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content. Publisher’s Letter Ki Events Sol Sips Restaurant San Diego Melanin Yes! Happily Ever After Can Be Possible Major Depression: An Emotional Tsunami
J.I.V.E. Juice Black-Owned Fashion Brands to Shop Wade the Barber Meet Kheperah Ray
Celebrating Kwanzaa
EDITOR & CHIEF Chida Rebecca LEAD MAKE-UP ARTIST Ashli Taylor
PUBLISHER Rebecca & Co.
COVER FASHION Lizz Russell www.lizzrussell.com
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Brandon Johnson
CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat
Dr. Marchita Masters
2018 BLACK & MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY REBECCA & CO. SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO: PUBLISHER@BLACKANDMAGAZINE.COM WWW.BLACKANDMAGAZINE.COM INSTAGRAM: @BLACKANDMAGAZINE TWITTER: @BLACKANDMAG FACEBOOK: @BLACKANDMAGAZINE
CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN Rebecca & Company
publisher’s letter
My message to you for this issue is simple. live. love. dream. dare. forgive. rest. enjoy. believe. pray. Sincerely, Chida Rebecca
black & social
KI
EVENTS
The holidays represent a time a celebration and fun. But if you’re the one in charge of putting on that celebration, you may feel a little overwhelmed. But those aren’t the sentiments of Kiana Welsh. The creator of Ki Events, Welsh was born in Brookly and raised in San Diego. “My interest in business began at an early age, and as a consequence I have always had an insatiable desire to be in control of my daily activity. I later discovered that this was best secured by owning my business which allowed me the freedom to chart my destiny,” she shared in a reent interview with Voyager ATL. When Welsh graduated from high school, she was thrown into the world of entertainment through a
job at a local radio station. She recalls feeling a level of exhilaration that was unforgettable. “I knew I wanted to do something big. I didn’t know what, when or how, but I knew that it had to be big.” Through her employment with various large companies and exposure to celebrities, Welsh was able to take her experiences in the marketing and entertainment industry and create something all her own. Ki Events specializes in high level customer service, follow up, tailoring their services to the customers’ needs, dependability to include punctuality, professionalism and attention to detail. Her company has catered and staffed numerous high-profile events on the West Coast which include the Golden Globe Awards after-parties, Larry King’s birthday bash, as well as the grand openings of Giuseppe Zanotti store, Jimmy Choo and many others. And on the East Coast, Ki Events is providing world-class level of service to the Atlanta area, the company’s home base. “Every time we facilitate a successful event we provide aesthetically pleasing professional and efficient staff. We believe that our job has been done well. That is my favorite part about what I do,” shared Welsh. What’s in store for the future? “Our plans for the future are to hone in on niche markets by which we can collaborate with companies that will utilize our services on a more frequent basis.”
If you want to be on the road to planning a successful event, Welsh offers these few good tips: • Secure an adequate space for the number of attendees. • Make sure that all details are addressed in a timely manner, i.e. food, beverages, decorations, invites, etc. • Theme the event • Ensure that the date selected isn’t in direct conflict with any other major events that may attract your guests To learn more about Ki Events, visit their website at www.kieventsatl.com.
is. poppin.
Staff Writer Searching for the local Black experience can prove to be a bit difficult. But for many Black San Diegans recently locating to the city, finding holiday weekend shenanigans full of people who look like us can be the type of work we don’t want to do on this epic weekend. Loren Cobbs had a similar problem when she relocated from DC to here for work. However, she decided to do something about it. ‘San Diego Melanin’, Cobbs’ brainchild, started as a meetup group and blossomed into a vibrant mecca for young Black professionals to network, party, and connect with individuals who look like them. The group hosts monthly events ranging from brunches to trap music trivia nights. This holiday season, San Diego Melanin has hosted multiple events to create a fun and entertaining space to spend the holiday. “I strongly believe that people of color deserve spaces for themselves and the same things that what our white counterparts have,” said Cobbs. The Ohio native had spent a lot of time on the east coast after her college and graduate school matriculation. Finishing with a Bachelors degree in Economics from Purdue University and her Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University, Cobbs came to the west coast with a strong idea of what young Black professional communities look like. “On the east coast, there are built in communities for young professionals of color. I couldn’t find many places to meet other young professionals like myself when I first moved here. I’ve always believed that if there isn’t something present that you want, you have to create it.”
san diego melanin
EVENTS
The impetus for Cobbs’ idea came during a night out in Pacific Beach. “I was out with some other women in the city and we went to a bar in PB. There were all kinds of people out partying and they had a DJ. We asked if we could hear Beyoncé and other artists we liked. He told us ‘we don’t play hip hop on Sundays’ citing it was a ‘management decision’. That was a tipping point for me. That’s when I decided to start curating events specifically for the Black and Brown professional community. I named the group ‘San Diego Melanin’ because I wanted to be very clear what the purpose of the group was. Not to say that others can’t come, but I wanted it to be very direct to the community to say that this was created specifically for you.” If the photos and videos on the San Diego Melanin Instagram page are any indication, Cobbs is off to a great start in accomplishing her task. Young, vibrant and unique faces flood the page with wide smiles and exuberant spirits. They all seem glad to have found a space that caters to them specifically and puts them in the same room with interesting people to connect with. “If you’re interested in having a good time. Stress free, drama free then come out. If you’re interested in meeting other young professionals of color, we have several DJs at our events. No matter what you’re looking for San Diego Melanin is a great place to build your network and start connecting with people.” For tickets and more information of the full lineup of events upcoming with future events, you can visit www.sandiegomelanin.com and search San Diego Melanin on all social media outlets. Be sure to grab ticket to the Opulence 2019 NYE celebration! Tickets available at www.opulencenye.eventbrite.com
SOL SIPS SOL SIPS WHERE YOU PAY WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD Courtesy of BlackNews.com
22-Year Old Black Entrepreneur Launches Restaurant Where Customers Only Pay What They Can Afford
F
rancesca Chaney, already a successful Black business owner at the young age of 22, has great taste for food and a big heart for underserved people. Her Brooklyn-based vegan restaurant called Sol Sips, is not only famous for its healthy food but is also recognized for letting patronizers pay what they can afford - even if it cuts into her profits! Chaney developed an interest in healthy eating when she was just a child. She was inspired by her mother, who is a vegan, and became a vegan herself when she was 18-years old. Since then, she began dreaming about opening up her own restaurant that offers nutritious, plant-based foods. Initially, she started Sol Sips as a pop-up shop in the neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn. However, in April earlier this year, Chaney made the location permanent. Her and her staff serve plant-based beverages and plant-based “bites” made with only four ingredients or fewer that are soyfree and with low acidity. One of the best-sellers is a plant-based dish that is an alternative to the New York staple -- eggs are made of chickpeas, bacon is tempeh, and the cheese is dairy-free. More than introducing a unique and healthy food alternative, Chaney wanted more people, especially those who are in underserved communities, to be able to come and eat at Sol Sips. So she decided to create a brunch menu with a sliding-scale pricing -- which means people can enjoy their dishes for a price that’s anywhere between $7 to $15. That way, she hoped everyone can take part in the dishes. “We started that initiative,” Chaney told the Rachel Ray Show, “because we wanted to make sure that everyone that lives here can get more foods that help us to get our nutrients in.” Since it’s already a given that she couldn’t make much money with such altruism, there are people and organizations who wanted to help Chaney with her cause. Dairy-free brand So Delicious -- which Chaney herself uses in her dishes -- donated $5,000 to help her continue her advocacy. Also, earlier this year, Chaney started a GoFundMe campaign to help her with the expenses to further expand Sol Sips. So far, it has raised over $5,500 and contributions from $5 to some hundred dollars keep coming in. Photos Courtesy of Glenn Alan/ Black-Owned Brookly For more information about Sol Sips, follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/blackownedbklyn @solsipsnyc
yes,
happily ever-after can be possible By Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat
black & living
c
ompelling evidence indicates that both men and women experience substantial benefits from marriage: living longer, healthier, wealthier, and happier lives as a result. Women especially need close relationships with a partner in order to thrive. Our ability to nurture such relationships can benefit us mentally. A fulfilling relationship must have some reciprocity, but not necessarily tit-for-tat. I learned that regarding a mate, one has to write down needs that must be met, things that will not be accepted, things open to compromise, and things to remember. Here’s my list, and although it refers to a husband, I think it applies to any mate:
• You don’t have to wait for the perfect “Mr. Right.” Find someone who meets most of your standards and then work to make it right. • Mutual respect must exist in a relationship. • You do not have to like the same things, as long as each of you have the freedom to do what you like by yourself or with your friends. • Love must be unconditional; you give love because you love that person, not because you want to be loved in return. When you love the right person unconditionally, you will eventually be loved the way you want. • Men sometimes don’t know what we are talking about. Their brains are not wired the same way as women. • A man does not have to be your best friend. That is why we have girlfriends and sisters. • The more successful you are, the more difficult this is for the man in your life. The Y chromosome demands it. Especially if you make more money than your man, you have to constantly remind him that his emotional support is what makes you successful. I read this somewhere and it has been very helpful to me: “A man with a healthy measure of self-esteem can tolerate the super-success of his significant other without feeling diminished or threatened. The wise woman knows how to keep his ego pumped up. She lets him know that his love and support have contributed to her success, and she makes him feel like an equal partner.” • You may be independent when you are at home, but when you are with friends, especially his male friends; it is okay to be the “wife.” • Regardless of how bull-headed he may act, you must have the patience to be flexible, understanding and be able to compromise. • Whenever you do something for your partner, do it because you want to and not
because you expect something in return. Keeping tabs does not work, it only creates resentment. • Acknowledge your partner and let him know how much you appreciate him. • Sometimes it is difficult for men to express love the way women expect. Learn to recognize when a partner is trying to tell you they love you their own way. “I love you” comes in many different ways and shapes. It could be something nice that he does for one of your relatives. • If you are angry about something, do not discuss it then; wait until all feelings of anger have disappeared. • Make your home a refuge for the one you love. • Acknowledge that your partner is different from you. You don’t need to change him. Your partner does not see the world through your eyes and, therefore, won’t think, feel, or behave in the manner you feel most appropriate. If that is your expectation of your partner, you’ll find that he will feel invalidated, misunderstood, and eventually not cared for. If you have a great need to control others, you are demonstrating how insecure you are about yourself; you are the one who is not living up to your own expectations and, therefore, finding your own life out of control. • Take what you have learned about nurturing yourself and apply it to your partner to see what works for him. Each of us is different and requires different amounts and types of nurturing. Take the time to discover what your partner needs. You’ll be very glad you did. • Learn to appreciate the unique traits and differences in your partner. Ultimately, the recognition of differences among people allows us to release ourselves from the need to be judgmental. • Learn the rudiments of supportive, direct, and honest communication. True and effective communication has the intent of sharing our most intimate thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. Reciprocally, we share our partner’s thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. • Know that the television remote has been surgically attached to his right hand, and that removal would require major surgery you are unable to perform. If you really need a hug while he is watching television, you will have to make do with one arm. If he is a sports fan, do not try to have important conversations during a game, unless it is a life-threatening emergency. From August through January, you should not expect him to leave the house on Monday night, Sunday afternoon, whenever play-offs are approaching, or during a major game. To make life easier, add sports words to your vocabulary. Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat, MD, FACOG is a board-certified Ob-Gyn, fertility specialist, and a gifted medical intuitive, energy and spiritual healer. She intuitively knows the underlying reasons of any issues her patients are dealing with including why they are not getting pregnant. Using her laser-focus three steps approach, they are able to quickly understand what is going on, and by using the specific tools given to them get the results they are yearning for. You can use her services via telephone or you can spend time with her in her sacred garden in the Mount Helix area of San Diego, CA if you want to experience her healing in person. Contact: www.drcarolle.com drcarolle@cox.net
MAJOR DEPRESSION An Emotional Tsunami
By Dr. Marchita Masters
W
hat is major depression and who can develop it? You? Me? Him? Her? Yup, yup, yup and yup. “Major depression is a common, serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act” (American Psychiatric Association). Anyone can develop major depression, which can also be called major depressive disorder or MDD. If it occurs once it’s called “single episode,” if there are two or more episodes, it’s called “recurrent.” Most people don’t realize this, but major depression is serious business. It’s way more than just feeling sad or low; it’s in a completely different ballpark all together. It’s like getting slammed onto your backside by an emotional tsunami causing terrible pain and suffering. As you struggle with everything you have to regain your footing, here comes another 30 foot emotional wave to slam you back down again. Maybe you think that crawling from underneath the covers is just too much to ask right now; getting to the bathroom to shower and brush your teeth feels like a journey across the Grand Canyon. You think “maybe I’ll get up tomorrow” before you pull the covers over your head and curl up into a ball. Just like most illnesses, there are levels of severity, ranging from mild to severe, with the above description being severe. Severe major depression is unmistakable. On the other hand, some people go for years or longer with a mild or moderate depression and don’t quite realize it. They think “hey, that’s just life.” For instance, have you ever been in a room with an odd smell and after awhile the smell seems to vanish and then someone walks in and asks what is that odd smell? The smell didn’t vanish, you just became used to it.
Far too many people have gotten used to being depressed. They grind it out and keep pushing to keep up with life’s demands until… slam! The mild-moderate depression they’ve lived with for years turns into severe depression they can no longer ignore. This is when most people finally seek treatment. When they look back over their lives, they may realize “I think I’ve been depressed since middle school, or high school.” MDD can zap your concentration, zap your motivation, leave you feeling overly fatigued and completely spent. This, in turn, can
cause a loss of interest in things you once found to be enjoyable. It can interfere with the normal sleeping and eating patterns which may lead to either too much or too little eating and/or sleeping. People suffering from MDD often feel empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, restless and sometimes have thoughts like “Why go on?” “I’d be better off dead.” “I’m a burden to my family.” Have you seen race horses wearing blinders over their eyes to keep them looking straight ahead? MDD is like wearing blinders that only allow you to stare at the most negative things in your life which gives the impression that everything is negative.
There have been advances in the treatment of major depression, but we still don’t know exactly what causes it. We know that life’s stresses or traumatic events can bring it on. It can also be passed down in the genes from generation to generation. Just like some families are tall (shout out to Shaq) and some families have hazel eyes (shout out to Stephen Curry), some families have major depression, anxiety or some other behavioral health disorder. Like other medical illnesses, MDD usually responds well to treatment, with psychotherapy and medications together being the best course
of treatment. Now that you know what major depression is, let’s talk about some helpful things and not-sohelpful things you can do. First of all, please do not use MDD as an opportunity to beat yourself up. Remember, major depression is a real medical illness. You wouldn’t beat yourself up for having asthma or breast cancer…would you? Secondly, get help. There are still lots of myths in the community that keep people from reaching out; they keep people suffering in silence. People think that seeking treatment for a behavioral health dis-
black & living
order means they are weak-minded, crazy or stupid; nope, nope and nope. It doesn’t mean any of that. As a community, “we aint got time for all that.” We need to get our healing on, so when you hear someone spouting myths, you have my permission to say “please miss me with that nonsense.” Then you can lay some real-world info on them: Behavioral health disorders are real medical illnesses like asthma, hypertension and cancer and like those other medical illnesses, behavioral health disorders are highly treatable but can also lead to death if not properly diagnosed and treated. Tell them that seeking treatment when you need it is the wise thing to do. That will make you somewhat of a community hero (or heroin) because you will be saving lives. Like anything else, when you treat a behavioral health problem fairly early, it’s much easier to treat than if you wait until it is completely overwhelming you. Also, if you or someone you know ever talks about life isn’t worth living or are contemplating suicide, please call the San Diego Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240, 911 or head to the ER. Do not assume that someone who talks of suicide must be joking or manipulating. People who are contemplating suicide often give hints. Most don’t really want to die, they just want the pain to stop and don’t know how to make it stop; they end up feeling like they have no other options, but there is always help available. Be a community hero: get informed; save a life, maybe your own. Contact Dr. Marchita Masters at drmarchitamasters@gmail.com
black & living
K W AZ N AA Celebrating
KWANZAA
Reimagining and Remaking the World:
A Kwanzaa Commitment to An Inclusive Good By Dr. Maulana Karenga
KWANZAA IS A FESTIVAL OF HARVEST AND celebration of the Good, the shared good, the shared good of field and forest, of fruit tree and flower, the shared good of wind and waters, rainfall and riverflow, of life and all living things, in a word, the shared good of the world in all its wonderful abundance. At the very heart and center of the celebration of Kwanzaa is the ethical imperative and social obligation of the cooperative creation and sharing of an inclusive Good. This principle and related practice are rooted in its ancient origins in the African harvest and the communitarian worldview and way of life that undergirded and informed it. The ancient roots of Kwanzaa in the shared African harvest and the celebration of it, immediately bring to mind the sacred teachings given to us by our honored ancestors in the Odu Ifa which tells and teaches us we are to constantly strive and struggle to bring good into the world, share it and not let any good be lost. And this bringing increasing and sustaining good in the world must be directed toward an inclusive good, a good that benefits all, a good By Dr. Maulana Karenga that is planned, produced, harvestedand shared by all. Moreover, this conception of an inclusive good is a world-encompassing, all-embracing good, not only for us as a people, but also a good for humanity and the well-being of the world. And as westrive and struggle to achieve and secure an inclusive good for all, we are taught, we must also constantly reimagine, renew and remake the world. For as our honored ancestors teach us, we are not only human beings, but also world beings, walimwengu (in Swahili), and must therefore always expand the arc of our moral care and concern. And thus, this Kwanzaa, as millions of us gather together all over the world throughout the world African community, in celebration of family, community and culture, we are charged to ask again what does it mean to be African in the world in times like these of increased turmoil and testing, aggression, oppression and massive destruction of lives and lands in the world? And how do we, as a people, honor our role as moral and social vanguard? In a word, what are our moral obligations to ourselves and others, to the poor and less powerful, the vulnerable, the oppressed,
suffering and struggling peoples of the world and to the well-being of the world itself? Thus, in this, another season of the celebration of the Good, we are required to remember, reflect and recommit ourselves to our highest values and to the striving and struggle that secures and sustains them as an uplifted, lived and living reality. We remember and pay rightful and righteous homage to our ancestors, the way-openers, the lifters-of the-light that lasts, the awesome models and clear mirrors by which we mold and measure our lives and strive for the good and beautiful in all we do. We reflect on the work we do, the struggles we wage and the lives we live in order to bring, sustain and increase good in the world. And we recommit ourselves to our highest values and to the ancient African ethical imperative of serudj ta, to constantly repair, renew and remake the world, making it more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. If the ancient African harvest provides us the important moral message and model of the cooperative planning, cultivation, creation and sharing of good, the modern Black Freedom Movement provides us with a similarly essential message and model of the striving and struggles needed to actually achieve and secure a shared and inclusive good. Conceived and created in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement, Kwanzaa is deeply involved and invested in the concept and practice of freedom as an indispensable way to achieve and secure the shared and inclusive good it envisions and urges. Indeed, Kwanzaa itself, is an historical and ongoing act of freedom, an instrument of freedom and a celebration of freedom. It is an historical and ongoing act of freedom in that it is an act of resistance and reaffirmation. It is and was conceived and created in resistance to Eurocentric cultural domination and determination of ways for us to understand, assert and celebrate ourselves and engage the world. And it was conceived and created in reaffirmation of our Africanness as persons and a people and our right and responsibility to be ourselves, free ourselves and celebrate ourselves. Also, Kwanzaa from its inception was an instrument of freedom and thus of our freedom struggle. It provides cultural context and content for us to be our African selves, to raise and cultivate cultural and political consciousness about critical issues facing our people, society and the world. It teaches views, values and practices to enable us to return to our own history and culture in all their richness and relevance and empowering ways to increasingly understand and appreciate ourselves, anchor and orient ourselves and self-consciously direct our lives toward good and expansive ends. And in all of this, Kwanzaa challenges our people to involve themselves in the overarching liberating struggle to build the good community, society and world we all want, work and struggle for and deserve. And Kwanzaa is a celebration of freedom, of the free space we have created to honor ourselves, to remember, reflect and recommit ourselves. It is a celebration of hearts and minds free from self-doubt, self-denial, self-condemnation and self-mutilation, and open to experiencing and embracing a liberated and uplifted spirit of specialness, rooted in and raised up by the shared and sacred good of be-
ing African in and for the world. In the liberation struggle of the 60s, we dared to imagine with Frantz Fanon the face of the future, the possibilities and promise of a new history of humankind, a new world and new men and women to conceive and construct that world. And these new women and men who would reimagine and remake the world, we maintained, would be rooted in values that represent the best of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense And we chose the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) to serve as an overarching framework for the way we lived our lives, did our work and waged the struggle for liberation and other good in the world. These principles focus first on family, community and culture, but they also have an expanded meaning and message for the work we do and the struggle we wage in society and the world. Thus, we must constantly think deeply about them, discuss them, share them and make them a vital and greatly valued part of our daily lives. The principle of Umoja (Unity) calls for a cultivated sense of relatedness and mutual respect, of togetherness in the work and struggle for a shared and inclusive good in our families, communities, society and the world, and for a sense of onenessand responsibility for each other’s good and the well-being of the world. The principle of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) reaffirms the right and responsibility of our people and all others to determine their own destiny and daily lives, to live their lives in freedom and as a unique and equally valid and valuable way of being human in the world and to choose the good and pursue it. The principle of Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) speaks to our shared responsibility to build the good families, communities, society and world we want and deserve to live and flourish in – places of freedom, justice, caring, sharing, security, well-being and peace. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) is the principle of shared work and wealth, distributive equity and justice, the right to a life of dignity and well-being, and the responsibility to care for the earth. The principle and practice of Nia (Purpose) calls for a commitment from us to strive, work and struggle to restore African peoples to their good and rightful place in the world and to the ancient ethical mandate to bring and sustain good in the world as the fundamental mission and meaning of human life. Kuumba (Creativity) is a practice and principle that calls us to commit ourselves to work, strive and struggle to leave our community and the world more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. And thus again, it urges us to honor the ancestral ethical imperative, serudj ta, to reimagine, repair, renew and remake the world. AND FINALLY, THE PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE of Imani (Faith) calls on us to believe in ourselves, in our people in the righteousness and victory of our struggle, in the inclusive good we seek and our capacity to achieve it, share it and leave a rightful and righteous portion of it for those who come after. For as always, this is our duty: to know our past and honor it; to engage our present and improve it; and to imagine a whole new future and to forge it in the most ethical, effective and expansive ways. Heri za Kwanzaa
J.I.V.E. JUICE
Photos by: B2FUL Photography
J.I.V.E. Juice Becomes First Black-Owned Juice Brand to Be Sold in Whole Foods Courtesy of BlackNews.com
and a certified health coach, J.I.V.E. Juice provides organic cold-pressed fruit juices Houston, TX — Just in time and smoothies to support for the busiest shopping sea- a healthy lifestyle. Austin son of the year, J.I.V.E. Juice turned to juicing, nutrition, is now available at Whole meditation and exercise folFoods 365. J.I.V.E Juice lowing a diagnosis of high (Juice Is Very Essential) blood pressure, eventually is the first juice company launching a growing juice owned by an African Amer- delivery service throughout ican to be placed in Whole the Houston metro. Foods. “I truly believe that your health is your wealth, so Founded by Tamala Austin, we are thrilled to bring our author of Love My Body healthy products to the Again: 21-Day Meditation to many Whole Foods fans in Create Your Best Body Now Houston,” Austin said. “I am also honored to be the first African-American owner of a juice company represented at Whole Foods and appreciate their interest in healthy products and delicious juice and smoothies.” Currently, J.I.V.E Juice is available at the 101 North Loop West Whole Foods location in Houston. Customers can enjoy top sellers such as Green Delight, Morning Glory, Energy Blast, Apple Berry Fiber and Sweet Beats. With vegetarian and vegan options, the goal is to help people “learn how to
transition to and maintain a healthy lifestyle that is both pleasurable and sustainable.” Whole Foods quality standards for new products including great-tasting food that is fresh, wholesome and safe to eat as well as free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats. The company seeks out and promotes organically grown foods as well as products that support health and well-being. Founded by Tamala Austin, author of Love My Body Again and a certified health coach by the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, J.I.V.E. Juice offers organic cold-pressed juices and smoothies for delivery and retail. With a focus on making juicing fun and “greening your life with juice,” J.I.V.E. Juice offers vegetarian and vegan products with concentrated enzymes and nutrients. For more information, please visit www.jivejuicecompany. com
black & living
STYLE Black-Owned Fashion Brands to
SHOP
FASHION black & haute
STYLE Black-owned fashion brands are an up-and-coming enterprise. With the help of social media, more and more unique clothing lines are popping up on famous individuals. Plenty of stars are wearing some of this year’s best black-owned clothing lines. Here are 6 black-owned fashion brands that you need to know about:
All Dem’ Shades All Dem’ Shades sells apparel for both men and women. Their bold statement pieces are where fashion meets social movement—celebrate melanin, natural hair, and Black Girl Magic. Their signature “Black and Dope” jean jacket is a statement piece, and they carry plenty of other styles to upgrade your wardrobe. www.alldemshades.com
BLACK
Nubian Skin Founded by Ade Hassa, Nubian Skin is a carefully edited collection of lingerie and hosiery for women of color. One of the best black-owned clothing lines, Hassa’s brand focuses on different shades of nude to empower women and embrace color. You can shop by skin tone and compare your foundation to the nudes that they stock. From fishnets to strapless bras, Nudian Skin is the best choice for your new nude undergarments.
FASHION www.us.nubianskin.com
UNAPOLOGETIC
FASHION
YEMA
Yema and Hawi wanted to start a business dedicated to community service. In 2016, they started their company while they were in college; they wanted to make beautiful products and support the education of children in Africa. Their colorful clothes all have specific meanings: blue for opportunity, yellow for richness, purple for passion, etc. Offering clothes for men and women, YEMA is a brand with a cause.
STYLE www.yemacalif.com
FASHION
Wade the Barber
W
black & haute
By BlackNews.com
Wade Menendez, also known as "Wade the Barber," has been credited for transforming the hair game as a pioneer of creating "man weaves." Those who have a balding scalp run to his Maryland-based barbershop called The W Hair Loft, and it's no surprise that his unique procedure has earned him almost $500,000 in one year! Menendez, a 35-year old African-American man, has been highly acclaimed as an innovator in the field of hair styling. He developed the cranial prosthesis, most commonly known as a “man weave,� which fills a balding scalp with hair -- without the need for a surgery! With the help of another stylist, Menendez developed a simple procedure to install hair to balding scalp. He glues natural and synthetic hair pieces to the scalp and blends it to the remaining natural hair. For over 13 years, he has been in the barber field making impressive cuts to his wide range of clientele. In 2011, he opened his first barbershop in Glen Burnie, Maryland where numerous services are offered. And just four years ago, he added creating man
Photos Courtesy of WadetheBarber.com
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weaves into his portfolio. Aside from being a hairstylist, Menendez also hosts classes where he teaches over 500 hair professionals how to do what he does. Last October, his class gathered stylists and barbers from different areas around the world, including London. “There’s a big demand for [hair units] in the U.K.,” Steve Diligence, who flew from London to Maryland to learn from Menendez firsthand, told Vice News. “People have seen videos from the states, and they say it’s impossible or magic.” Hair weaves or extensions have been a lucrative market, especially to Black women. A market research reports that “nearly six out of 10 black consumers wear a wig, weave or extensions, which enables them to switch up their look.” Menendez has definitely had the advantage because of that market. Last year, he earned more than $400,000 through his business alone. He revealed that he also got a few celebrities among his clients. But he says his achievements aren’t only measured by his profits. “I’m doing this to help other people - and that’s not just with that confidence but helping other people even make money,” Menendez said. “I’m always here to do whatever I can, and I feel like that’s what I’m called on to do, so I’m operating in my purpose and my destiny.” For more information about Wade Menendez and The W Hair Loft, visit www.wadethebarber.com
KH EP ER AH MEET KHEPERAH RAY USD Graduate Finds and Builds Success His Way
black & informed
By Ryan Blystone Photos Courtesy of the University of San Diego
K R Kheperah Ray clearly understands the concept that if you want something to happen, you need to find a way to make it happen. It's a philosophy he's followed since growing up in Chicago. It's a spirit of entrepreneurship he's had since he was a teen. Ray would mow lawns, paint and perform other work tasks to earn money he needed to purchase a video game system he wanted. His job at a hardware store enabled him to save up enough money to purchase a camera he desired. "It was instilled in me and my sister when we were young. We didn't have much," says Ray. "If my parents couldn't do it for us, we knew we had to have alternative ways." Ray's education path has been much of the same. When he made the decision to attend college as a first-generation student, he came west. He landed first in Los Angeles and stayed with a relative. Because of initial financial issues, Ray's dream
Electrical Engineering student Kheperah Ray, second from left, discusses his entrepreneurial product, HIVE Soundz, during the Engineering and Computing Showcase in Spring 2018.
black & informed
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to attend college started first, unofficially, at USC. There, he sat in on large room computer science and engineering classes because he could blend in and learn. At USD, the Electrical Engineering major who finished his official requirements in late December through the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering's unique dual BS/BA degree program, Ray's appetite for learning meant preparing him for what awaits him after graduation: A network engineering job with Cisco that starts in January. Ray’s time at USD, though, began with finding community and sticking with engineering during the earliest and toughest times. He persevered. He took advantage of study abroad opportunities to London, Prague and in Australia. He's been president of USD's chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, been a member of the Black Student Union, was helped by Student Support Services and the Black Student Resource Center, attended alumni career mixers and did Career Development Center's first-ever Torero Trek to Silicon Valley where students toured the area and met representatives from Google, Facebook and Adobe. "I got to ask questions and I was exposed to things I'd never been exposed to before," said Ray about the Torero Trek. "I was like a kid in a candy store." He’s invested a lot of time and thought at USD, learned the importance of time management and utilized the university’s vast resources. "I've gone to other departments on campus to ask to take part and I've sat in on different meetings. It's reflective of my background in business, art and philosophy. There's a campus full of opportunities here and I feel that things are easily accessible, but it's not always communicated that they are. I see different values in different parts of the community. Even in my own community, I've seen disparities absent, such as small business and a lack of innovation that would
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make life easier and it makes me question things more and to have a desire to be informed,” he said. “I think when we come into college and everything seems daunting, you don't know how to move around, but that's actually when you should jump in the deep end. I got involved with clubs and organizations, networked, and I found a core group of friends on campus who’ve consistently held me accountable and pushed me further." Within engineering, it was Venkat Shastri, the De Sanctis Professor of Engineering and Entrepreneurship, who lit a motivational fire. "I'm a really ambitious person and my goal was to start a business before I came out of school," Ray recalls. "My junior year, Venkat said most engineers don't often take the opportunity to start a business while they're in college because they've got too much on their plate and they're spread too thin." Ray came up with HIVE Soundz, an idea in which he aims to have the first portable speaker that gives users the chance to play one unified audio signal via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Shastri wanted to be certain that Ray could stick with it. "I don't think he initially understood what I was wanting to do, but I went and got other students on campus to help bring my idea to fruition," Ray said. Shastri worked with Ray and his group through the engineering school's Renaissance Initiative, a program to help students develop their entrepreneurial skills and ventures through workshops, entrepreneurship modules, courses and by sub-
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mitting the idea for the Senior Design entrepreneurship track, which is a required graduation project Ray did last year. The Renaissance Initiative is championed by Engineering Dean Chell Roberts, PhD. "An entrepreneurial mindset is a skill that differentiates engineering graduates and is highly valued in our growing entrepreneurial economy. This skill is not only valuable for those few that will actually become founders of new companies, but to infuse broader innovation thinking into any company or organization that our graduates join." Ray's desire to create the portable, hexagon-shaped smart speaker that when connected with other portable speakers amplifies sound enough for a surround sound-type environment is ongoing. "Venkat was able to push us to a point where he set the bar higher and instilled in us that we have the ambition to create a product out of HIVE Soundz," Ray said. The passion to create is within Ray and it is something he's not selfish about, either. As a first-generation student developing his path forward, he's equally committed to bringing others along. Dev Jam Labs, a company Ray and his New York-based friend Cameron Flowers co-founded, hosted a one-day conference called Technology, Hustle, Culture 2.0 at USD in October. The conference showcased the dedication to strength and diversity in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and culture to college and high school students. It had an emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics), workshops, pitches, demonstrations, hackathons, performances and gaming tournaments. Ray and Flowers’ contacts across the country flew in to work with budding entrepreneurs and to inspire a local audience. Giving others access to resources does wonders for a community. Kheperah Ray has learned plenty from the USD community and he’s ready to take it to next-level heights. "The community we think we don't have on campus is really here. I focus on community because I'm an advocate for exposure through the community. I've been exposed to a number of things and I'm fortunate to have been in them. To be well-rounded, I think, is some form of change. It goes back to the idea of being a Changemaker. We can all do it. As students, I know we all get bogged down with everything we do, but I know that we can all do it."
Kheperah Ray and Cameron Flowers