44 minute read
Native American Voices on Thanksgiving
WRITTEN BY
Lynn Nichols
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Asha McClendon
Anti-colonialist, Indigenous perspectives about a complex and painful history
In November, most Americans prioritize two days over all others: Election Day and Thanksgiving Day. Pop culture often doesn’t recognize that November is also Native American Heritage Month—and the Friday after Thanksgiving,
November 27 this year, is Native American Heritage
Day. Not only are these observances rarely given the visibility that they deserve, but Native American Heritage Day can be bittersweet for Indigenous people in the United States. When former President Barack Obama signed the official observance into law, Chickasaw Nation citizen Brian Perry questioned the implications of the day’s placement on the calendar: “Why must we take a backseat to Thanksgiving?
Why not the day before Thanksgiving?”
Dennis W. Zotigh, who is a Kiowa, San Juan Pueblo and Santee Dakota writer, emphasizes that the spiritual and ethical principles behind Thanksgiving date back long before any colonists arrived in North America. In his in-depth 2013 essay from the National Museum of the American Indian blog, Zotigh writes that for “the original people of this continent, each day is a day of thanksgiving to the creator.” Seneca and Cherokee author Terra Trevor shares a similar perspective in her 2017 editorial for HuffPost: “For Native Peoples, thanksgiving comes not once a year, but always.” However, Thanksgiving as a federally recognized U.S. holiday, celebrated in November, can hold a negative connotation for Native American communities. Indigenous activist organization Native Hope shares in an online essay that “for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest.” The holiday as it is celebrated today evokes a painful history of colonialism in North America, and presents a false narrative which ignores past injustices.
Pop culture and most public school curriculum trace Thanksgiving’s origins in America back to a peaceful celebration in 1621, where the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people feasted together. This paints an idealized image of a cooperative relationship between colonial settlers and Indigenous people in early American history. Historian James Baker traces the mostly untrue origin story back to the education system of the early 20th century. According to Baker’s book, “Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday,” the narrative only cemented itself in the collective national consciousness by 1920 as an aspect of rising American nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment. This means that the story of the first Thanksgiving is relatively new. Furthermore, there are many reasons to reexamine it.
History shows that white European colonists caused upheaval, brought disease and inflicted outright genocide for Native Americans. As a 2018 National Geographic article explains, the colonists of the early 1600s brought a deadly epidemic to the Wampanoag people, which made it possible for the Pilgrims to land at Plymouth Rock in the first place. Before the 1621 gathering ever took place, the Pilgrims stole food and supplies from the Native Americans around them, even robbing Wampanoag graves.
The popular narrative of the first Thanksgiving reflects a symbolic peace between groups, but that peace did not hold. In a Time magazine story in 2018, Sean Sherman writes that less than two decades after the famous peace gathering in 1637, Puritan colonists killed an entire Pequot village then held a Thanksgiving dinner to “celebrate their barbaric victory.” For centuries since, colonists and their successors in the United States government have continued to marginalize, betray and massacre Indigenous people. Some of these atrocities are well-known, like the murder and theft during the Trail of Tears set in motion by Andrew Jackson’s administration and the Wounded Knee Massacre of the Lakota people by the U.S. Army in 1890. But government-sanctioned violence and colonialism did not end in the nineteenth century. This Thanksgiving, take some time to research other injustices in the history of our continent.
Knowing the history, allies to Native Americans have a moral obligation to think critically about Thanksgiving, and to reconsider just what it is we are giving thanks for. This means respecting the many who see the holiday as a day of mourning, not a day of celebration. If we choose to continue celebrating Thanksgiving, allyship also means being proactive in reframing holiday stories and traditions in our own families. Sherman, who is a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe and a chef focused on Indigenous culinary traditions, concludes his Time article with advice for Thanksgivings going forward. “[W]e do not need the poisonous ‘pilgrims [sic] and Indians’ narrative,” Sherman writes. Rather, he calls us to instead “focus simply on values that apply to everybody: togetherness, generosity and gratitude.” We can acknowledge the origins of Thanksgiving and its strong basis in Native American spirituality and culture without advancing colonialist ideology.
The most valuable resources on Native American history and contemporary issues will always be those written and run by Native Americans. Two of these organizations are Native Hope and NDN Collective. Their historical, educational and legal resources can be found at nativehope.org and ndncollective. org. Always seek out Indigenous perspectives on Indigenous issues.
Every person in the United States is living on Indigenous land. With this in mind, one of the first steps toward allyship and community support is to learn which nation’s lands you live on. Native Land is a Canadian nonprofit led by Indigenous people. Their website, native-land.ca, hosts an interactive map of Indigenous territories all over the world, including the United States. This can be a great starting point for personal accountability.
Critical awareness and education cannot be the end of our allyship to Native Americans. Indigenous nations across the country do not receive adequate support from the federal government, and their rights to sacred land are constantly chipped away by corporations and the law. Beyond history, research these contemporary legal battles, and participate in protests virtually and in-person. Everyone with the financial freedom to do so should also consider donating money directly in support of Indigenous communities.
Advocates have created bail funds to free Native American protesters who were arrested while fighting for their rights. Proceeds from the Black Hills Legal Defense Fund at bhlegalfund.org go to the legal expenses of protesters who were arrested at President Trump’s summer rally at Mount Rushmore. In addition to legal injustice, Indigenous communities in the U.S. have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic while receiving little help from the government. Many tribes and nations, including the Navajo Nation, are accepting donations to COVID-19 relief funds. These funds are hosted on GoFundMe and on the websites for each nation’s health department.
Thanksgiving is a reminder of the brutal history of colonialism in our country. We gather together to mourn that history, to celebrate cultural values or to recognize a duality of both aspects. But Thanksgiving cannot be the only day that we reexamine our history, and reexamining our history is only the first step. Native Americans—and Indigenous people all over the world—deserve respect, solidarity and allyship on every day of the year.
THE LAST CONSOLE WAR?C CONSOLE WAR?
With PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S launching this month, a tonal shift in the nature of the classic console war looms..
WRITTEN BY
Eric Seitz
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Stefany Belasic
As November creeps along and the end of the year approaches, the hotly anticipated war between video game console makers reaches its climax. With Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S releasing on November 10 and Sony’s PlayStation 5 releasing on November 12, the race to have the most successful gaming platform looks on the surface to be just another battle between Microsoft and Sony—a battle that has repeated itself four times now. However, a closer inspection at the players, the stakes, and outside influences reveals that all may not be as it seems in the console war of 2020—and it reveals how a console war might look moving forward. HISTORY REPEATED In order to understand how the console war could change, we must first understand what it has been. Console wars are not new—they have existed as long as the consoles themselves. First, with Atari and Nintendo; and after Atari’s fall in the ‘80s, Nintendo and Sega. However, perhaps the most pivotal moment for console wars was E3 2000. E3, standing for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, occurs each June in Los Angeles, where video game developers and publishers make announcements about upcoming games, hardware and other entertainment media. But what made E3 2000 so special?
By E3 2000, Sony had already revealed the PlayStation 2 to the public; and while the original PlayStation had not topped the sales charts, Sony had proven itself a worthy contender. Though not present at E3, Microsoft sought to prove that an American company could keep up with the big boys, announcing in 2000 that it planned to release its first console the following year. With Nintendo allowing the Nintendo 64 to finish its run as it prepared to launch “Project Dolphin” the following year (which would later become the GameCube), Sony had the perfect opportunity to execute a preemptive strike—selling its PlayStation 2 for the holidays in 2000. Sega had launched its Dreamcast in 1999, and its lackluster sales would spell defeat for the Japanese gaming giant if E3 2000 couldn’t turn things around. Sega came out swinging. Its booth at the E3 show floor boasted a wide variety of games as Sega hoped to reach as wide of an audience as possible. However, all eyes remained fixed on the PlayStation 2. Sega would announce the next year that it planned to back out of the console-making business, turning its focus to software development. E3 2000 set the tone for the next twenty years— Sega’s fall from grace proved that no one is safe—that newcomers could rise and old empires could crumble. The system is volatile and unstable. Since 2000, the console war has remained slightly more steady— though it has rarely been consistent. 2005 saw the release of the Xbox 360, with Sony and Nintendo following suit with releases of the PlayStation 3 and Wii, respectively. The eighth console generation began with Nintendo’s Wii U that launched in 2012.
Microsoft and Sony faced off the following year with November launches of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. With Nintendo’s mid-generation launch of the Switch in 2017, it effectively broke itself out of the console war; leaving Microsoft and Sony alone to duke it out for their next console releases, which brings us to the present.
BATTLE LINES DRAWN We’ll start easy and talk about PlayStation. Sony hasn’t changed its methodology much since it entered the console-making game with its original PlayStation. Broken down to its core, Sony wants you to buy its console and buy games for that console. Boasting a slew of titles that are coming exclusively to PlayStation 5 in fall or the year following its launch, Sony knows that games sell consoles—which leads to winning the console war (winning, which is something that Sony is accustomed to, thanks to the massive success of the PlayStation 4).
Sony’s philosophy—that games sell consoles— rings true throughout the history of the console wars. The Wii U was a commercial failure because it lacked third-party games. The PlayStation 4 thrived because of its lineup. The Gameboy sold like hotcakes when Nintendo ported its classic NES games to the portable device. Whether or not Sony’s rinse-andrepeat approach will succeed this generation remains to be seen—but Sony’s odds of success are likely not in its own hands at this point…
Coming out of the previous generation in last place as compared to the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch,
“Console wars are not new - they have existed as long as the consoles themselves
Microsoft has a lot to prove. Lacking the dedicated followers that Nintendo and, to a degree, Sony boast, the Xbox Series X and Series S face the monumental task of turning supporters of the other consoles into supporters of the Xbox family—and their approach is…unorthodox.
Microsoft advertises gaming as an “ecosystem,” touting the sentiment that where gamers play is not Microsoft’s main concern. In an effort to make gaming more accessible, Xbox games of this generation will be playable on Xbox One, PC, mobile smart devices, and Xbox Series X or Series S. Supporting their ecosystem philosophy is GamePass, Xbox’s monthly subscription service that grants players access to all first-party Microsoft games, as well as many AAA games. It’s the Netflix of gaming, and to call it anything other than an amazing deal is foolish. Microsoft also boasts comprehensive backwards compatibility features for Xbox Series X and Series S, making it so that every Xbox game since the original Xbox will be playable on them.
A MAMMOTH ACQUISITION Stirring the pot even further is Microsoft’s purchase of ZeniMax Studios, parent company of wildly popular video game developing company Bethesda. Bethesda, creating iconic experiences such as Skyrim, Fallout, and Doom, will serve to beef up Xbox’s first-party games, which had been lacking until now. The acquisition cost Microsoft a whopping $7.5 billion. For reference, Disney bought Star Wars maker Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion.
What does this acquisition mean for the console war this generation? Normally, a console maker acquiring a developing studio would mean that the console maker now had the opportunity to put the games produced by the developing studio exclusively on its own console—and not on the consoles of its competitors. However, this is likely not the case with Xbox. To start, Bethesda and Sony had come to a deal before Microsoft acquired Bethesda that two of Bethesda’s upcoming games would come to PlayStation 5 exclusively before landing on Xbox as well. This creates the almost oxymoronic scenario of Microsoft publishing a game that is exclusively on PlayStation.
However, the timing of the acquisition isn’t the most interesting part. This acquisition lays out a prime opportunity for Xbox to prove that not only is it talking the talk when it comes to gaming as an ecosystem, it’s also walking the walk. If Microsoft wants to show the world that it is truly about making gaming accessible and letting gamers play wherever they want, it will release Bethesda-developed games on PlayStation 5, and potentially Switch as well.
When it comes to publishing games, first-party publishers (companies that both make game consoles
at hand can still win. “
and publish games) essentially choose between focusing on selling more of their own consoles or focusing on selling more of their own games. For example, Nintendo publishes a massive amount of games—and they are almost entirely exclusive to their console, the Switch. Nintendo is choosing to use its games as a means of drawing people to its system—if you want to play Mario, you need a Switch. The other option—and the one Microsoft will likely take—focuses more on the games themselves as a means of making money. If Nintendo released Super Mario Odyssey on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch rather than solely on Switch, it would undoubtedly make more revenue on the game itself. With franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls selling wildly on PlayStation systems, Microsoft would be foolish to pass on releasing future installments of these franchises on PlayStation 5; and conveniently for Microsoft, doing so just so happens to fall perfectly in line with their newly minted promise of gaming as an ecosystem.
A DARK HORSE As Microsoft and Sony continue to clash swords and trade blows, a third party marches on — seemingly unaffected by the war at hand. Since it dove into the console-making game in the ‘80s, Nintendo’s philosophy has been to challenge what has been and embrace what could be. Proving repeatedly to be a wild card, Nintendo’s penchant for quirkiness has made it the longest lasting console maker ever. Its tactics haven’t always been effective (see Virtual Boy and Wii U), however, if Sony and Microsoft can learn anything from Nintendo, it’s this: no one ever won a war by mimicking their opponent.
When it released the Switch with over three years until Microsoft and Sony would drop their next console, Nintendo shifted the console war from a three-way face-off to a one-on-one matchup between Microsoft and Sony. The Switch’s massive success has proven that a party that abstains from the war at hand can still win, so this begs the question: why does a war need to happen?
The Switch seems to market itself toward an audience different than the one whose affection Microsoft and Sony are vying for. Nintendo may have made the decision to opt out of the console game when it knew its system was unique enough to either appeal to its own audience or entice those who buy Xbox or PlayStation to purchase a second console. Assuming this leads to the thought that perhaps Nintendo has not removed itself from the game, but is so far ahead that we cannot recognize the game they are playing.
ITERATION VS. INNOVATION Summarized well by Sony’s naming convention for the PlayStation generations, gaming consoles until this point have been iterative: the PlayStation 2 was the follow-up to the original PlayStation; it contained enhanced graphics, higher processing power and faster load times. This method is what made sense. When a system becomes obsolete and technology exists to improve upon it, video game hardware makers create a new one to replace the old one. Sony continues this method, and who can blame them? It’s been working for them—this succession of slightly better consoles, all neatly numbered 1–5.
However, this is an era in which technology can shift the way that an object works. Teslas can download software overnight to improve their drivers’ experiences. Who is to say that this is impossible when it comes to video games? Microsoft is showing their hand a bit by naming their console for this generation a “Series.” The name seems to indicate that the lines between console generations are about to become much blurrier.
Are we witnessing the final console war? As Microsoft marches down a progressive new path,
waving a banner that says “Follow us to the future!” the world waits, holding its breath, to see if Microsoft is accidentally marching off a cliff. Perhaps Microsoft’s innovative new approach will prove to be PlayStation’s downfall, revealing that Sony’s unwillingness to morph its approach in accordance with a shifting society will spell its inevitable doom. Is Microsoft’s suave confidence blinding it from the truth of the flow of the industry? Will Sony’s stubbornness and attempts to stiff-arm the market into remaining the way it has been for the last twenty years fail?
As next-gen becomes current-gen and what is yet to be becomes what has been, the scroll will begin to unravel; and at the inside of that scroll will be the answer—to what will become of the war that we have so long witnessed. It’s what is written on the inside of that scroll that will tell what will become of this new generation of consoles—the nebulous concept of gaming accessibility and the continuation of a method that has proven successful. Whether or not all the players involved will still stand at the end remains to be seen, however, one fact is clear: those who follow the console war now will not recognize it when that day comes. The console war may finally have a winner.
BENEFITS OF PLANTS
How houseplants can improve your mental and physical health
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Megan Mullaly
The popularity of house plants is on the rise, and it’s not just because of their aesthetic appeal. In this article, we investigate the health benefits of plants, what kind you should bring into your home, and the best places to find them in the Cleveland area.
When I first moved into my own apartment, I couldn’t stop buying plants. Though the home and garden centers of Walmart and Home Depot were enchanting, Urban Planting Cleveland was where the magic really happened. A plant would draw me in, and I felt as if we couldn’t live apart. If I knew the plant’s name as soon as I laid eyes on it, that plant was getting buckled into the passenger seat minutes later.
I felt bad for my roommate; I had already taken over the living room with succulents, orchids, and the top of a piece of corn that I thought might be growing into a stalk, but new plants kept popping up each week. I filled our apartment with bamboo, a dragon finger snake plant, and a money tree (named Lice, Draco and Luigi, respectively). I was given a collection of succulents for my birthday, and my grandma gifted me her four-foot-tall fiddle-leaf fig. I bought Wario, a three-foot-tall yucca tree; Starshine, a neon pothos; and John, a calathea ornata.
Frugal is basically my middle name, and my obsession with plants finally hit the point where I felt guilty for spending money. Why was I spending so much time, money and energy to buy and take care of plants — or glorified dust collectors, as my mom likes to call them. It turned out that research from the Washington State University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture can explain why I, like so many others, was compelled to surround myself with plants. Their research shows that plants provide numerous benefits that improve a person’s health and well-being. This leads to increased happiness and fosters a higher quality of life.
Benefits
Due to the increase of urbanization and lack of exposure to nature, the importance of house plants is growing because they offer significant benefits that are hard to find in a modern world.
Memory and Concentration
One of the biggest benefits that plants provide is increased memory retention and concentration. House plants mimic the calming influence of nature, which has been proven to lead to better and more accurate work. Because of their calming influence, productivity can increase by up to twelve percent when in the presence of plants. A study from the University of Michigan showed that memory retention can also increase by up to twenty percent when a person is in the presence of plants. Due to their calming influence, plants allow for us to easily concentrate on the task at hand and better recall that information in the future.
Stress Levels
Another important benefit of plants is their ability to decrease stress levels. Plants, especially those that flower, provide a feeling of security and relaxation that helps to reduce the stress levels of those in the immediate vicinity. This can be particularly beneficial to those with mental illness, as it can reduce the severity of issues like anxiety and depression. A study by Washington State University concluded that subjects’ blood pressure levels were lower when surrounded by plants. Low blood pressure directly corresponds with reduced stress levels, which the secure and relaxing influence of plants can provide.
Healing
One benefit that plants are most often used for is their acceleration of the healing process. According to a study by Seong-Hyan Park and Richard Mattson, patients who recovered in a hospital room with living plants were reported to have lower blood pressure, pain, anxiety and fatigue than those in rooms without. Living plants also positively impacted patients’ mindsets, which boosted their willingness to participate in the healing process. Nurturing plants can also benefit those who have suffered mental or physical trauma. By consciously partaking in the nurturing of a plant,
Due to the “ increase of urbanization … the importance of house plants is growing… “
a patient begins to subconsciously recognize and take part in self-care practices. Because of their ability to accelerate the healing process, plants have become an incredibly popular aid during medical treatment.
Relationships
Plants can also improve a person’s relationships because that person is subconsciously practicing empathy and respect when caring for a plant. The keeping and nurturing of plants fosters other important skills such as social-awareness, the willingness to help others, and compassion. These skills grow as a person nurtures a plant and eventually carry over into their everyday life and human relationships. When a person possesses the ability to show empathy and respect, their relationships tend to grow stronger and last longer than those who do not. Because the nurturing of plants allows a person to practice empathy and respect, they develop the necessary skills that allow for the growth of strong and healthy human relationships.
Quality of Life
Having house plants can also provide an aesthetic that is associated with a high quality of life. When nature is brought into the home or office, a person’s perceived quality of life increases because humans associate nature and well-maintained landscapes with a better living environment. A person’s overall mood and mindset become more positive when their perceived quality of life increases, which can also lead to the development of an optimistic outlook on life. Because houseplants increase a person’s perceived quality of life, their mood, mindset and outlook improve when they are in the presence of plants.
Noise Levels
Another incredibly useful benefit of plants is their ability to act as natural sound absorbers. When a person brings a plant into their home or workspace, they are decreasing the noise levels in their immediate vicinity. This can lead to increased concentration levels and decreased stress. The use of plants as sound absorbers is especially useful in an office setting because they allow employees to work in close proximity to one another while maintaining appropriate noise levels. Using plants for sound absorption is also beneficial for those that live in noisy areas. Plants help control noise levels that can often be a nuisance when living in an apartment complex or near a busy road.
Finding the Best Plant For You
Purchasing plants can be overwhelming because of the many options available. While some plants require meticulous care that can be tricky to navigate, there are a number of gentler plants that are perfect for a first time plant purchaser.
Beginner
Some of the best beginner plants include lucky bamboo, snake plants and pothos.
Lucky bamboo requires low light, which allows it to prosper in a variety of locations within the home. Its leaves turn yellow when exposed to excessive sunlight, so it is best to keep lucky bamboo away from bright windows. This plant does require a significant amount of clean, fresh water, and it should not be left to sit in stagnant water for extended periods of time.
Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to take care of because they can survive in a variety of light conditions and do not need water often. Snake plants thrive in bright, indirect light, but can also live in direct sunlight, moderate light, or even a shady corner. These plants also require little water, as they are prone to root rot. It is best to let the soil dry out between waterings and completely soak the plant’s soil about once a month.
Another beginner plant is pothos, which comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Like a snake plant, pothos are able to survive in a variety of lighting conditions, but they prosper in bright, indirect light. A pothos plant also thrives when its soil dries out between waterings and can survive a sporadic watering routine, but it is best to water pothos every other week.
Moderate
Plants that require a bit more skill to take care of are jade plants, peace lilies and yucca trees.
Jade plants are one of the easier succulents to grow. People often misinterpret succulents as easy to care for because they are known for their ability to survive dry conditions. This is a common issue when caring for succulents, as they are often underwatered. Jade plants require watering after the top few inches of soil has dried, which is about once every three to four weeks. Jade plants also require very bright, indirect light, making it difficult to grow in some homes and offices. It is best to place them in a south-facing window, as this is where the plant will receive the most light. If you don’t have a south-facing window, you should place your jade plant in the brightest spot in your home or office.
Another plant that requires a moderate amount of skill is a peace lily. They require bright, indirect light and their leaves may burn if they remain in direct afternoon sun for too long. Peace lilies can be difficult to care for because they are extremely sensitive to their watering conditions. Their soil should be consistently moist, but not oversaturated. These plants can survive some dry spells, but their leaves may turn brown if neglected for too long. Peace lilies are also sensitive to the temperature of and chemicals within water, so it is best to water them with room-temperature, filtered tap water.
More difficult to care for, the yucca tree thrives in full sunlight and may struggle if not in a well lit location. While direct sunlight is best, yucca trees can also survive in bright, indirect light. These plants are easy to overwater, making them difficult to care for. Like jade plants, yucca trees should be left to dry out between waterings. They also tend to thrive when neglected, as too much moisture can lead to root rot. Yucca trees grow best when they are potted in soil with a sand-like consistency and in a pot with plenty of drainage holes.
Advanced
Advanced skill is required when taking care of plants such as an orchid or fiddle-leaf fig.
Orchids are one of the most popular flowers for people to have around the home or office because they can live up to 100 years, but that does not mean they are easy to grow. Different kinds of orchids require different amounts of sunlight, but most thrive in bright, indirect light. If you are unsure what is best for your orchid, place it in bright, indirect light, monitor its reaction over the course of a few days, and adjust its placement from there. Orchids also require far less water than expected. These plants should be completely soaked and then left to dry out between waterings. Make sure excess water drains out through the bottom of the pot, as letting the orchid sit in stagnant water can be fatal .
Like orchids, fiddle-leaf figs are a plant many people desire but have difficulty caring for. These plants thrive in direct sunlight, which is the biggest obstacle people have when trying to provide a suitable environment. Placing them in a southern- or western-facing window that receives direct, afternoon sunlight is ideal, as six or more hours of direct sunlight allows the fiddle-leaf fig to thrive. Fiddle-leaf figs should also be left to dry between waterings and the soil should be saturated when watered, but not soaked. What makes these plants so difficult to care for is their sensitivity to humidity, drafts and pests. If you are looking to care for a fiddle-leaf fig, it is best to do extensive research to be prepared for any issues that may arise.
Finding Plants in the CLE Area When looking to purchase plants, do so from a source that provides healthy, high-quality plants that were grown in the proper conditions. While the Walmart and Home Depot Garden Centers offer a variety of plants at a low cost, it is best to purchase plants from local shops and nurseries that provide higher-quality plants for only a few extra dollars.
Big box retailers often market low-cost plants for indoor use, even though these plants were grown outdoors. While the low cost is appealing, these plants will not live long when transferred to an indoor environment. Because they are used to getting
over eight hours of direct sunlight a day, these plants will go into shock when transferred to an indoor environment where they are unable to get nearly the same amount of light.
Instead of purchasing cheap plants from a big box retailer, look into local shops and nurseries that specialize in indoor plants. While they may cost a few extra dollars, these plants have been grown in facilities that mimic the indoor atmosphere they are intended for and will live significantly longer than their Walmart and Home Depot counterparts. Because plants from local shops and nurseries are grown in a secluded atmosphere, they are accustomed to the lower amount of sunlight available when placed within an indoor environment.
My personal favorite local plant shop is Urban Planting Cleveland. They have a wide variety of succulents, cacti and tropical and domestic houseplants that work for every budget. Because their plants are grown in the proper facilities, the transition into a new home is seamless. I also love how often they get new plants; they always have something different and exciting every time I visit.
PLANT SHOPS & NURSERIES IN THE CLEVELAND AREA INCLUDE:
Bremec on the Heights Garden Center
Gale’s Garden Center
Lakewood Plant Company
Lakewood Garden Center
Old Brooklyn Greenhouse
Puritas Nursery and Garden Center
STUMP: Cleveland
Urban Orchid
Plants offer a variety of benefits that can improve the quality of life for those in the plant’s vicinity. They can improve memory and concentration, the healing process and relationships. They can lower stress levels and absorb excess noise. Because plants provide so many valuable benefits, everyone should try and bring a plant or two into their home!
Claudia Ugbana
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
Asha McClendon
This list is far from exhaustive, but here are 60 Black-owned businesses and brands you can support this fall.
The unjust killing of George Floyd on May 25, and the killings and torture of civilians in African countries such as Nambia and Nigeria, amplified the growing problem of police brutality. Thousands of individuals were arrested for protesting, leading to many generous donations from sympathizers to bailout funds and organizations. As a result, the emergence of an initiative centered around supporting Black-owned businesses was seen across the nation.
The most direct way to aid Black individuals is by supporting Black-owned brands and businesses that have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Historically, Black-owned businesses have a harder time gaining loans and capital needed to start their businesses, and this is no doubt a result of systematic racism. Over the past months, many people have begun putting their money where their mouths are by purchasing products from Black-owned businesses and endorsing their brands.
You can be part of the initiative to aid Black individuals by referencing (and hopefully purchasing products) from the large selection of Black-owned businesses listed below. These businesses have been categorized into four main areas: Food and Drink, Beauty/Lifestyle, Clothing and Bloggers.
Food & Drink
McBride Sisters Collection Robin & Andréa McBride grew up on two different continents and knew nothing of the other sisters’ existence for half their lives. They eventually reunited in 1999 and discovered they both shared a unique passion for wine. They are the first African American sister duo to own a wine company. They sell a variety of wines representing the places they grew up.
Angie’s Soul Cafe Angie first started cooking soul food back in the late 1970s. In 1986, she ventured out and opened a number of restaurants in Cleveland, turning her business into a local staple. She and her family have created a revolution of brands that are still going strong 25 years later. The Vegan Doughnut Company Sisters Kharisma and Kyra Mayo decided to open a fully-vegan doughnut shop in 2014 after nearly a decade of being vegetarians. Their obsession with doughnuts brought them to the realization that there were very limited options of vegan doughnuts in Northeast Ohio. Their company is the first and only 100 percent vegan operated doughnut shop.
Dope Coffee Dope Coffee was founded behind the idea that communities and people of color can use capitalism, culture and commodities to change their communities, according to co-founder and CEO Michael Loyd.
The Furlough Cheesecake The Furlough Cheesecake was born after sisters Nikki Thompson Howard and Jaqi Thompson Wright found themselves unemployed in 2018. The sisters have since sold over 6,000 cheesecakes all over the country, and their business is growing larger each day.
Baked By Jasz Founded in 2016 by self-taught pastry chef Jasmine, the owner has been immersed with a love for all sweet things since she was a little girl. Jasmine is now known for her signature Oreo Brownie and a variety of other sweet and savory desserts.
A Dozen Cousins Ibraheem Basir started selling soulfully seasoned beans in 2018 when he discovered how hard it was to find convenient foods that were both “ healthy and authentic. Today, Black-owned businesses he cultivates natural rechave a harder time gaining ipes that he sells through loans and capital needed to start retail markets such as their businesses, and this Walmart and Amazon. is no doubt a result of Black and systematic racism. Mobile Black and Mobile is the country’s first Black owned food deliv- “ ery services that partners and delivers foods made by Black owned restaurants, in order to give them more exposure and reach a larger number of people. The company currently services communities within Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia.
Ivy’s Tea Co. Mikaila is the founder of an award-winning Jason Ridgel was inspired by whiskey culture and was Iya Foods provides consumers with authentic AfThree brothers from the Bronx came together and
Owned and operated by a first generation herbalist, Ivy’s Tea Co. launched in 2016 to amplify the idea that the tea drinking society should be as representative and inclusive as the hip-op community is.
Basbaas Foods Exau Olive Oil The husband and Hawa Hassan is a Somalian wife duo, Giuseppe and Skyler, are @basbaassauce woman who was separated from her mother at age seven. Fifteen both third generation but come from different parts of the years later, she was reunited with world. Starting Exau, an olive her mother who inspired the oil company, was Me & The Bees authentic sauces and flavors bring their Calabria, Lemonade Italy and California At just 15 years old, her company sells. backgrounds together. lemonade manufacturer. Beauty & LifeStyle Me & The Bees Lemonade can Juvia’s Place be found at wholefood stores such as Chiche Eburu is the Nigerian-born owner World Market and H-E-B stores located in Texas, as and founder of the makeup brand that has seen a well as a number of restaurants, food trailers and massive growth since the company’s launch in 2014. food delivery services. Juvia’s Place is known for its representation of AfGuidance Whiskey pigmentation of their eyeshadow palettes. motivated by a deep sense of family and friendship Melanin Haircare when he created the company in October 2018. Only Founded by sisters Whitney and Taffeta White, two years old, Guidance Whiskey is sold in stores Melanin Haircare aims to aid the growth of natural located in Georgia and Tennessee, and ships to most hair and proper care of the scalp with high-quality of the U.S. and natural ingredients. The company took six years Iya Foods each year. rican-inspired dishes and recipes, while reducing Beauty Bakerie poverty and providing sustainable jobs. The company Cashmere Nicole built this cosmetics brand from the was founded by Toyin Kolawole, who also doubles as ground up while raising her daughter on her own. the company’s CEO and in-house chef. This journey took her several years, but the brand is Sol Cacao and philanthropy. the perfect way to rican countries and culture, the bold colors and the to formulate and launch, but continues to expand now well-known across the country for its diversity created a company that manufactures and sells Nekawa Beauty quality chocolate bars made from two key ingre- Nekawa Beauty started as a business school, but later dients: cocoa beans and raw cane sugar. Dominic, turned into a successful skincare line by Awa Diaw Nicholas and Daniel Maloney strive to elevate the and Chelsea Trotter. The two women put together quality of chocolate sold in the U.S. by emulating their love for organic shea butter and shrewd busithe chocolate they enjoyed in their home country ness, creating a company that has garnered respect Trinidad and Tobago. in the skincare industry.
Uoma Beauty Founded by Nigerian-born and LA-based Sharon Chuter, the beauty brand aims to diversify and include all skin tones. Products from the brand are also made with innovative technology that is both pleasing and suitable for all skin types.
Latched & Hooked Latched & Hooked is the original creator of textured, pre-curled synthetic hair that matches the natural hair texture of Black women. The company is owned by Tiffini Gatlin, a former corporate bank executive who has a number of successful digital brands under her belt.
Your Lash Bar Originally founded in 2013, Your Lash Bar has since been rebranded with a mission to create and sell quality eyelashes for an affordable price. The company is owned and creatively directed by beauty influencer Taylor Lloyd.
Travel Voiage Taisha and Eliza built a great friendship and travel business while on a trip to Bali, Indonesia. The company handles everything from travel plans to destination weddings, including flight bookings. Jay Beauty Cave Miss Jay is a Cleveland-based hairstylist with a large portfolio and years of experience. Her services include hair braiding, coloring and cutting styles for age and gender. wine one night, as finding the right color was so difficult. Cosmetics with Black mind, and continue to are pigmented, vegan and cruelty free, and non-toxic. Hair By Janelli The hair company is a creation by sisters Janell and Janai Willis, founded on the basis of love and an inspiration to deliver quality hair extensions and custom wigs. Skin Buttr Skin Buttr is a hand-made skincare brand that sells natural body butters, scrubs and a variety of other skincare products.The company was founded by beauty influencer Tatiana Elizabeth, with a mission to simplify, educate and promote healthy glowing skin, while pushing sustainability.
Nuban Beauty Stella Ndelike founded Nuban Beauty, the Nigerian-based cosmetics brand. However, she credits its success in the beauty industry to co-director Jane Ogu, who has a vast knowledge in the makeup and beauty industry for over 10 years. Both women partnered with one goal in mind: to bring quality makeup products to all makeup lovers within Africa.
Black Girl Sunscreen Tired of feeling frustrated by the lack of availability in sunscreen products that catered to melanin women, Sontay Lundy created the Black Girl Sunscreen that is highly raved about in the beauty industry. The brand has expanded globally to provide all individuals of color with a product that protects them from the harsh
all individuals of any race, FORVR Mood Mented Cosmetics This lifestyle brand is founded by KJ Miller and Amanda Johnson got the idea Nigerian-American Youtube creator to create the beauty brand over a glass of Jackie Aina. Although the brand launched they wondered why during a global pandemic, its products nude for women of continuously sell out. FORVR Mood sells They created Mented everything from luxury scented candles to women especially in silk pillowcases and headbands to keep tell makeup products that you looking bougie on a budget.
UV rays, and also being flattering against the skin.
@skinbuttr
@forvrmood
The Honey Pot Company of body butters and cremes that enhance the natural The Honey Pot is the first feminine hygiene company properties of the skin. that provides a variety of products that cleanses, balances and protects a woman’s vagina. Bea Dixon Clothing & Accessories got the idea for the company one night after her KAI Collective ancestor visited her in a dream with a vision of how The clothing company is a London-based womensto properly heal herself (and other women struggling wear brand founded by fashion blogger Fisayo Longe. with the same issues) by using ingredients made Although the company was established merely four from the earth. years ago, the brand has grown rapidly and is well on Soultanicals own business. its way to being a top-leader in the fashion industry. Ayo Ogun, a mother of six children, founded the Farai London company on the basis of simply making one’s hair Created during a global pandemic, Farai London has and body feel good. She serves as the company’s already begun dominating the fashion industry as creator, sistapreneur, ingredient stylist and mixtress. many high-profile celebrities such as Megan Thee Stallion and Jordyn Woods have been spotted wearColoured Raine Cosmetics ing dresses from the brand. The clothing brand is Loraine R. Dowdy left her high-paying job in owned and operated by London-based fashion 2013 and founded the cosmetics brand that designer MaryAnn Msengi. is highly respected and well-known in the Twisted beauty industry today. Coloured Raine Chi Wrapz sells highly pigmented lip products Saints Swim Chineme Ogbuefi is the founder of the and eyeshadow palettes that are accessory brand that sells quality cruelty free and vegan. Newly founded by beauty headwraps and facemasks which feature a multitude of African A Slay With Osay The hair company is owned by influencer Aaliyah Jay, the prints and designs. All products are made in Nigeria but also sold Houston-based college stylists Osayuwa Evbayiro. Each unit is resort-wear company is already within the U.S. custom made to provide quality wigs that fit every mood and style. highly raved about for selling Telfar Telfar are a unisex fashion Angeluxe Lashes quality swimwear at sold internationally. Although Owned by Angel Adu, the self-named they sell shoes, clothing and jewbrand provides quality mink lashes affordable prices. elry, they are most famous for their that can be worn up to 30 times if han- handbags which continuously sell out dled with proper care. The beauty company within a matter of minutes on each realso provides one-on-one business consulting stock day. The company is owned and operated to individuals who are interested in starting their by Telfar Clemens. brand based in New York but The Nu Bamboo Arome Jusme Kamil is the creator of the accessory brand Adeola Ogunneye had a daily struggle with her dry which produces handmade earrings constructed skin which led to the development of her skincare with bamboo. The unique earrings have been worn brand. The Arome moisturizing collection consists by celebrities and well-known influencers like Kehlani and Jackie Aina.
Dirrty Store The international fashion brand is owned by Johnson Odimayo and Emmanuel Williams, who met by chance in Westfield, Stratford back in 2015. The duo have gone one to build an empire of clothing items that have received overall positive reviews from its peers and society.
@ twi st ed s a i n t s s w im Riot Swim Monti Landers is the founder of this high-fashioned swimwear brand. The brand is known for its cheeky bikini bottoms and flattering one-piece bathing suits that are suitable for women of all sizes and colors.
Entertainment
Supernova Momma This Instagram account is run by Natasha, a veteran mom of two who shares her experiences on motherhood, self-love and family building.
OG Goes Gourmet This food blog is owned by Oghosa Aburime, a Houston-based homecook who captures her experiences trying a variety of Houston’s greatest dishes.
Arayo Ajeigbe Arayo is a lifestyle Youtuber based in the U.K. Her content varies from clothing hauls to sit-down videos where she discusses relationships, cancel culture and spiritual energy.
Eatwithbeentee This vegan food page is run by friends Tobi Idowu and Beulah Waritimi. The duo share unique ingredients and meals that push individuals to pursue a healthier and cleaner lifestyle.
Gabby Whiten Gabby is an NYC-based digital creator and social media influencer. When she isn't vlogging or posting about the fast-paced lifestyle in one of the world's busiest cities, she is nestled somewhere in the halls of NYU where she is earning her Ph.D.
FSuncensord Also known as F&S, this is a podcast hosted by longtime friends Feyikemi Akin-Bankole and Simisola Badiru. The Nigerian-based podcast discusses a multitude of topics surrounding entertainment, life experiences and opinions on pop culture.
Black Girls in Trader Joes This food blog is run by Mercedes Davis, a Cleveland-based home chef and esthetician. Mercedes has a community around the brand that goes beyond the blog; but it is also an initiative centered around empowering Black women in a plethora of ways, starting in the kitchen.
MikeAde Photography This photography company is a one-man business operated by Michael Adebamowo. The self-taught photographer captures all events, celebrations and personal portraits in the D.C. area.
I Said What I Said Hosted by two highly influential women, Feyikemi Abudu and Jola Ayeye, I Said What I Said is a podcast channel detailing the experiences of Lagos millennials through the eyes of both women.
Between Classes This is a Houston-based web-series following the lives of Black college students. The series is creatively directed by Amaka Egbe in collaboration with other individuals in the Houston area. The Wholesome Project The Wholesome Project is both a Youtube channel and blog page operated by Mercedes Oyemenam. The project was born behind the desire to provide a one-stop resource center for intentional growth and development.
Corporate Queendom Mandu Mbride is a 25-year-old blogger who shares content on a millennial girl’s lifestyle in the corporate world. The Houston-based blogger also details information on womanhood and Black culture.
Anywhere Media Anywhere Media is an outdoor cinema rental service based in Houston, Texas. The media company specializes in delivering unique experiences, while optimizing for social distancing at their events. They host a variety of parties, from New Year’s Eve events to couples date nights.
@corporatequeendom
Why it is important to support Black-owned businesses?
Most of the businesses highlighted on this list are small, growing businesses. Their expansion depends solely on the support from the public. Furthermore, it is imperative we support these businesses to our fullest capabilities as Black-owned businesses within the U.S. fell more than 40 percent amid the current pandemic, the largest drop out of all other racial groups.
No matter what city, country or continent you live on, this curated list ensures you are able to purchase goods sold by any of these companies. However, this list should not be the only place to find Black-owned businesses to support. Society must conduct further research to ensure the power of coming together.
More than ever, it is important to not only shop Black-owned business-
es this fall, but from here “going forward.
