‘Harlem’ Season 2 Is The Feel-Good Binge You Need
If you haven’t heard yet, this weekend was all about the second season of Amazon Prime’s Harlem, and it was a good time. The series jumped in and answered many of the questions left in the wind from the first season, and it's a fun set-up for what’s to come. What I enjoyed most about it is that it touches on personal struggles that many of us deal with in a way that feels funny and lighthearted.
What happens when your best friend is dating someone new and it could affect your friendship? Or what’s it like when you have an image of yourself but realize your actions don't align with it? That can be a lot to take in. But the Harlem crew does it with flair – okay, maybe not flair. But the girl gang definitely makes us feel like we're not the only ones going through life's crazy moments, and that I can appreciate.
Wanna know more? Here are 5 things we enjoy about the start of the new season of Harlem. Spoilers ahead.
The Eye Candy
While walking down the street, Angie (Shoniqua Shandai) meets a faux psychic who promises she will “make love to the most handsome man in New York and wonderful things would follow.” It doesn’t take long for her to put this theory to the test, and it’s fun to be a fly on the wall as she tries it out. It starts when she ditches the crew and leaves with a handsome pedicurist. Later, when she’s in his room, it's clear they had great sex and even decide to go for an encore. But it still doesn’t deter her from flirting with his roommate and suggesting he meet her “identical twin.”
Spoiler alert: she doesn’t have a twin, but they don’t know that.
The Feels
I love romance, and there’s nothing like a genuine connection. When we see Quinn (Grace Byers) and Isabela together, their passion is unmistakable. Quinn is her normal quirky self and understandably feels nervous about her first “lady date” (her words, not mine), but Isabela seems to like her all the more for it, and it leads to more than eight orgasms and a beautiful chemistry worth rooting for. Unfortunately, it gets complicated as things progress.
Camille (Meagan Good) is on a mission to right her wrongs. She attempts to get her job back only to re-quit. Also, she officially breaks it off with Jamison after he admits to staying in NYC for their relationship. Camille even accidentally faces Mira, who rightfully calls her out on her selfish decision to kiss Ian the night before their wedding. Still, through all of their mess, you can’t help but smile when Ian (Tyler Lepley) and Camille are together. “You are the man I want to be the best for and the one who's seen me at my worst.” When she said that to him, I think I actually said “aww” out loud. You just can’t help but root for them and their messiness.
The Accountability
Honesty is the best policy, and while the girls may struggle with it in their actions, they count on each other to hold them accountable. When Tye (Jerrie Johnson) reveals her surprise husband alluded to the fact that she has issues with commitment, the women don't deny it. In fact, later, when Quinn and Tye are in the sex store, she even bluntly asks her, “What are you so scared of?" It noticeably affects Tye, and she quickly avoids the question. Real friends care enough to hold you accountable. Harlem was a friendly reminder of that.
The Authenticity
In the words of Issa Rae, I’m rooting for everybody Black, and I appreciate that this show continues to show varied dynamics of multilayered Black women. From the fashion and beauty looks to the conversations and careers, you can tell Black women are not only in front of the camera but behind it, and I'll always support that.
The Sisterhood
Lastly is the characters' connection, which might be my favorite element of the series. As unique as the women are, their bond is beautifully the same. We all deserve a tribe that encourages, empathizes, and supports us. Harlem shows this in such a genuine and relatable way that reminds me of how blessed I am for my own tribe.
Harlem is streaming now on Amazon Prime.
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Feature image by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for Prime Video
- ‘Harlem’ Star Jerrie Johnson On The Act Of Self-Choosing & Following Her Desires ›
- 'Harlem' Presents A Refreshing, New Take On Black Male Bisexuality ›
- 'Harlem' Star Robert Ri’chard Talks His Biggest Dating Deal-Breaker ›
- Meagan Good Stars In New Comedy About Best Friends In Their Thirties Still Trying To Figure It Out ›
Kirby Carroll grew up in VA but now calls Atlanta, GA home. She has a passion for creating content and helping brands grow through storytelling and public relations. When not immersed in work, you can find her sipping a mimosa at brunch or bingeing a new TV drama on Netflix. Keep up with her on social media at @askKirbyCarroll.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
We all have a dream life that we spend our free time daydreaming about. You know, the one with a loving partner, high-rise apartment, thriving career, and endless abundance. But as much as we can dream about it, there has to be a little extra sprinkle of “magic” to make it become a reality, and that’s when manifestation comes in.
The uptick in manifestation techniques is nothing new to the internet. Since The Secret and the Law of Attraction became available on YouTube in the early 2010s and fast forward to today, where #manifestationtok and #spiritualtok surging in popularity, it’s clear that there are a number of different ways to get what you want out of life with the right action, affirmation, and visualization.
Still, with so many ways to manifest, from scripting to the 3-6-9 Method, it can be hard to know which one to lean into. But there’s one new technique that’s promising to yield “instant results,” and we’re curious about it.
The "I Am Sure" Manifestation
@hothighpriestess Replying to @A I M E E 🖤 lG: hothighpriestess 🤍 this is the “I am sure” method #iamsuremethod
The “I Am Sure” manifestation gained traction this summer by TikTok creator Sara Perl of @hothighpriestess, who initially introduced the method.
In her original video breaking down the concept, she detailed the steps to use the technique for those looking to “manifest overnight.” To do so, start by stating “I am sure,” followed by “your desired manifestation in the present tense.” If there’s a job, promotion, or text from a crush that you want, then you’d say, “I am sure that I got X job,” or “I am sure that I make a $100K salary.” Repeat this out loud 10 times, or for faster results, write them down on a piece of paper and say it back to yourself whenever the desire comes up.
Using your words and speaking in the present tense, affirmatively, “puts you in the frequency that has that desire,” as Perl states. “We know our thoughts create our reality, but our words create our reality even faster.”
No matter how you choose to manifest your dream life, there’s nothing like channeling a powerful affirmation and some faith to get what you desire. In every instance, though, allow yourself to dismiss any doubt that may try to cloud your hopes in good things coming into your life, and don’t hold too tightly onto the “how” or “when.” Trust the process and know that the “thing” that you desire is just waiting for the perfect time to enter your life.
Happy manifesting.
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