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Black Book LA: The Black Millennial's Guide To Los Angeles
I moved to Los Angeles less than a month ago and, upon arrival, I began to feel the cloud of overwhelm reach around my shoulders and whisper into my ear salty nothings.
Intimidation became a twin to my anxiety and I began to second-guess my decision. My craving for being around Blackness, feeling like I am connected to something other than the phone in my hand, and hungry for connection.
I decided to sell all of my things and pack my bags to move to Los Angeles to pursue my goals and plant my seeds in a community where I could be watered - culturally, spiritually, and mentally. Now that I am here, I am often looking over my shoulder, in digital threads for belonging, and in the small nooks of the city for women and men who also hear their own echoes of desire under a California moon.
How can one complain about the beach in their own backyard?
I am finding that I prefer the waters in my vicinity to be of depth and not shallow reminders of only dipping my toes into the abyss of life. I want to be around Blackness that is bold and carefree, who want to share memories of song, and laugh in the face of our plights. I crave game nights and museum exhibits and dance parties that remind us of our beauty.
Because it was not explicit in its presence, I was beginning to feel helpless in the pursuit of a tribe. I found myself questioning, "Where the HELL are all the Black people in LA?!"
And then alas, after tireless scrolling and Google searches, I came across the precious gem that is Black Book LA.
Black Book LA is a network and curated directory of the top events, spaces, and places for Black folk in Los Angeles. It's described as "the Black millennial's guide to Los Angeles."
From the outside looking in, one can look at LA and then scoff at the person who is claiming to feel "out of the loop" or "isolated" in such a city that is rich with so many people. But, through conversations with other young Black professionals and creatives who moved out to the City of Angels for a similar goal, it can sometimes feel like it is hard to paint the city with your colors or find the right tribe. Thus, Black Book LA is the exact compass a millennial woman-of-color needs to navigate this grandiose and yet obscure metropolis.
The name of the game is building a stronger community and Black Book LA aims to do so with a platform that curates everything from the best events and businesses, to the best places to live and work connections.
So far, it's succeeding.
On the @BlackBookLA website, they carefully crafted a directory to all of the Black-owned businesses in Los Angeles. And with their weekly newsletter, they direct you to all of the Black-created events in LA; the types of events range from wellness, to entertainment and career networking. Blackness is not monolithic and their website certainly appeals to all diagonals of the diaspora.
One of the creators of Black Book LA, Makiah Green, is a writer that sought to create the directory out of a need for representation, for others who looked like her, for the feeling of belonging to something that mirrored her own interests. Raised by LA - Compton to be exact - she felt the need to redefine her environment post-grad school. There was a genuineness missing; a genuineness that you feel around others who empathize with you and your story. "I rediscovered LA all over again," she said. "It made me want to know where all the real people are. I wanted more genuine people in my life and real connections."
She met Tyree Boyd-Pates through a mutual friend and the two instantly connected on the idea. It started with just a Squarespace landing page for people to sign up for newsletter updates. From 100 subscribers to 20,000 subscribers, their growth is a testament to dedication and intentional consistency in work that's even bigger than you.
As someone who came across her page in search for community, I got excited about a Black Panther party, as well as a healing yoga session for Black women. But being that I have my priorities straight so far in 2018, I was most excited about their housing network and job directory network on Facebook. It's evident that Black Book LA is not only about connecting Black folx but about providing essential services for them to prosper and grow.
"I made it a point to carve out community for self, and also cultivate community for others," Makiah said.
I admire Makiah's work with Black Book LA and her drive to not only create a world for the people of color out here in LA, but empower women in the process.
Makiah had some encouraging words of advice for budding entrepreneurs and community empowerment. "Don't look up, look around. There is brilliance all around you. Look around and acknowledge it. Who is in similar realms that you can build and grind with? That is how you make those real connections. It's not just about how can I help myself, but who can I help in the process?"
Coming across BBBLA feels like Makiah is saying "I see you" in a city that can leave one feeling otherwise invisible. She is truly filling the gaps for young Black women to find representation and curating the awareness that the city needs. I'm finding dope women who feed my soul, one event at a time. And who knows, maybe one day, my young black King will follow.
Follow Makiah on Twitter and be sure to check out the Black Book LA directory here.
Featured image by Getty Images
Olivia Jade is a writer and creative engineer, intersecting wellness, culture, womanism, and self-development. She waters the flowers in her mind so others can recognize their own internal garden. Link up: @akaoliviajade (Twitter and IG) oliviajade.co
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
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When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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