In the early days when Pangea’s Garden was a project where I explored my own visions of what afrosensuality should look like, there was Naturally Leslie. Her balance of serious insight and lightheartedness made her pearls of wisdom valuable to all who are fortunate to partake. This article originally ran one month after the launch of PangeaGarden.com and the conversation reflected heavily on what ...
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A while back, I paid a visit to earthSista WildOrchid’s place. It was right after she’d gotten a new tattoo, I believe. I was always arguing with her about her hair at the time. She is such a rebel.Anyway, this is just a moment, at her place at the time, on her back deck. Being silly and playful about hair and tattoos. When it comes to art, food, fashion, health, fitness music, culture...
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From TheWire.com Back in April, the military banned several specific hairstyles almost exclusive to black women, including twists, dreadlocks, and several forms of naturally grown hair. The currently available options – straightened (or “relaxed”), wigs, weaves, microbraids, and cornrows – are costly and require hours in a salon. Williams decided to take the issue to the streets, first...
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Sometimes you have to take a moment to step back and embrace your roots. You have to remind yourself that you come, beautifully made. Every time you sport your kinks, your naps, your curls, you turn heads and change perceptions. Rock your curls girls. Be confident, bold and authentic. Never let your self-worth be defined by someone’s opinion of you (They are limited by the confines of a colo...
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Teyonah, initially, came to our attention with her appearance on Mad Men. Sporting a ’60’s style wig and secretarial attire, she joined the staff as the first African-American hired by the fictional ad agency Sterling Cooper Draper Price. Her character’s role broadened the perspective of the, until then, myopic view of culture and society of the ’60’s. But it was at...
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Its called the Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Health & Beauty Show. Can you say the whole name right? Nobella of Nobella’s Lookbook fame attended the 16th Annual Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Health & Beauty Show for the her very first time. And, not only did she have a blast, the attendees (more than 30,000 this year according to the show’s event coordinator, Pat Chapman)...
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Collective inspiration… the sum is far greater than the individual contributions. “I am not going to say much here; the creators of this collection have their own statements. I will say that these images are the culmination of Chi-town artists inspired by an earthSista as their muse. The collective experience is, at times, humorous and tense and always real as they all come together to...
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Growing up there weren't many women around me with natural hair. Of course there were the older women who at some point decided straighting, perming, or curling wasn't worth the hassle but for the most part I grew up in a straight world. "Nappy rarely meant happy", after all there was the wash, grease, and hot comb routine, or you were hotly permed into flat head submission.
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Erikka, the Earth Angel My good friend had a sample from a company selling natural pregnancy and birthing products. Their slogan was : Earth mama, Angel baby. I combined the two and Earth Angel was born. It seemed fitting. I wanted to be a supermodel. I love the camera and the camera loves me. Even as a child, my mother tells me. The types of images I felt I needed to produce were run-of-the-mill,...
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I moved to Atlanta almost three years ago convinced that the Deep South’s biggest “black” city would give me a home with a black cultural pulse unlike any other. She hasn’t disappointed me yet; from historically black orchestras to Sweet Auburn (which is this weekend!) to the newly reinstated Freaknik, Atlanta continually showcases the vibrant creativity we possess. When ...
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