20+ Black-Owned Businesses That Are Rooted In Self-Care & Wellness
Sistas, how you feelin'? Brothas, you feel alright? Admittedly, if I had to title this period of my life with a word, I'd use two: "Still processing." When I think of the events that we've endured collectively as a community in these past several weeks, I can only imagine how weary a lot of us must feel - mind, body, and spirit. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, as well as our brothers and sisters taken from us before him at the hands of police brutality, we are tired. As Black people living in America, it's hard not to be in a constant state of being woke. Tired can sometimes feel like the understatement of a century.
This past weekend, news of protests spread like wildfire on our timelines and feeds as protestors gathered to stand in the frontlines and use their voices to roar so mightily it shook the earth to its core. However, everyone isn't built to show support for the cause by being on the frontlines in the action of furthering Black interests. Thankfully, there are still powerful ways to show up and show out, well beyond protesting. Some of those ways include donating to organizations (The Bail Project, Reclaim the Block, and the Atlanta Solidarity Project are a few), using your platform to spread awareness and resources, and using your dollar to help fuel Black communities by buying black.
We here at xoNecole are firm believers in showing support to Black businesses and Black women and will continue to do so. In honor of self-care and needing to use this time to pour a little more into ourselves, we've compiled a directory of 20+ black-owned businesses to show love to that are rooted in self-care and positive well-being. This is by no means an exhaustive list and we will continue to update it as time goes on. Check out them out below.
Mental Health
Green Goddess Glow
Beauty
Koils by Nature
Living
Food
Fitness
Fit Queen
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Originally published on June 3, 2020
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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
Feature image courtesy
These Six-Figure Jobs Are Perfect For Artists And Multi-Talented Free Thinkers
Back in the day, many of us were often told we couldn't really make a good living doing anything creative. There was always this push for a "good, stable job," whether doctor, lawyer, government worker, nurse, or the like. I'd always had a knack for storytelling and writing and while I wasn't outright discouraged by my mom to pursue those things, I wasn't exactly encouraged to do them as a career.
I made the mistake of majoring in business by the time I got to college only to later be rerouted to my first love---exactly what God put me on Earth to do. There are indeed ways you can have a fulfilling and well-paying career as a creative, especially in today's media-saturated world.
And since y'all absolutely ate up the last list of high-paying jobs for creatives we published, let's continue challenging the status quo. Here are a few more options for six-figure jobs for artists and multi-talented free thinkers.
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Online Community Manager
In this role, you can earn up to $118,000 and the duties are diverse. From managing and creating a company’s brand voice and image online to ensuring engagement remains authentic and consistent, you can definitely tap into multiple skills with this role. If you love creating and publishing content on all media platforms, reviewing marketing and social media metrics, and being in charge of the engagement activities of building online communities, this is a fit.
Political Speech Writer
We all see the buzz going for Kamala Harris and her bid for the Democratic nomination to run for president, and what's behind a great campaign are great speech writers. With an annual salary in locales like California, for example, at almost $90,000 along with extra funds for any other speech writing duties that you can charge for, six figures is a feasible salary to make in this role. You'd need a knack for communication, writing, and storytelling in order to thrive.
Interior Designer
If you're a go-getter with an eye, knowledge of trends, and great at project management, get into the creative side of this industry. In certain markets, you can earn up to $111,000 a year as an interior designer. You can land gigs with hospitality, corporate, or private clients or work for a design, architectural, or hospitality firm.
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Campaign Manager
You can earn $100,000 or more per year and work in a variety of industries and sectors, including civil service organizations, marketing agencies, and nonprofits. Depending on your passions, experiences, and skills, the type of industry you choose with this job is up to you. Oftentimes you'll be tasked to craft and communicate messaging and manage the teams that create those messages. Professionals who are in this role often also have marketing, data analysis, and operations skills and have obtained advanced degrees in business administration, communications, digital marketing, or related fields.
Senior Copywriter
From ads to SEO content to commercials, copywriting can be a lucrative career if you love writing, coming up with concepts, and making someone's artistic vision a reality. In some markets, you can earn up to $183,000 per year writing for brands, corporations, nonprofits, or publishing houses. The potential for earning more money goes up when you're a tenacious freelancer with multiple clients.
Game Developer
Gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry, and women of color have the opportunity to disrupt. Annual salaries for this job can vary depending on where you are and your level of experience, and they can go up to $108,000. Some get far simply by taking design courses, while others earn advanced degrees in computer science, programming, and software engineering. If you love creating digital gaming products, have great ideas of games that might be popular, or can incorporate gaming into educational platforms, you might find this a good fit.
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Wedding Photographer
One thing that never changes: People are going to give birth and people are going to get married. It's a timeless tradition that will always entail some sort of capturing of memories. And with people spending an average of $33,000 for a wedding, trust me, people are spending that money.
If you love photography, have special training (especially in graphic arts, photographic design, or photojournalism), and love love, give this a try. You can either set your own prices by the hour or project or work for an events company that specializes in luxury weddings, earning $108,000 per year.
Erotic Fiction Writer
Tapping into this multi-billion-dollar market is not for the faint of heart, but if you believe in your gift, can offer something unique, and can build a loyal community of readers, you've got a six-figure career on your hands. Some writers sell their short stories online via platforms like Amazon KDP, Patreon, and independent publishers, while others release full books through traditional publishers.
Muralist
The market for craft and design creatives is expected to grow into 2032, and that means if you're into doing large-scale unique works of art, it's time to start now. When charging per square foot, the annual salary can easily reach six figures (like this artist), and if you're able to land a few great paying gigs, even better.
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