What to do this week: Support Black businesses and creators
What to buy
What: UOMA Beauty
Where: UOMA Beauty
Who: Sharon Chuter is the founder, CEO, and creative director of UOMA Beauty. According to WWD, she is one of the 50 most forward-thinking executives influencing the beauty industry. In addition to UOMA Beauty, she worked with beauty and consumer brands, such as Revlon, L’Oreal, PepsiCo, GSK, and Benefit Cosmetics.
Description: UOMA Beauty products center around diversity and inclusivity of all skin types, with their range stated as being “rebellious, innovative and created for all.” All of their products are cruelty-free and 100% vegetarian.
What: NolaSkinsentials
Where: NolaSkinsentials
Who: Jane created and launched NolaSkinsentials in February 2017. She currently lives in Queens and is continuing her education as a pre-med by majoring in biology and minoring in business.
Description: NolaSkinsentials are entirely plant-based, cruelty-free skincare products that are made at home and in small batches. The skincare products are meant to benefit all skin tones and types.
What: Fly by knight
Where: Fly by Knight
Who: Jamilah Knight is the brand creator of Fly by Knight. She is a Brooklyn based graphic and fashion designer with a BFA in Fashion Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology. In addition to Fly by Knight, Knight also does freelance projects.
Description: Fly by Knight was established in Brooklyn, NY, in 2016 as a brand that celebrates women of color. The commitment of the brand to spreading positivity among women of color radiates in the brand’s choice for the acronym of the word “Fly” in their name: First Love Yourself.
Where to Eat
What: Dune & Bluff’s
Where: 36 Water Street, New Shoreham, Rhode Island
When: Monday-Sunday 8am-10pm
Description: Located on Block Island, Dune & Bluff’s is a coffee and gelato shop. While going here requires a ferry trip, the flavorful and big-bodied coffees, irresistible gelato cookie sandwiches, and the idyllic surroundings of Block Island make the trip worthwhile. AND the shop is founded and run by a junior at Brown: Chaz Vest.
What to listen to
Who: R.A.P Ferreria / milo
Where: Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud
Description: A rapper and producer of philosophy-driven, poetry-like songs, R.A.P. Ferrerira, also known as milo and Scallops Hotel, is from Kenosha, Wisconsin, and currently lives in Maine. Throughout high school, Ferreira was constantly working on hip hop. He attended college in northern Wisconsin and studied philosophy, but he soon dropped out and began to focus on his musical career, with his first official album, A Toothpaste Suburb, released in September 2014.
What to read
What: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Who: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer of novels, short stories, and nonfiction. She published her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, in 2003, and since then has written and published Half of a Yellow Sun, The Thing Around Your Neck, Americanah, We Should All Be Feminists, and Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions. Her work has been published in over 30 languages.
Where: Reparations Club Bookstore
Description: Ifemelu is a young woman from Nigeria who immigrates to the United States to attend university. Back home in Nigeria is her boyfriend, Obinze, who wants to join Ifemelu in the United States but is unable to because of post-9/11 restrictions and instead goes to London. The novel looks at both Ifemelu’s life in Nigeria and her life in the United States--the latter of which forces her to struggle with being Black and becoming Americanized.
What to watch
What: Hair Love
Where: Hair Love
Who: Matthew A. Cherry is an Academy Award winning filmmaker. Cherry has directed music videos for a multitude of artists and worked on several films, including “BlackKklansman.” Prior to beginning his film career in 2007, he was an NFL wide receiver.
Description: Hair Love is a 7 minute animated short film meant to expand representation and to promote hair love among men and women of color. This is done by telling the story of Black father Stephen, his daughter Zuri, and her hair. While Zuri’s mom usually does Zuri’s hair, she is unavailable one night, so Stephen must figure out how to style Zuri’s hair.
What to play
What: Tiny Bird Garden
Where: Steam, iOS, Android
Who: Super Retro Duck (a Black husband and wife game developer team)
Description: Super Retro Duck initially released Tiny Bird Garden in 2017 as a virtual pet simulator centered around a customizable bird garden. As you customize your garden with toys and seeds, these endearing Tiny Birds visit your garden. A deluxe version of the game--which includes a twelve chapter story mode--is on Steam.
Where to donate
What: Rebuilding Kenosha, Wisconsin Uptown Area
Where: GoFundMe
Who: The organizer of this fundraiser is Nathan Upham, a Kenosha resident. Upham has recently been involved in organizing protests and community action in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Much of his work can be found on his instagram @nateflandersisdead and also on @newwolrdorderinc, a group meant to promote community development and multidisciplinary creative venues.
Description: After the attempted murder of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, parts of the city and its small businesses were destroyed. This GoFundMe focuses on locally owned and Black/POC businesses in the Uptown area. The top priority of the GoFundMe is to connect the community with food.
