the kids are alright 👭

Aug 05, 2020

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#WednesdayWisdom

"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." — Audre Lorde

Morning Musings

What I didn't mention in last week's newsletter about our Milwaukee getaway was the text that made me smile and had me smiling from ear to ear.

I was chilling in bed mindlessly scrolling, waiting for husbae to return to our Airbnb with brunch when my friend Anuli shared a text in the group chat about her little sister's new project, GenZHer, a student-led, Gen Z-powered peer-to-peer mentorship program and digital media platform.

When I tell y'all I nearly cried! Below: live footage of me cheering on Ziki, the group chat's collective little sister.

I mean, the mission. The branding. The GLOBAL REACH. To date, 115+ girls have been mentored across 20+ countries and there are 15+ teen writers. We have no choice but to stan.

Interestingly enough, I was leading a session with a group of Gen Z students last week about how to use digital resources to elevate impact. Talk about perfect timing. Naturally I pointed to GenZHer as a shining example of how to do just that.

And the questions these students asked were SO. GOOD! Questions such as how to maintain digital boundaries, what to do about comparing yourself to strangers (and friends, let's be real) on the internet, and how to navigate a career path (pro tip: it's more of a squiggly line full of ups and downs than a linear one).

I told them the sooner they master the skills, the better off they are and the further along they'll be compared to us old millennials when we were their age (granted, social media didn't exist back then and thank the high heavens it did not!).

I've always maintained that Gen Z is the cooler generation and they've definitely taught me a thing or two (or three) about intersectionality. In fact, one of my mentees and former Girl Scouts Eva Lewis taught me about intersectional feminism, has taught me a LOT since then and I continue to learn so much from her to this day.

If you want to learn more about Gen Z, subscribe to gen yeet, an incredible newsletter by journalist Terry Nguyen. The youth is smart and they are not here for the b.s. The kids really are alright.

Love,
L'Oreal

Cool Opps

Aug. 7: The Unapologetic Retreat. I'll be joining 40+ other phenomenal Black creatives, entrepreneurs and thought leaders at this virtual retreat. ($50 ... save $10 with the promo code LOREAL10)

Aug. 28: Mind Mapping to Heal From Impostor Syndrome. And another one featuring yours truly, this time in collaboration with Vanessa Flowers of Flower Girls Meet and Karen Spears of Kareacter Creative Studio. (FREE)

Links I Love

1. 'Black Women Need to Unlearn the Pattern of Martyrdom.' As a Black woman who is constantly doing THEE most, I enjoyed reading this interview with activist and author Adrienne Maree Brown. (ZORA)

2. The Magic of Black Girls' Play. I could never quite got the hang of hand-clapping game-songs and Double Dutch as a kid, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating them as a time-honored part of the culture. (New York Times)

3. I Can't Be a Writer If I Don't Write Every Day. Wise words from Jasmine Guillory, one of my all-time favorite writers. (The Cut)

My Latest Obsession

You weren't really expecting anything but Black Is King, were you? I didn't think so. If you've been subscribed to this newsletter for any amount of time, then you already know it's basically a Beyoncé fan account. So this praise should come as no surprise.

Last year, I raved about The Lion King: The Gift, the companion album to The Lion King live action soundtrack. I've been listening to it on repeat ever since. I mean, how can you not? I loved the behind-the-scenes doc Bey shared with us last year, but have always been craving more.

Black Is King, a visual album, delivers. I may or may not have sobbed throughout BROWN SKIN GIRL because it essentially epitomizes #BlackGirlMagic. It's always been one of my faves from the album, but seeing the visual depiction and the representation of Black beauty in all shades really struck a chord with me. Like, where was this song and video when I was younger and internalized so much self-hate about being a Black girl? #ALLtheFeels

Now Hiring

Social Media Manager for Black Futures Lab
Director of Content for Beyond 12
Individual Giving and Campaign Manager for Chicago Foundation for Women
Strategic Partnerships Manager, Shopping for Instagram
Cultural Impact Communications Manager for The Martin Agency
Program Manager for the National Associate of Women Lawyers
Director, Creator Communications and Content Marketing for YouTube
Digital Advocacy and Fundraising Manager for Amnesty International

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