby? I love to sing and write songs and poetry. 5. What is your favorite book? The Bible. It’s a very good story 6. Who is your biggest inspiration? Watching everything unfold. 7. What is your favorite food? I don’t really have a favorite food. Everything in moderation. 8. Where is your favorite place to go? I like going to parks with bodies of water to sit by. 9. Who is your favorite singer? Sade 10.How do you want to influence the world? I want my authenticity to pour out on others in a way that causes them to do the same.
MUSIC REVIEWS & NATURAL WOMAN TOP 5 TOP MUSIC ROCKING THE R & B CHARTS
1. WILD THOUGHT DJ KHALED 2. REDBONE CHILDISH GAMBINO 3. LOVE GALORE SZA FEATURING TRAVIS SCOTT 4. 21 VERSACE ON THE FLOOR We have patiently waited 4 years for the next Jay Z album BRUNO MARS to hit the music waves and I think Jay’s 13th studio album 5 .PRIVACY 4:44 was defiantly worth the wait. From speaking on topics related to race, wealth building, CHRIS BROWN
Jay Z
raising his children, and of course his apology to his wife Beyonce on the track titled 4:44. This album takes the listener to another level of who Jay Z TOP MUSIC ROCKING THE HIP is, a former drug dealer, turned rapper, turned mogul, to a family man who has taken all he has learned from his life HOP CHARTS and used it to influence a generation of people into creat1.UNFORGETTABLE ing something better with their lives.
FRENCH MONTANA FEATURING SWAE LEE
2.BODAK YELLOW CARDI B 3. 4:44 JAY-Z 4.27 WHATEVER YOU NEED MEEK MILL FEATURING CHRIS BROWN & TY DOLLA $IGN 5. THE WEEKEND SZA
Cardi B
As her breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” rapidly ascends the Hot 100 chart, climbing from No 28 to No. 14 in the past week, Cardi B becomes the highest-charting woman rapper since 2014, Billboard points out. The highest-charting track by an unaccompanied woman rapper is Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.”
JUDGES PANEL WHO SELECTS YOUR NEXT MISS BLACK AMERICA? THEY DO! SEE OUR ILLUSTRIOUS PANEL OF JUDGES AT THE 49TH MISS BLACK AMERICA EVENTS IN #PHILADELPHIA AUGUST 24TH, 25TH AND 26TH.
PERFORMING LIVE AT THE 49TH
34
Urban Magazine
www.asknaturalwoman.com
Writers Block... NWM loves to support new and upcoming writers and authors in the world of writing. If you are interested in having your work showcased in NWM please submit your work visit us at www.asknaturalwoman.com
SUBMIT YOUR WRITINGS TO NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
NATURAL WOMAN MAGAZINE |WWW.ASKNATURALWOMAN.COM
INGREDIENTS: FOR THE CAULIFLOWER CRUST: 1 SMALL HEAD OF CAULIFLOWER, FLORETS REMOVED ¼ CUP GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE ¼ CUP SHREDDED PART-SKIM MOZZARELLA CHEESE ½ TEASPOON DRIED OREGANO ½ TEASPOON DRIED BASIL ½ TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER ¼ TEASPOON CRUSHED RED PEPPER ¼ TEASPOON SALT 1 EGG FOR THE TOPPING: 3 TEASPOONS OLIVE OIL, DIVIDED ½ SMALL RED BELL PEPPER, SLICED 1/3 CUP BROCCOLI FLORETS ¼ SMALL RED ONION, SLICED 1/3 CUP BABY BELLA MUSHROOMS, SLICED ¼ CUP PIZZA SAUCE OF YOUR CHOICE (YOU COULD ALSO USE PESTO!) ½ CUP OF YOUR CHOICE OF CHESSE OR GO CHEESELESS
CAULIFLOWER PIZZA
INSTRUCTIONS Pre-heat oven to 400° F. Prep a cookie sheet or pizza stone by grease it with oil. You can grease the cookie sheet or use greased aluminum foil. It will stick if you don’t grease it properly. Remove the stems and leaves from your cauliflower and chop the florets into chunks. Add to a food processor and pulse just until the texture is similar to rice. If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the cauliflower with a cheese grater or chop it. Sauté cauliflower “rice” in a non-stick skillet over medium heat and cook until translucent, approximately 6-8 minutes.
In a bowl combine the cooked cauliflower with all remaining ingredients. Spread dough out evenly over foil (or stone) - about ¼ to ⅓ of an inch thick. The pizza should be about 9-10 inches in diameter. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden, crispy on the edges and cooked through the middle. Remove the crust from the oven. Top with pizza sauce and toppings. Be careful not to add too many heavy toppings as you don’t want to weigh down the crust. Broil the pizza for 5 minutes, or until the toppings are hot and the cheese is melted. Allow the pizza to cool for 2-3 minutes then cut and serve immediately.
BACK TO SCHOOL
NATURAL HAIR GUIDE
School is back in session and many of you are going to be spending the next four months in a dorm room with communinal bathrooms, early morning classes, and late night study sessions. Not to mention enjoying college social life, from hanging in the court yard to attending homecoming, and joining student organization. College can be busy and can leave you only small opportunties to maintain your natural hair. Check out our Natural Woman natural hair guide for great tips on how you can keep your hair looking fabulous and healthy.
MAKE A SCHEDULE College life is demanding and so is keeping up with your natural hair routine. Be a step ahead by creating a schedule and stick to it. This will help you stay organized in control. BE ORGANIZED People think that naintaing your natural hair is easy, but we naturalista know this isn’t true. With natural hair caomes products, tools and tons of combs. If you are living in a dorm that means you will have limited space for your natural hair supplies. Make your life eaiser by getting small organizer to keep your itmes oragaized and our of the way until its wash night. DIY NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS Many of you are transitioning from high school student to college freshmen and that means you will probably be limited on funds. Don’t let this stop you from keeping up with your gorgeous curls. Natural hair products can be expensive and to help with the cost try your hand in creating your own natural hair products or shop online for other blackowned business that do. NETWORK Yes you read that right network. There will always be someone on campus who is skilled in doing some hair, especially protective hairstyling. Learn who this person is buy networking and building contacts. Protective hair styles can free up your time and keep your hair out of the way.
Keep it Healthy: Make sure to wash your hair twice a month so you can fit in those deep treatments your curls desperately need. You also want to make sure you’re moisturizing your hair at least every couple of days to keep your curls fresh, hydrated, easy to manipulate when you don’t have time for wash day, and breakage-free.
Pick a Go-to Style: Picking a style that not only keeps your hair stretched (to eliminate tangles and save time on detangling) but can be worn multiple days at a time without having to manipulate it constantly will be a life saver. My go-to style was two flat twists with either a deep side part or middle part. I was able to wear that for days at a time, and when I got tired of it, I was able to take the twists down for a wavy/ stretched fro, or a roll tuck and pin style.
Keep it Cute: Time is everything while you’re in college. Just because you’re stressed and trying to beat the clock to get assignments done doesn’t mean your hair should suffer. With the right planning, your hair can stay fly all while breezing through assignments. Wearing the same style everyday? Spice it up with a cute ribbon/ bow or a stylish hat. Make it work for you and your personal style!
CLASSIFIED