Oricle Magazine: Beginnings

ORICLE NO. 1 | SPRING 2020

BEGINNINGS

CONTENTS WARRIOR YANI GOLD 8 Dedication Poetry 10 Beauty by Tory Wenson

I AM WHO I AM 12 Interview with fashion designer Keama Garrett

LOVER

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True Love 18 Poem by Juny Sylus

Omobirin Mi 20 Interview with Ife and Claudia

Letters to My EX 22

MUSE Far From a Hobby 28 Interview with Lekan

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SAGE Reading Nook 36 Tech Support 38

FOODIE Super Food 40 Black and Mobile 44 Interview with David of Black and Mobile

HUSTLER Featured Resource 46 Rejection... 48 Ashes ‘N’ Roses 50

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CONTRIBUTORS Editorial Team

Kat Theodore Pluvenia Pluviose-John Editor in Chief Managing Editor Submissions and Features Keri Garrett | @keri.meawayy Tory Wenson | @onlyonetory Keama Garret | @ keama.official Lekan Olanrewaju | lekan.music Juny Sylus | @_xxjuny Ashley Theodore | @ wonderfully_made23 Melissa Theodore | @meltheo33 Claudia + Ife | @ lookingfornanayaa + @ ifoluwa_ David | @blackandmobile Gabi | @ gabofgaia nappy.co 4

SHOW YOUR

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FROM THE TRIBE “Big things often have small beginnings”.

With this first issue of Oricle Magazine, Ori 7 is beginning a new chapter. We started this project in hopes of sharing the authentic and inspiring stories of people of color. Although we’re a small team, this was possible with the support of those who shared their time and passion with us. We hope you enjoy!

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Shop on oriseven.com and tag @ori7tribe!

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YANI GOLD

Creative Director+Stylist @keri.meawayy Photographer @demetriusw Designer @keama.official Model: @yanimo_ 8

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Dedication Poetry

Tory Wenson | @onlyonetory “My poetry is dedicated to all people who express feelings, love, life, pain, and empowerment through words”

Beauty

Today I woke up and I didn’t feel pretty. But Maybe tomorrow I will.

Maybe tomorrow I won’t feel like I need makeup to make up for the fact that there’s something I lack, and I can’t even see it.

When did my beauty not become my own? Why don’t my beauty standards live in my own home?

Why do I feel like I need society just to validate my beauty, why can’t I just choose me ?

Why do I feel like I need to wait on a man to feed me compliments, filled with empty promises.

I’m trying to find the beauty in myself but it seems like I’ll always be searching; I just wanna feel worth it, I just wanna be perfect.

But today I woke up and I still didn’t feel pretty.

But maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up and I won’t feel like I need makeup to make up for the fact that my low self esteem has taken a toll and I still don’t feel whole.

Image: @caminho_do_despertar

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WARRIOR | Dedication Poetry

But Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up and I’ll love my brown sugar skin, Maybe tomorrow I’ll love my figure.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up and I’ll finally see the beautiful girl that lives inside of me And when others tell me I’m beautiful Maybe tomorrow I’ll finally see.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll realize that my beauty is deeper than my good looks.

My beauty is in my walk My beauty is in the way I talk My beauty is in my love My beauty is above, all things that are superficial because I am more than what you see. My beauty is inside of me.

My beauty is my own; it does reside in my own home.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up and I won’t feel like I need makeup to make up for the fact that I don’t feel pretty because instead maybe tomorrow

I’ll feel beautiful.

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MA I

I AM WHO

Interview with Keama Garrett Keama shares her journey as a fashion designer and how she hustled to make her dream a reality.

What goes into preparing for Fashion Week?

You need to have a collection like you need to have clothes, you need to have the design, you need to have a stylist, you need to think about accessories and shoes and all that. You also need to think about makeup and hair and how that’s going to look, you know there’s layers and layers.

keamagarrett.com @ keama.official

“IT’S FOR THE BOLD, IT’S FOR THE BRAVE. IT’S NOT FOR THE MEEK AND TIMID.“ 12

WARRIOR | I AM WHO I AM What are your hopes for Fashion Week?

For me I don’t really hope for anything because I believe in God and I know that those plans are already made you know what I’m saying? So I just pray that my work will be received with open arms and open love. For me art is prayer and I’m doing it for God and myself. When you let your work go out in the world you have to just let it go and let it be free. You just have to have faith in it because you already did the work. That’s your work and that’s what you’re presenting, so if you did it with love you just have to let it go because once it’s out in the world it’s out in the world.

How would you describe your work to someone who hasn’t heard of Keama before?

It’s African American. It’s funky and eccentric. It’s iconic, it’s setting trends you know? It’s African prints and American prints and it’s mixing them and being forward thinking. It’s for the bold, it’s for the brave. It’s not for the meek and timid.

When did you know you wanted to pursue fashion design? Was it a defining moment for you or was it something that you always knew you wanted to do?

I knew was always going to do it. When I was young, I had a vision when I was 8. And it kind of was like “oh I want to be a fashion designer, I get it”. But from then on, different things in my life always pushed me more towards it.

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People have pushed me along the way though. Like, I had a great teacher when I was in high school. I was able to go to a career center and she taught me how to sew and pattern things and stuff like that. That is when I realized I could actually do this as a career. Did people support me doing that? No. They saw it as just fashion and sewing.

But you know I always had a dream that I would live in NYC as a designer ever since I was younger. I just knew.

Sometimes people don’t know how to handle you if they’re never followed their dreams. As a kid it hurt but as an adult you understand that you can’t fault people for not meeting you where you’re at. But you learn, you grow and you love and that’s how you deal with it.

Were you supported in wanting to pursue your dream?

I think as an artist you are always looking for unconditional support but you have to find that unconditional support within yourself because not everyone knows your vision, and not everyone sees what God has given you. Kind of like what Will Smith was saying, sometimes it’s you by yourself at first.

And now people are supporting you because they see the dream they see the vision they see the hard work. But in the beginning, you know it’s hard. I’m not bitter or anything but that’s the reality of it. God gives you a vision and not everyone can see that vision.

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Tell me more about the journey that led you to designing a collection for NY Fashion Week After high school I went to Kent state University and from there I did a semester here in NYC interning for someone at a studio. That’s how I learned the ropes and experienced fashion week and whatnot.

So after I graduated I went back to New York because I already knew how to get around the spaces, you know. After college it was definitely hard. I had to find a way to save up enough money to move from Ohio. At the time I was working for a costume design place in Columbus that would make mascots and shit.

WARRIOR | I AM WHO I AM I was sewing at first and then they moved me from sewing to cutting and then from cutting to laundry and finally I was like I don’t gotta work here, I want my own company. So I was working to keep saving and saving but one day my dad told me, “you know Keama, your dreams don’t move unless you do.” So I was like fuck it, I’m moving. On my 23rd Birthday, boom. But it was a hard year, shoot.

Brooklyn is hard. I had to start from the ground up. I had to hustle and build myself up with no connections and no references.

The thing about New York is that you gotta be okay with constantly changing and constantly adapting because everything is new and fresh. I had to start interning again - I took different jobs, and from those experiences I started meeting more people.

I gradually started getting clients because I probably sent out about 200 emails each day looking for opportunities. It was a constant hustle working and sewing for

people. And then I met Shantel and I did a couple costumes for her which started that lovely relationship. Then I did some costumes for Kayla, Kandi’s daughter from Real Housewives of Atlanta. So then some work began to flow but it took a while. As a designer in New York, finding your footing and trying to start something for yourself is really difficult. I’ve been there, from being rejected from portfolios and being in the snow trying to get jobs while pushing your stuff on the sidelines. Because at the same time you need to have money for fabric and stuff like that so you gotta buy supplies but also make sure where you’re living is good, but God has really blessed me. He has helped me in rooms full of sharks. He guides me, directs me, and has given me a good strong intuition. I have struggled a lot of years but through that I’ve learned the spirit of power and the spirit of passion and love.

“YOUR DREAMS DON’T MOVE UNLESS YOU DO” 15

What does it take to make your dreams and passion a reality?

First, you gotta believe in yourself! I remember when I tried out for Project Runway, I was in this room and I was like, my shit is twice as good as these peoples’, and I’m scared? What am I scared for? Like there’s people out here duct taping their shit together and they got confidence, you know what I’m saying? There’s also people who see your confidence and try to steal that.

You know those I-can-help-you-with-your-dream sharks that try to sell you some false promise but don’t move forward? You need to maneuver through those, too. Man, New York is hard. It is haaard. But that’s also what makes it challenging and exciting.

What are some of the moments when you feel the most proud of the work you do?

I’m really always proud of the work I do and there’s a lot of great moments because every moment is a great moment I think. For me, great moments are when I’m making an outfit and I’m humming while I sew or when I’m fitting a model and it just works.

You know? Like getting the call to work with a celeb like Megan Thee Stallion. Just, everything is a great moment when you’re doing what you love. Everything.

“Everything is a great moment when you’re doing what you love.”

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WARRIOR | I AM WHO I AM Tell me about your new collection, I AM WHO I AM There was a period of time when I was working really hard all the time and ended up just going through the motions when I started to realize that I miss myself. I miss being me. I missed doing what I like; I miss watching Moesha and listening to R&B you know? I just missed me. So this collection is really important to me because it is sort of a rebirth like a phoenix rising from ashes. I incorporated different colors because colors for me are emotion.

I came up with the name for this collection on a day that I was leaving work and my spirit told me to take the 2 train even though I normally take AC. I was sitting next to this woman and we started talking about this guy in front of us who was listening to music and had been dancing

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for the past 30 minutes. She said, “I love free spirits like that; you should always feel like you’re the star of your life.” I’ve always felt the same way. There are always people who will try to tell you who you are and “you’re this” and “you’re that”, but I had to relearn that that’s not what I am or who I am - that’s who you think I am. There’s this quote that I love:“Once you know who you are, you will never let anyone tell you who you are again”. So that’s why I named this collection I AM WHO I AM because I don’t have to explain anything to anybody and I don’t have to accept who you think I am.

You know? I AM WHO I AM. When you see the collection the work speaks for itself.

keamagarrett.com @ keama.official

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Though merely a fantasy True love has come for me Blinding me Binding me Reminding me of its strength And that Love Is Love is love Raw, slow, fast, loud, quiet Hard Love is hard And raw And slow And fast And loud And quiet And it has come for me @_xxjuny

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Image: @theasiajade

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Omobinrin Mi A short film by Ife Oluwamuyide and Claudia Owusu @ ifoluwa_ @lookingfornanayaa

“It’s about generational reconciliation between mother and daughter and coming to terms with things that we’ve hidden from each other.”

What was the inspiration for creating this film?

Claudia: Initially we didn’t really know. We just knew we

always wanted to make a film and we’ve known each other for a while. Last summer she hit me up and was like “Hey let’s make a film this summer”. It kind of just developed from there and we started thinking about what it would actually be about and we decided that we wanted to talk about a mother and her two daughters.

We started drawing from our own experiences in our lives as well from what we notice from immigrant families, me being Nigerian and Claudia being Ghanaian. And kind of taking from our own experiences as well as friends experiences and infusing that into the story as well.

relationship to her daughters. Everything was pretty blurry kind of, we just had an overview but the more we took steps the more detailed it became and even now, after having screened the film twice, each conversation that we had with the audience and how different people interpret the film has given us a more specific understanding of exactly what we’re doing.

Ife: At first it developed because Claudia and I wanted to explore motherhood and a mother’s

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What are your future plans for this film?

Claudia:

Ife and I have been talking about creating a website just for all of the content from the film to live on. The film itself is pretty multimedia

LOVER | Omobinrin Mi with the photographs from the mother’s life and we now have a soundtrack from one of the performers at the screening. We want to just bring in all of the different facets of the film and that intimate experience that we created and make it available online so that other people have access to it and can have a well rounded view of this nuanced topic of immigration and immigrant parents.

The more I experiment the more my eyes are open. Through working with Ife and just taking a step into uncharted territory we’ve uncovered so much and so we definitely want to keep documenting experiences that we relate to which often is the immigrant Black African experience. We have plans to do something with the immigrant community in Columbus. We are still in the works and we’re still drafting but I think we have an important role to play in shaping the dialogue around our community and around what it has to offer.

Ife: I agree with Claudia and one thing that has really helped us and encouraged us to do more and continue with this is the response from everyone. People have been supporting us with donations and just being really encouraging with their words and we’re really thankful for all of that support. It has built our confidence in ourselves and being able to call ourselves filmmakers in a way. And feeling like okay we can actually do this and make more projects.

older cousins would come to visit and we would be bored so we would go out and find trouble sometimes on accident and sometimes on purpose. Since I was the youngest one, I couldn’t fight obviously so I was always the one on the sidelines like watching everything and whenever it got too messy like I’d be the one who would be asked to run home and call for help. I feel like from then on I really developed attention to detail and the ability to retell a story. When I came to America, I started reading and writing just as a way to pick up on American slang and African American culture. The more I read the better I got and the more intuitive I got about words and what it means to place certain words next to each other. With film it was my freshman year of college and there was a symposium that my school was putting on and my everything I was thinking about was visual rather than words on a page. I just kept imaging a screen and people moving on a screen so from then on I kept thinking about what I wanted to see on screen and how I could make that happen for myself and for my community as well.

Ife: For me it was more like visual art. I have always been drawing and painting but as I got older I didn’t want to make art that just looked good. Growing up in an African household and growing up outside of my home in America and having to balance those two lives, I felt like I just wanted to share that experience in a way that actually mattered and could make an impact and bring people together. As I got older I saw film as a way to explore that. I think with film it’s one thing to have something that looks good but you also need to have a story that matters. Being able to collaborate with Claudia has pushed me to become a better writer because I’m still learning and finding new ways to tell stories.

Tell us about the journey that led you to being a writer and filmmaker

Claudia:

I always told stories from when I was younger which is just an oral tradition of African culture.

I grew up in a house full of kids in Ghana and I was the youngest. During our school breaks my 21

LETTERS TO MY EX 22

Brandon, I miss you. Don’t even know why . Actually I might, it’s because I have no one else distracting me. You seemed like the perfect fit to me on paper. You have your life in order, your career at least. I think when I saw you, I automatically thought “why wouldn’t we click?” I felt like you were a catch and I think I am one too. But maybe that’s the problem I THINK I’m a catch when I should KNOW that I am. I have work to do on myself and you help me see that. You helped me see that I want a relationship way too much. That’s why I’m stuck. It’s not you, it’s me!

Anonymously,

Thanks but no thanks P.S. I heard they’re coming out with this gummie that can help boost stamina. You should look into it.

X0X0 23

HAVANA, CUBA

A Photo Journal

“It’s a given in Cuba that, if you fall down, the person next to you is going to help you get up.”

-Assata Shakur

Want your work featured in the next issue? Submit today! bit.ly/oricle-submit Photos by @blackkatalogphotos

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NOSTALGIA

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LEKAN Lekan opens up about his upcoming project and the motivation behind his music

What does the phrase Far From a Hobby mean to you?

I tend to notice that the phrase ‘far from a hobby’ relates with anyone who is on the grind or hustle. I know, for me personally, that I had to describe that this wasn’t something that I just want to do as a hobby not only to my parents, especially coming from an African household, but I also had to let myself know that I really want to live it. Far From a Hobby is an I-want-toeat-breathe-sleep-this kind of mentality of showing not just myself but other people that this is not just a hobby for me.

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@lekan soundcloud.c

MUSE| FAR FROM A HOBBY

“Far From a Hobby is an I-want-to-eatbreathe-sleep-this kind of mentality“ What drives you to make music?

I make music because it’s one of the only things that brings me a lot of joy and I feel like I can impact a lot of lives through my music, too. I think there are a lot of people that can relate to what I feel like I’m saying and from there I’ll just try to inspire as many people as I can.

n.music com/lekan74 29

“I realized that people are willing to pay to hear me say what I have to say. That’s when I knew that this isn’t just something that I can consider as a hobby anymore. ”

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What ups and downs have you experienced with your music?

Keeping myself motivated is hard. I mean I am very motivated with this situation but it’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t go the way that you planned it to.

You just kind of expect to be in a certain place but you’re not. I think that would be my biggest challenge so far, but other than that, music is pretty much my only peace.

You’ve been dropping hints about a new project that is coming soon, could you tell us more about that?

With Bus Ride, I feel like I didn’t really tap into what I’m really capable of. I feel like it was something that I put my mind to and said, “okay I want to be able to do it” and I did it. It revealed a lot for me as far as like, what I can do. For Far From a Hobby, my next project, I really wanted to take my time.

I was going through a lot of stuff between Bus Ride and this project that I wanted to emphasize on and really hone in on my craft. I’m saying that, you know this is not a hobby, so I have to move off that and try to go as hard as I possibly can. I am really trying to give this next project all of my everything, so it might take a little longer.

When you do get discouraged, how do motivate yourself?

It depends. If I’m working on something and I feel like I’m getting discouraged I just put it down because I don’t want to put that negative energy that I have in the moment on it. So I just do something completely outside of music whether it’s reading or book or talking to a friend or something like that. It always How would you describe your works out cause I end up going back. sound?

I would call it a feel-good type of vibe. I When would you say you knew don’t think it’s the typical shit you would for sure that music is what you hear on the radio, but I definitely think it wanted to pursue in life? is possible to get on the radio. I would say I would say around when I dropped my my sound is authentic and organic not just first EP, Bus Ride. I was really putting a something that I feel like would necessarily lot of time into it so when I dropped it be popular right now. It always just stems on sound cloud and I was making some from something that I went through or money from it even though it wasn’t being something that a friend went through that sold. It’s not all about the money, but once inspired me. It’s about where I’m at in my I realized that people are willing to pay life. It’s hard to fit myself into one category to hear me say what I have to say, that’s as far as a particular genre, but I think when I knew that this isn’t something that it’s a mix of R&B and Soul/ Neo-Soul.

I can just consider as a hobby anymore.

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MUSE| FAR FROM A HOBBY What are some of the influences that helped shape your sound?

I feel like I have to credit my dad first because he played all types of music when I was growing up from country to reggae to gospel to rock. So that was always a cool thing to have early on, but my sister and brother definitely laid the groundwork as far as classic R&B. My sister came up in that Neo-Soul era, so it was a lot of like MusiqSoulchild and D’angelo or Jaheem playing and my dad always played Stevie Wonder so it is a lot of those sounds coming.

There’s no way I can say “this is where I am and where I come from” without paying homage to the people that inspired me and my music.

Is there anything else you want to tell your current and future fans?

What I really want people to get from me is that they can follow their dreams at any point in time. If you have something that you’re working on and it’s not necessarily the normal route, or it doesn’t seem like it’s not getting much traction right now, just keep pushing at and nevermind the likes or interaction from other people you know? Sometimes you’re going to have to believe in your own dream way crazier than anyone else, and that might mean you’re by yourself a lot of the time.

Don’t take offense, don’t get discouraged by it especially with something that you love doing and have a passion for, because most likely once the ball gets rolling people are gonna hop on. Just know that whatever that you’re dealing with, keep reminding yourself that it’s far from a hobby and I guarantee something good will come out of it.

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VIVID NOIR Creative Director+Stylist @keri.meawayy Photographer @demetriusw Designer @keama.official Models: @ariannavalbrun + @keri.meawayy

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The Reading Nook

Recommendations by @gabofgaia

How to be Anti-Racist How to be anti-racist is the followup to Ibram X. Kendi ravely reviewed Stamped from the beginning . In how to be anti racist Kendi carefully unpacks the complexities of anti-racism. Using thoughtful self-reflections Kendi challenges himself and the reader to action.

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SAGE | The Reading Nook

With the Fire on High If you’ve read Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X than you know Acevedo’s wordplay is crazy! Acevedo has gifted us with another great young adult novel. Fire on high tells the story of high schooler Emoni, a selfproclaimed”Afro-boricua” from Philly.

This story is filled with poetic language and characters you can’t help but root for.

Warning: this book may illicit hunger. Keep snacks on hand.

The Bride Test I teared up a little reading this book, but that’s because I’m a cry baby. Helen Huong’s The Bride Test will make you laugh, cringe, and blush (mostly from secondhand embarrassment). Great contemporary romance with themes of Asian immigrant life, autism, and of course love.

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TECH SUPPORT Here are 3 organizations to watch that support communities of color in Tech.

BlackTech614

@blacktech614 | blacktechcolumbus.com

BlackTech614 is all about creating an authentic space for Black Tech professionals to connect, collaborate, and create. Last year the organization held 20 events with over 25 guest speakers.

In 2020 they plan to Increase community engagement and create volunteer and leadership opportunities .

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SAGE | Tech Support

TECH CORPS

@tech_corps | techcorps.com | bit.ly/techcorps25

TECH CORPS is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring all K-12 students have equal access to the technology programs, resources and skills to enrich their education today and to prepare them for college or career tomorrow.

Join the TECH CORPS 25@25 campaign to help celebrate 25 years of educating, exciting, and empowering!

#WOCinTech Chat bit.ly/WOCphotos

WOCinTechChat is a grassroots initiative that aims to connect women of color and non-binary people of color to careers and skills-building opportunities in tech. They provide free stock photos with WOC in Tech because representation is important!

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SUPER FOOD

PLANTAINS While plantains are used in dishes all over the world, the Caribbean has truly mastered the art of cooking them. This fruit can be prepared in countless ways, but here are 3 honorable mentions.

Image: @henrydoe

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HAITI

BANAN PEZÉ Banan Peze is a staple in Haitian Cuisine.

The plantains are cut, flattened, and fried twice resulting in a perfectly crispy goldenbrown exterior. This dish is often served with pikliz and fried meat, a match made in culinary heaven.

Try out this recipe on Haitiancooking.com

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PUERTO RICO

MOFONGO Of all the plantain dishes there are, mofongo gets all the points for creativity. In this dish, the plantains are deep-fried, mashed, mixed with garlic and meat (usually bacon) and shaped before they make it to the plate. Mofongo will definitely leave you wanting more!

Try out this recipe on HispanicKitchen.com

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FOODIE | SUPER FOOD

CUBA

MADUROS Maduros is a dish that is widely popular through out Latin and Caribbean countries alike. In this dish, ripe plantains are cut and deep-fried resulting in a sweet snack or side dish that is tender in the middle and slightly crisp on the edges. Is your mouth watering yet?

Try out this recipe on HispanicKitchen.com

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Follow @blackandmobile Download the App or Donate linktr.ee/blackandmobile

We interviewed Black and Mobile Owner David about starting the country’s first black-owned food delivery service that partners exclusively with Blackowned restaurants.

What is Black and Mobile?

Black and mobile is the first Black-owned food delivery service in the country that delivers exclusively from black businesses. We are all for just making sure our businesses are represented the right way and that they can be found easily because a lot of our people can easily name over 15-20 of businesses, restaurants or whatever it is from other cultures but we can’t name 10-15 of our own. We just want the business owners that work hard in our community to be recognized and to be supported.

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FOODIE | Black and Mobile How many black-owned restaurants are you partnered with?

Last year, you know we were still getting started, so in Philly we finished last year (2019) with 15 businesses signed up.

Now we have 44 businesses signed up in Philly and about 20 in Detroit. We expanded into Detroit on March 1st and we’ll be expanding into Atlanta on July 1st. We also are about to get a new system, so we’re going to have tablets and a new customer app so once we have that we will be expanding to at least 2 new cities in the 4th quarter. So we’re shooting to be in 4 cities - Philly, Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago - by the end of this year and in 2021 we plan to expand to 10-15 cities that we operate in.

How did Black and Mobile get started?

I came up with the idea when my brother and I were in college. We dropped out the day after Trump got elected and we said we were going to help black businesses anywhere we can. About 2 months after that, I started delivering food for postmates on my bike and then I upgraded to uber eats and then to caviar. I made about $1100 in like 30 hours delivering food so I was like, “if I can make this much money delivering food on a bike, how much I could make if I owned the company?” So I went home that night and I typed in “How to start a delivery service” on Youtube. After about a week of research, I had come to realize that there weren’t any Black owned food delivery services in the country.

Like there was none. There’s UberEats, Grubhub, Doordash, Postmates, Eat24 I can keep on naming them but they are all White or Asian owned, there were no Black owned ones so I said I’m going to be the first one and that’s exactly what I did.

How can others get Black and Mobile in their city?

If the community wants to have Black and Mobile in their city, the first thing is it does cost to get places so I would say if you don’t want to necessarily help us run Black and Mobile, then just donate, anything is appreciated. If you actually want to be a part of it, the first thing is applying to bring Black and Mobile to your city and whichever city has the most applicants, that’s usually where we try to go first. We also need someone that can help us locate and sign up black-owned restaurants and that can hire drivers. These are all the things we need when we’re going to another city.

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Image: nappy.co

FEATURED RESOURCE 46

HUSTLER |Featured Resource

The Black Upstart teaches aspiring Black entrepreneurs how to start a successful and profitable business through an intense, culturally-relevant popup school. They provide training on how to brainstorm a profitable business idea, build a product prototype, craft a business model, and more.

The Black Upstart also hosts educational sessions on Instagram live called The Night School. They cover topics from building wealth and acquiring assets to creating a financial plan and maximizing profit.

Follow @ theblackupstart Learn more at www.theblackupstart.com

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Image: #WOCintechchat

Rejection...

It’s not what you think

By Melissa Theodore @meltheo33

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I have been job hunting for about four months and to describe my journey in emojis it would look like (excitement), (confusion), and finally (distress).

HUSTLER | Rejection...

I was not prepared for the emotional strain I would experience during this process. I felt like I took all of the steps; I updated my resume, visited career centers, and adjusted the verbiage of my resume to match each job posting. Yet, time and time again I received automated rejections.

I was frustrated to say the least. I felt like it was unfair that I took so much time on an application only to be rejected not knowing if my resume was even seen by a person. I told myself I was justified to feel this way and it only caused my resentment with the process to amplify.

Worst of all, it planted a seed of doubt within myself that began to grow as the rejections flowed in.

Then, I came across the Law of Detachment and it transformed my mindset and reinstilled the excitement of pursuing meaningful employment.

The Law of Detachment teaches us to 1st Focus on our desires 2nd Take the necessary steps to achieve them 3rd Find security in the wisdom of uncertainty by letting go of any attachment to the outcome.

(Deepak Chopra)

“Let go of the outcome!” When I heard those words I felt an instant feeling of relief. For so long I questioned my abilities because of the outcomes/ rejections I received. Now, with this new found wisdom of detaching myself from the outcome, I am able to appreciate the journey. I am able to celebrate myself for taking the steps necessary to gain employment knowing the right opportunity is on the horizon.

I have begun the interviewing phase and I’m glad to report that I am able to enter each interview feeling confident in my abilities and secure in the fact that I can bring value to any team.

If you are feeling discouraged on your journey I want you to know that rejection is not a reflection of your worth. So, Continue to work hard in pursuit of your goals, be kind to yourself, let go of the outcome and accept rejection as a necessary step towards achievement.

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Ashes n’ Roses A millennial review of Entrepreneurship

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FOLLOW @ ashesnrosespodcast

Ashley and Juny, Co-Owners of Sapphire Health and Wellness created a bi-weekly podcast series that provides listeners with an authentic perspective of modern day entrepreneurship.

Both women are millennial first-time business owners that have experienced their share of successes and failures in business.

Every other week, the duo addresses a particular aspect of entrepreneurship from having a business partner to dating while entrepreneur-ing. They both share the unique experiences that they’ve encountered on their journey as young, Black woman entrepreneurs.

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HUSTLER | Ashes ‘N’ Roses

“Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur because of the benefits, but no one is really talking about the nights that you don’t sleep.”

Season one of Ashes ‘n’ Roses has concluded with 10 episodes jam packed with thoughtprovoking topics. Listening to their podcast feels like sitting in on a real conversation; they keep it real and personal and don’t sugar coat anything, unlike a growing number of business-centric social media accounts that are rising in popularity.

“I don’t like seeing the onesidedness of it.” Ashley says,” You see all of the ups, but you have to also to tell us about the downs because that is what realistically happens.”Don’t get me wrong, the podcast

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is not a negative view on entrepreneurship, but rather a safe space for honest conversations around being a business owner, especially as a young woman of color.”

Each episode features different segments such as Juny’s Jewels, Ashley’s Analogies and a review at the end of each podcast where they each share the ups (roses) and downs (ashes) on the topic of discussion.

Season 2 of Ashes ‘N’ Roses is slated to return late summer or early fall. In addition to the staple structure and segments of the podcast, there will be several additions that listeners can look forward to. For instance, each week guests with varying backgrounds will join the show and provide their own personal and professional experiences as a business owner.

If you haven’t already, be sure to catch up on the first season of Ashes ‘N’ Roses before season 2 drops!

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