What Are You Reading?

Hi there and HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!! This really is my favorite time of the year other than August and September, my husband and I's birthday months. Currently I'm very blessed and fortunate to have my grandparents still alive and with me today. I just love talking to them about the past, about the civil rights movement and the contributions they made to see a brighter tomorrow. Talking to them inspires and empowers me to make sure that while I'm young and able to make sure I am paving a way for the future as well. It's crazy to sit back and think that in Indianapolis, my hometown, my grandparents would have to order and pick up their food from the back of the diner or else they would not be served. We've come a long way but we have sooooo far to go. For me Blackness is celebrated year round but in this moment for this month in this year and years to come we need to go big, be bold and laugh out loud. This is our history, Americas history, your future.

With penetrating change and moving ideas forward comes education. Now I'm not saying you have to go out here and have all of the degrees in the world lol... not knocking education because I think going to college is the best experience in the world! BUT going to college isn't for everyone. I'm talking about self knowledge and self education. For years slaves were not allowed to read because it was forbidden by their slave owners and by the law. The owners also feared if the slave gained knowledge through reading and education they would overtake the power that owners had in the government and would loosen the social control they had over the slaves. You know the phrase "knowledge is power"?? Yeah. Check out this clip below from one of my favorite Denzel movies, "The Great Debaters", Righteous Mind.

Knowing that I am so blessed to have the opportunities that so many others before me didn't have I will not ignore this blessing or take it for granted. I'm honestly embarrassed to say I can't remember the last time I sat down and read a good book from start to finish. Last year I made a vow that I would read more... what happened, I started a book and never finished. I'm the first to listen to the newest album, check out the newest film or TV show but reading isn't part of my agenda. Well today I am taking ownership to make sure I gain control of my mental state of well being and to not take the privilege of reading and self education for granted.

When I graduated from graduate school and left my internship at Scout Digital, Ernest Bannister, who at the time was the account supervisor at LaForce, gave me the best piece of advice that I still carry with me to this day. That advice was to "Read. Read. Read. Read EVERYTHING." I did a past blog post on this very piece of advice. Check it out here.

That advice stuck with me but there is never any action behind it. Well being it Black History Month I wanted to put action behind these words. Not only that I needed a Black History Month outfit! I got this oversized T-shirt dress from Boohoo and I love layers so to add print I added my plaid black and white chuck on jacket. Nothing says African and Black like Kente cloth so yes Kente cloth for the win lol. The colors in the Kente print also styled well with the color of my T-shirt dress so it was perfect. Of course gold was my accent and accessory color. The main star of this show was my tote bag... this is one of my beloved prized possessions!!! This bag, "All Black Girl Everything", was designed and curated by my really good friend Ashley Chew. This bag started with her... just one bag shown during street style in NYC and now all models and designers are sporting this bag. My photographer and I choose the library to shoot. No better space! Just being inside of a library every once and a while feels good. With technology being at the forefront, hard back books get no love! So to the library we went.

I have neglected some of the things that my ancestors before only wish they had. From here forward I am promising to take better care of my mind. Finding moments on my train commute to work, on my lunch break or before bed where I can pick up a book instead of picking up my cell phone. Knowledge is truly power! Currently I am committing to reading "The New Jim Crow". I know I know... I said last year I was going to read this exact same book lol!!! But for real I'm reading it this time. What is even more exciting about this time is that I will have a support system. As soon as I am done reading it my husband said he will read it as well so we can have a great discussion about it. He knows how I love to watch or read something empowering and having stimulating conversations about it lol...

So I'm curious... What are you reading Kings and Queens!? Please share below in the comments.

See you all soon!

Next time I'll be blogging about a jump start accessory brand in my hometown, I'm sorry I meant my favorite town from NYC lol. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe so you never miss a post!

Be Well. Be Great.

-K

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