For the first time in my entire life, I ordered glasses frames online. I loved what I got so much, I felt the need to share them with you. In this video, I share details about the frames and how I found them.
Now, let’s talk about these fabulous glasses. As you may now know, I have been wearing glasses all my life. Due to that, glasses have always been more of a utility. Growing up. my prescription evolved to be quite thick. Thus, back then, frames were not designed as jewelry and there was a limit to the style one can use with a thick prescription. Now, thanks to technology and fashion, there are more choices. The red frames you see me in now have been on my face for about 6 years. So, I have been itching for about a year and a half now for new frames, but had yet to find any in stores that catered to my personality. Thanks to now having extra time at home, I made it a project and treat for myself to explore different online eyewear stores.
First, Vint & York creates “eyewear for the modern nostalgic.” They take vintage trends to design stylish frames.
This is “Ella.” I chose the pink design and absolutely love them. Do you see the engraved details? They are elegant and edgy as well as discreet. The vintage design reminds me of My Fair Lady. They feel light weight on my face and are really comfortable.
This is “Zelda 2.” I chose the Belize Blue design and really love them. The design reminds me of African print and Vibranium. They are bold and sophisticated. This design reminds me of Afrofuturism. In terms of size, this might be the biggest in my history of eyewear. But, due to the design, I like that it does not swallow my face. Rather, it still accentuates my eyes. They also feel light weight and comfortable.
Next, Voogue Me tag line is “born to be unique.” They have a variety of styles that are classic, bold, and trendy.
This is “Eleni.” I chose the orange design. It reminds me of blaxploitation movies, like Cleopatra Jones, and R&B music in the early 2000s, like “Dip it Low” by Christina Milian or “Call on Me” by Janet Jackson. It also makes me think of anime. I really love this design. It is bold and funky. They are also light weight and feel good quality.
This is “Sydney.” I chose the black and white design. It reminds me of the Hollywood Glamour era with Audrey Hepburn, Eartha Kitt, and Dorothy Dandridge. I love this design’s twist on the cat eye shape. It is elegant and retro. They also feel good quality.
Finally, UBlins provides a variety of eyewear frames that are good quality and affordable.
This is “Anna.” I chose the black design and tortoise design. They both have a professional feel with personality. Elegant and discreetly edgy with the gold accents and cut-out on the sides. They are light weight and feel comfortable.
Overall, I am so pleased with my purchases. This was my first time hearing about any of these companies and I am really glad my online search lead me to them. I am really glad to see how eyewear design continues to evolve. It is encouraging to have so many options to choose from, if you take the time to search for them. Also, creating mini-lookbooks for each frame was a lot of fun.
Which eyewear design is your favorite? Which look was your favorite? Share with me in the comments.
Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I love hearing from you.
Let’s talk about money. The thing everyone wants and the thing most are uncomfortable sharing details about. Financial literacy really makes a difference in your life, regardless of where you live. How you spend and budget is equally as important to how much you earn. So, in this video, I discuss how I made a point to understand the variety of payment methods and transactions in Ghana and monitor what things cost and how much I spend.
The payments methods I use in Ghana are cash, debit card, checks, and MTN mobile money. The most convenient method is mobile money because it can be used to pay monthly bills, purchase products and services, and be used as a method to receive payments. In the video, I explain how to set up mobile money on your phone.
Living expenses can vary depending on where you live and your lifestyle. Like I said in the video, my monthly bills slightly fluctuate. For estimating purposes, my electricity bill is 200 Ghc ($40), diesel bill is 200 Ghc ($40), water bill is 20 Ghc ($4), internet is 350 Ghc ($70), groceries is 100 – 200 Ghc twice a month ($40 – $80) and gas is 170 Ghc ($35). Finding where to shop for essentials makes a difference in how much you spend. Accra has a number of grocery stores, including Palace, Shoprite, Game, Melcolm, MaxMart, and Koala. I have shopped at all of them and found each of them have such helpful people working there. I primarily shop for legumes, frozen vegetables, rice, couscous, and spices at MaxMart, bread at Koala, and plantains, avocados, and peppers at an outside mini market.
When it comes to keeping a budget, the first thing you need to do is monitor your spending, like what I mentioned above. I used a note on my phone. There are also a variety of apps you can use to monitor your spending. The information you need to focus on is the dates you spend and categorizing your expenses. Search the app store for “budget” or “personal spending” for options that fit your preference.
I monitored my spending for about 6 months because I was also learning the currency and what things cost. You can monitor your spending for at least a month. The categories are important because it helps analyze your data. For example, you may not have any control over your essential expenses, like rent and amenities, but you could find alternatives for lifestyle expenses, like take-out food. Once you have this data, you can compare it to the amount of money you earn. The goal is to balance spending less than you earn. You can do this intentionally without depriving your lifestyle by planning your future spending. Each month you stick to alternatives for your lifestyle expenses to maintain that balance. I find this helps shift your mindset around your power with money. It is needed to pay bills, but it can also be used to plan, invest, and save beyond recurring essential expenses.
Regarding consumerism culture, I have found my spending habits evolving while living in Ghana. I have always been frugal, but shopping, especially for miscellaneous things, was usually an isolated experience. I would check ASOS to see what they have, even if I have no where to go. Now, when I visit home, I still check ASOS, but don’t feel the urge to purchase as much. Instead, I really enjoy shopping in Ghana at pop-up events. Since the majority of my wardrobe has been Western focused for so long, I am more focused on adding statement pieces that are afrocentric and traditionally African. There are a variety of boutiques in Accra plus many talented designers and tailors. I love shopping at pop-up events because it feels more personal. I get to chat with the designer and brand owner. I always ask about their inspiration, how long they have been in business, and what their brand story is. During every national holiday that creates a long weekend, the Accra Goods Market hosts a pop-up event. It features several vendors in clothing, accessories, fabric, decor, and food. Plus a DJ to keep the party vibe. I have attended three of their pop-ups so far and have purchased so many unique gems each time.
My consumerism behavior has become more intentional while living in Ghana. I feel this is because there is more of a sense of community and more opportunities to shop local. My purchase goes beyond a faceless transaction between a product and currency. Each piece has its own personality, which makes the shopping experience more worth while.
How do you keep a budget? What is your shopping personality? Share with me in the comments below.
Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. I love hearing from you.
“Next time you want to jump out of a building, tell me so I remember not to answer your call,” shouted Detective Khalid. He took off his blazer, drenched with water, as he tried not to slip on the marble rocks next to Bruce. They both had just jumped from a window of FAXX Corporation, a 12 story building, diving into the river on the other side. It was dark and the sound of the water blocked surveillance monitoring catching their presence. Bruce stood very still, looking up. Smoke and flames engulfed the window of the office they were just in. They could hear the sirens of emergency responders taking position at the front of the building. Guards, human and robotic, patrolled the remaining floors. Bruce continued to ignore Khalid’s complaints as he pulled out the corner of a handful of files from his backpack. “At least I got these,” Bruce said, which made Khalid freeze. Now, looking back up to the window, Khalid sighed deeply, “It looks like someone did not want us to find something.”
The next day, all news outlets were covering the overnight explosion at FAXX Corporation. Reporters: “The office of Dr. Reptar burst into flames last night, destroying almost all of its contents. FAXX has made an official statement ensuring a full investigation continues. If viewers recall, Dr. Reptar was found dead in his office almost 2 weeks ago. Surveillance footage and his personal robotic assistant are still missing. Sources say the scientist was about to make the biggest announcement of his career before his untimely death. Law enforcement asks for anyone who has any information to help with the investigation to report to the station immediately.”
Khalid switched the wall screen projection to mute. He turns to face Bruce, who is sitting in the middle of a chaotic table full of papers, books, maps, and pens. Bruce takes a photo of a map with his tablet, writes a note on the screen, and swipes right to transfer the image to the screen on the other side of the room. Khalid’s study looks like a time machine glitch. The floors and walls are wood paneled and all the furniture is wood. One wall holds a large bookshelf and several filing cabinets with every size of paper, books, floppy disks, cassettes, DVDs, and external hard drives stacked in a way that only Khalid could know where to find anything. The two opposite walls hold screen projections. The last wall has a medium sized window looking onto the street. Bruce gets up to look over the screen projection. Him and Khalid have created a web of images, maps, and notes, with lines looping and cutting to connect the details.
Clearing his throat, Khalid takes a closer look at the screen. “If Dr. Reptar was showing signs of mental incapacity,” said Khalid, “according to FAXX, why are his lab notes up to his alleged death so advanced?” Bruce drew a line between an image of the FAXX owner and a sketch of a black panther found in Dr. Reptar’s lab notes. “Animals have not been used for corporate or scientific experiments since the 2000s,” said Bruce. “It seems that whatever Doc was building was not going to be used as he expected.”
As they examined the screen, they both realized that the murder they were hired to solve is much more complex then expected. Their collaboration on this case is also complex and unexpected. Khalid is a highly sought after and controversial detective. Bruce is a very effective assassin. They actually met years ago during college study abroad in Istanbul. They stayed in touch and kept a pulse on each others work. For this case, the CEO of FAXX hired Khalid to lead the investigation on Dr. Reptar death, which was alleged as a suicide. At the same time, Bruce was hired by the owner of FAXX to investigate Dr. Reptar’s death, which was alleged as a homicide. On the night of the explosion, Khalid and Bruce went to Dr. Reptar’s office, unbeknownst to each other, to gather more clues. They met in the same elevator going up to the office and quickly realized they were working on the same case and that the story behind Dr. Reptar must be more complicated than they anticipated. While they were looking around in Dr. Reptar’s office, the lights on that floor went out. They heard footsteps approach the office. Someone dressed in what looked like a ninja uniform entered the office with a duffel bag. Approaching the desk to place it on the desk, the ninja uniform took out a remote from the bag. Bruce stepped out of his hiding place with his gun raised. Of course, an acrobatic fight ensued. Khalid stepped in to help and distracted the ninja uniform for a moment, but then, the ninja uniform pressed the remote.
The duffel bag buzzed as an electric current pulsed through the desk and spread through the room. Then it started beeping, as if a clock was counting down. Twenty seconds left. Bruce grabbed what he could from the shelf next to him and the files he was looking at before this interruption and quickly placed it in his backpack. Twelve seconds left. Khalid was focused on the duffel bag trying to figure out how to dismantle the bomb, but having difficulty avoiding the electric shock. A spark snapped from a corner of the office. Khalid and Bruce whirled around and found the ninja uniform had disappeared. Five seconds left. Bruce grabbed the desk chair and smashed the window with it. He then grabbed Khalid, who was protesting, and they both ran and jumped out the window, right before the bomb exploded.
Back in Khalid’s study, the screen projection was filled with more details. Why did the owner and CEO of FAXX hire two different professionals to solve this? Why did they both give them different information? What was Dr. Reptar’s announcement? Who wants to hide the evidence? What type of machine did Dr. Reptar build? Why are there so many sketches of black panthers in his notes? The list of questions continued to grow without many answers. What was for sure? The announcement and his recent project is connected to his death. FAXX may or may not be behind it, but the fact that the top security corporation in the world cannot explain how surveillance footage and a robotic personal assistant is missing in their own building is suspect. Khalid had picked up a book from the shelf and was fervently flipping through it. “Aha!,” he said while placing the book open on the table. “I know who we need to add to our team.” Bruce looked at him annoyed. “Team?,” he asked. Khalid gestured to him to come closer to look at the book.
“I knew Dr. Reptar looked familiar,” continued Khalid. “Here he is with my dear friend Dr. Fly. Some years ago they collaborated on a research initiative which created the vaccine for plastic allergies. I’m sure they must have kept in touch.” Bruce looked at the page Khalid held open. Pictured was Dr. Reptar and Dr. Fly wearing their lab coats smiling and shaking hands. “Why would she know anything,” asked Bruce. Khalid’s face lit up. “Because,” Khalid said, “she is an extraordinary.”
The Fly house is one of the most colorful homes in the neighborhood. As Khalid and Bruce rang the doorbell, they heard Hip Hop Jazz playing in the home. A woman with bright silver hair, high cheekbones, and a wise stern look opened the door. She eyed the two men with a mixture of suspicion and indescribable knowing. “How can I help you?,” she said. Khalid gave a slight bow as he introduced himself and Bruce. “We are here to meet with Dr. Kamali Fly,” said Khalid. “She is expecting us.” Bruce nodded in agreement. “One moment please,” the woman said. She closed the door. A moment later she opened it again, “You are welcome. Please follow me.” Stepping into the foyer and looking around them as they waited, Khalid and Bruce felt as if they had stepped into another dimension. Black and white tiles lined the floor. The walls had gold accents with African masks hanging up to the top of the high ceiling. The music continued to play in another room to the left of the foyer, now with added chatter. The woman lead them to another living room to the right of the foyer to wait. She left and returned with two glasses of chilled Ribena and a bowl of plantain chips and pistachios. As Khalid and Bruce waited, they could see part of the other room across from the foyer. The room was full of stunning, beautiful people all dressed colorfully and edgy. It looked like they were having more of a meeting than a social gathering, in spite of the upbeat music. Everyone was holding a tablet with the same crest engraved on the back. Then, everyone’s attention shifted to one part of the room and stopped talking. One woman addressed the group, thanking them for their attendance and summarizing their points of discussion. They have scheduled a health mission trip, an inter-generational mentoring brunch, and have a new collection of art ready for their next exhibit. She hugged each of them as they filed out of the room and out of the house. The music decreased in volume and transitioned to an afro house mix.
The woman walked in the room with her own glass of a juice mixture. Khalid and Bruce stood up when she entered. “Hello Kamali,” said Khalid. Kamali grinned, opening her arms to give Khalid a hug. Bruce noticed a flash of orange quickly appeared and disappeared in her hair, like a streak of electricity surrounding her curls. “It’s been a long time,” said Kamali. She stepped back and looked directly at Bruce. Khalid introduced them as they shook hands. She then sat on the lounge chair across from the. “So,” she said, “what adventure are you mixed in now?”
Khalid and Bruce explained their findings about Dr. Reptar’s research and death and their suspicions of FAXX and the ninja uniform. Kamali listened intensely. When they finished their story, silence fell on the room as the afro house music continued to loop in the background. Again, Bruce noticed Kamali’s hair. This time, a spark of blue flashed around her curls. Bruce quickly looked at Khalid, who was already eyeing him with a knowing smile. He mouthed the words “an extraordinary.” Kamali took the last sip of her drink and sat back in her seat.
“Have you heard of the Corks?” Kamali asked. Bruce sat up straighter and Khalid raised both eyebrows. She continued. “The news paints them as a little gang, but they are actually a very organized and highly connected mafia group that has this government wrapped around it’s pinkie toe. FAXX is not as far removed from them as they seem. Rep, that is what I called Dr. Reptar, was so committed to his research. I’m sorry I don’t know the details about his announcement or project. I know it meant a lot to him. He even sent me a calendar invite to make sure I did not miss it.”
Bruce returned his glass to the ornate table between them. “The Corks are lethal,” said Bruce. “They have too much money and too many underground businesses to care about one scientist.” Kamali looked at Bruce with a raised eyebrow. “Well,” she said, “that announcement and that machine must have meant a lot to them.”
Khalid took out his tablet, “Have you seen anything similar to this?” He reached over and passed the tablet to Kamali. On the screen was one of the sketches of a black panther from Dr. Reptar’s notes. Kamali looked at it, gasped, and stood up quickly. “Come,” she said, as she walked out of the room. Khalid and Bruce looked at each other and stumbled over the table to keep up with her. Walking further into the house, they passed more ornate figurines, African carvings, family portraits, and tapestries. Kamali was standing in the library. The windows and shelves reached from the floor to the high ceiling. There were elegant nooks and desks to read and write throughout the two story room. She was standing in front of a painting. As Bruce and Khalid moved closer, they noticed that the painting moved too. “Don’t be frightened,” said Kamali. “It is one of my own masterpieces.” The painting was of a black panther, similar to the one illustrated on the tablet and in Dr. Reptar’s notes. However, this one moved within the canvas. As all three of them stood in front of it, the black panther in the painting paced from left to right watching them. Finally, it climbed back up on the tree within the painting and watched them from a higher level.
Bruce did not have much patience for mysteries or manners. He now turned to Khalid. “Alright. Why are we here? What is up with her hair? Why is that cat moving?”
The panther in the painting and Kamali turned to look at both Bruce and Khalid at the same time. Kamali wrinkled her nose at Khalid and turned to Bruce. “So, dear Khalid did not have the decency to explain anything to you?” she said. “I am an extraordinary. My hair changes color with the shift in my mood. I love to paint and whatever I create lives in the canvas. I can heal wounds with the power of nature. Professionally, I am a doctor.” Bruce nodded slowly, but his face showed the million questions he wanted to ask.
“Now,” said Kamali, “this panther in Rep’s notes is the same as my painting. We have a heart for real animals you see. Did you know there is a group of panthers that escaped and continued to evolve? They are the last real animals. Some say it’s a conspiracy, but the last panthers can be used to create a weapon of mass destruction. Of course, they would have to be slaughtered. Rep told me about it.”
Khalid asked for the tablet back and examined it next to the painting. Bruce paced back and forth near one of the windows. He paused and turned to the other two. “FAXX and the Corks must be the same entity,” Bruce said. “Or a paid accomplice,” said Khalid. “You will need a lot more evidence than a sketch and a hunch to go public with that statement,” chuckled Kamali.
The sound of plates and cutlery came from the dining room. Kamali’s hair sparked a flash of pink. “Oh,” she exclaimed, “I know both of you are staying for dinner.” Bruce and Khalid started shuffling towards the door slowly while mumbling about work and needing to get back. “Nonsense,” she insisted. “Quincy is on his way back and we already prepared for guests this evening. I think they would love to hear about your new adventure.”
Bruce and Khalid stopped shuffling. “Who is coming for dinner?” Khalid asked. As she walked out of the room, Kamali twirled around with a grin. “Well,” she said, “Pepper and Gold.”
Visuals
I really enjoyed putting this look together and playing the character Kamali.
Wearing: SheIn Lace Blouse; ASOS high waist pants; ALDO black heels; Fenty Beauty primer and foundation; Black Radiance contour and highlight; LipBar lipstick
What do you think of the story so far? Who is your favorite character? What do you think will happen next? Share with me in the comments below.
Also, remember to feel free to connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I love hearing from you.
Africa is the future. The real question is, whose future does it benefit? What does Beyond the Return look like now? Before moving to Ghana, I did a lot of research to try to understand the country and see where I could fit. Even though that helped to encourage me to take the first step, it did not compare to what I needed to learn on the ground. In this video, I discuss what has worked for me in finding and creating my niche in Ghana and Africa.
As I discussed in the video, nothing compares to learning from experience. Being patient, adaptable, and open to learning will take you much further, if you are looking to find and create your niche in Ghana and Africa.
Networking does play a role in your success. Instead of insisting there is only one way to do this, I encourage you to explore what works for your industry and your personality. Some people need to be in everyone’s face. Others prefer to keep their circle of contacts small and close. I have found that a mixture of in person socializing and online outreach allows me to have a diverse network of people to learn from, collaborate with, support, and work with. This lends itself to the work culture in Ghana. You do not need to limit people to one transaction or interaction. The person you purchase furniture from can also introduce you to a business opportunity, help you with your garden, invite you to meet their family, or find that particular gadget that is not available in stores. The person you met at an event can also collaborate with you on a project, introduce you to the manager of a bank, teach you how to cook traditional dishes, or introduce you to their tailor. It all depends on how you value and maneuver your interactions.
Even though these connections feel more wholesome compared to the isolating transactions I experienced in Houston, or America in general, I am still learning how these interactions evolve to create your closer circle of friends. This might be influenced by the societal notion that everyone should know their place. Some people, in spite of interacting with each other for an extended period of time, may never feel comfortable enough to invite me into their home. As an American, this is not unusual because we all have friends who don’t know where we live. From my understanding, Ghanaians do invite their real friends home and introduce them to their families. I have also learned that people in Accra are different from people based or born and raised in other parts of Ghana. This might be similar to other big cities, but the sense that not everyone is truly as they seem or say is not foreign in Accra. I am very grateful that I have met and continue to connect to the people who are wholesome, supportive, authentic, and interesting.
Regarding the established network groups I mentioned in the video, I feel they are a great start to get a sense of who is around, what people are talking about, and what you can connect to. Ahaspora is a group for young professionals. I have also used their job listing to find opportunities. AAAG, the African American Association of Ghana, is the group that introduced me to the W.E.B. Du Bois Center in Accra. Ghana Must Read Book Club is a lovely group of book nerds. I really enjoyed the meet up I attended to discuss Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. This year, each month is dedicated to a different region of the world. There are many more groups for a variety of interests through out Ghana. These are the ones I have participated in thus far.
When it comes to figuring out if your industry exists in Ghana, or another country in Africa, it is important to remember that it may look different than what you are used to. Even though most of the data you need will come from word of mouth, there are startups developing ways to gather that data for all industries. Survey54 is a platform focused on emerging markets in Africa and its diaspora. I met the founder, Stephen Eyeson, in Ghana during the December holiday season. Him and his team are doing an impressive job developing their product. This article in African Business Magazine discusses the industries that are buzzing due to need to shift the economy into a digital landscape. Like I mentioned in the video, mobile financing, online education, and tele health are on their list. There is also a luxury market in Africa that continues to expand and grow. Another article from African Business Magazine discusses this in more detail. The speed of development, debt, and demand creates an interesting environment in Ghana and Africa. The mixture provides a blank canvas for you to choose how you further your business, make an impact, and gain in every aspect of your life.
So far, this is what has encouraged me to continue my journey. Are you looking to move or work in Ghana or another country in Africa? Are you already based in the royal continent and looking to expand or pivot? What do you find helpful? Let me know in the comments. Let’s continue the conversation.
Also, feel free to reach out and connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. I love hearing from you.
Let’s talk about the historical, monumental, and hysterical Instagram Live battle between Teddy Riley and Babyface. This was the most anticipated battle of pandemic era time. Nostalgia for 90s R&B and New Jack Swing plus block parties brought around 500,000 people to watch this epic dual of music producers. They had to bring the hits, the shade, and the legends. In this video, I recap on how the battle went down and discuss what this live stream era means for culture.
Now, let’s dive deeper. As I mentioned in the video, this was such an enjoyable virtual experience. It was so cool to feel connected to everyone who is feeling the same nostalgia and joy in music and teasing each other. Taking note of how crisp Teddy Riley’s individual live stream, this is a really exciting time to see how virtual experiences evolve.
Looking to Instagram Live for music entertainment began with DJ D-Nice and his DJ sets coined “Club Quarantine.” In March of 2020 he set the record for the most live stream viewers in the history of Instagram while playing 9 hours straight. This was encouraging and uplifting because, if you read his story, he has been in the entertainment business for a long time without fully being recognized for his talent. He started in the mid-1980s as a member of a teenage hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions. He released a solo album in 1990 and 1991, which were produced by him, sold half a million copies, and reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart. In spite of that, Hip Hop was considered one hit wonders by the main stream music industry, so his record label did not renew his contract. He later added photographer and DJ to his high-profile collection of hats. Fast forward to the stay-at-home order in L.A., DJ D-Nice decided to share his gift and live stream his DJ sets while sharing stories and shouting out people who were watching. You can read more about his story in this LA Times article.
This lead to the next wave of Instagram Live Stream trends: R&B producer battles. Swizz Beats and Timbaland host Verzuz beat battles on Instagram Live. In this series, two prominent producers pair up on IG Live to prove who has the better catalog. The live viewers decide who wins. Similar to the original DJ battles in Hip Hop history. Read more about who won the battles so far in this Vulture article. This series has been really cool because you get to enjoy the music while also getting insight on how many people are involved in creating a song. I think it is also an interactive way to celebrate history and culture.
Currently, these experiences are a way to cope and connect. I feel we should also be proactive in archiving these experiences and protecting the content. At the moment, live streaming is free and convenient. It will become the new normal for education, entertainment, and services. What does that mean for documenting and protecting culture? There are so many platforms to focus on. For example, during the Teddy Riley vs Babyface Verzuz battle, there was a lot of activity in the live comments and social media. There were also numerous reaction videos and articles. How could this be archived for a future exhibit?
This got me thinking about the future of museums and experiencing curated history and culture. Will we feel comfortable again to enter a room with a large group of people to enjoy an exhibit? Can the things and people needed for exhibits travel reliably? Is there enough funding to maintain the industry as is? I am someone who loves to take my time in museums and galleries in real life. As of yet, virtual tours of exhibits cannot create the same ambiance. I am excited to see how some museums and galleries are being innovative in thinking outside of the box. For example, the CFHILL gallery in Sweden is currently hosting their new exhibit BLACK VOICES / BLACK MICROCOSM to illustrate the “fragile intersection of art and race, gender roles and beauty and socio-economic, as a miniature representation of what it is to be human and black right now.” The exhibit features artists and artworks from 15 cities on 3 different continents. It includes a digital show opening, live streaming, guided 3D tours, artist talks, and video footage made by the artists in their studios. This is so neat!
“But,” you may ask, “what about the money? How do we monetize these collections?” Well, Black Art In America, an arts media company based in Georgia, is currently hosting a Black Art Auction virtually. Their website includes an online catalog, bidding account, and in person previews via Facetime.
When it comes to archiving, celebrating, and protecting the culture in the live stream era, we need to focus more on impact instead of likes and follows. Do we need platforms owned by people who represent the culture? Absolutely! Do we need people who represent the culture sitting at the table with established brands, platforms, and institutions? Absolutely! This is an opportunity to level and expand the playing field. Whether it is a live stream Hip Hop battle, carrot bacon, or Tik Tok dance challenge, we are once again setting the trends. This time, let’s own it.
Have you watched any of the IG Live sets or battles? What did you think of the Teddy Riley vs Babyface session?
Do you enjoy museums and galleries? How would you like to experience exhibits now?
Share with me in the comments. I love hearing from you. Feel free to reach out on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
Are you ready to learn from a boss? Madam C.J. Walker is the first female self made millionaire in American history. Her beauty empire and social activism made an incredible impact on the community and history. Her story is even more inspiring.
In this video, I talk about tips I gained from Self Made: the Netflix series inspired by the life of Madam C.J. Walker, including: the balance between being urgent and greedy, the importance of betting on yourself, and how to succeed in relationships.
Now, let’s dive deeper. Like I said in the video, this series was not a biopic. At first, while watching it, I found the music selection jarring. The aesthetic is early 1900s, but the music is modern. That is what made me think that this might be more of an introduction to Madam C.J. Walker’s life, just like the movie “Like Martin.” However, I gradually realized that was not the case.
Let’s start with the two main characters: Madam C.J. Walker and Addie Munroe. In the series, they are two black women pushing a similar product for black hair. From throwing shade outside of church to throwing punches in a boxing ring, their rivalry is repeatedly illustrated through colorism and sabotage. In reality, Madam C.J. Walker and Annie Malone were business rivals with their own respective empires.
Annie Malone started producing her self made product Wonderful Hair Grower in the early 1900s. When she moved to St. Louis, she hired 3 sales agents, including Madam C.J. Walker, to help her continue sell her product door-to-door. She gave free treatments to attract more customers. Annie Malone continued to expand her business with her company Poro Company and opened a shop to train more women to sell her product. In 1918, she opened the Poro College, a cosmetology school and center that included a manufacturing plant, a retail store, business offices, a 500-seat auditorium, dining and meeting rooms, a roof garden, dormitory, gym, bakery, and chapel. Through its curriculum and businesses, the college created jobs for 75,000 women in North America, South America, Africa, and the Philippines. Annie Malone became a multi-millionaire in the 1920s.
In a sense, Annie Malone mentored Madam C.J. Walker. The glitch in their relationship is up for interpretation, depending on whose story you look at. According to Team Walker, Madam C.J. Walker moved to Denver, Colorado to continue selling Wonderful Hair Grower and develop her own hair-care product. Annie Malone accused her of copying her formula, petroleum jelly and sulfur, which apparently had been used for hundreds of years. According to Team Malone, there was a disagreement between the two and Madam C.J. Walker left the company. She took the formula and made her own brand of it. This caused Annie Malone to copyright her products under the name “Poro” to discourage counterfeit versions.
Madam C.J. Walker marketed herself as an independent hairdresser and retailer, with the help of her then husband and business partner, C.J. Walker. Her daughter remained in Denver to lead the mail-order operation while she and C.J. relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to open a beauty parlor and a training program called the “Walker System” to create a national network of licensed sales agents. Later, she closed the business in Denver, relocated the headquarters in Indianapolis, and established an office and beauty salon in Harlem. The headquarters included a factory, hair salon, beauty school, and laboratory. At the height of her career, the company trained over 20,000 women and increased sales around the US and the Caribbean.
With this information, why did the team behind the Netflix series decide to tell a different story? At first, you might assume the team was disconnected from the true story. Then you might take the time to find out who the team was. This is them talking about making the Netflix series Self Made.
So, a team full of black women, one of which is Madam C.J. Walker great-great-granddaughter, decided to illustrate the story like this. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am all for filling the gap in representation. I love that black history is being illustrated and shared on a bigger platform. It is wonderful and inspiring to see more black women in front of and behind the camera. Let’s continue that. I don’t agree with how they chose to alter history to paint certain people as heroes and others as villains. I don’t like how they diluted the hustle and impact all the characters had in real life.
I understand the series is entitled “inspire by” and “based on a true story,” but this is Black history. Can you honestly produce a movie “inspired by” the life of Abraham Lincoln and depict his wife as a lesbian having a secret affair with the neighbor’s wife? Can you really produce a movie “based on a true story” of the holocaust and depict a Jewish family as the villain? This is tricky. Black history is special because so much of it has been and continues to be erased, hidden, distorted, and destroyed. Children do not learn Black history in school. A lot of adults could learn more about Black history. So, if you have the golden opportunity to illustrate Black history on a mainstream platform, why not keep it 100?
It was a beautiful and high quality production, from cinematography to wardrobe. I feel so many of us are concerned about the content because we understand its impact. This series could be an introduction to this portion of history for a lot of people. Even though it should encourage folks to dig deeper and research on their own, will they? Can you rely on that? If not, this series unfortunately further enhances its audience’s bias against colorism among the Black community, depicting Black men as a liability instead of an asset, and inserting LGBTQ fantasies as if the original story was not enticing enough. There needs to be a balance. Black joy and Black pain can’t always be a form of entertainment.
Now, let’s look into relationships. This is the clip I mentioned in the video:
1968. By the late 1960s, relations btwn Black men and women changed. Women became professionals and asserted their social independence. Black men felt that Black women don't allow them to emerge as Black men and don't sympathize w their struggle. A discussion on the subject: pic.twitter.com/f1Z4IerEip
Has anything changed or evolved? Do we feel the same? Have our priorities changed? Do we still need programming? For me, watching these types of discussions make me feel like I am watching a Tom & Jerry episode where a 3rd character knocks the man and the woman from behind without them seeing, and they both argue with each other assuming it was the other who did it. What if the enemy or perpetrator is not even in the room? Would that change the discussion? Yes, there is a lot we need to take responsibility for. There is a lot more we could to move forward.
The feeling of inadequacy and being attacked is on both sides. This creates the defensive behavior and guarded personality we carry everywhere. How do we balance the need for trust and generosity in our relationships? Fast-forward to now, there is a lot of talk, as well as real participation, about therapy, self-care, and healing. There is more discussions about accountability and acceptance. Is this making a difference in our relationships with others? I hope so.
Overall, I enjoyed the Netflix series as well as researching the characters and history. What did you think about the series and history? What do you think about the clip? Let me know in the comments below.
Also, I always love hearing from you. Feel free to connect on Instagram or Twitter.
Dagny Zenovia 