2020 was not easy on the Black community. The murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, protests, looting in underserved Black communities, and Black-owned businesses on the rocks. Black people need to be supported in many areas, but a great place to start is by supporting Black-owned businesses.
If you're not trying to heal, you're doing it wrong. Right now is the perfect time to start your wellness journey. Meditations, long walks, and journaling has helped me survive this year. As my overall well-being began to elevate, so did my spirit. I decided then it was time to truly invest in reconnecting with my higher self. Reconnect with your mind, body, and soul with these Black-owned wellness brand.
Movita Organics
Movita Organics is a certified organic supplement for women. The owner of Movita Organics, Tonya Lewis Lee, is an advocate for both women and infant health. Movita Organics has a supplement for every woman's need, including prenatal vitamins. According to Harvard Public Health, Black women are four times more likely than white women to have complications during pregnancy. These complications most of the time lead to death mainly among women in underserved communities. Movita Organics is pushing forward to protect Black mothers and Black women's health. The supplement brand also includes vitamins for beauty and daily health.
GirlTrek
When you're first starting your wellness healing journey, it can feel lonely at times. If you're looking to join a movement of like-minded women, then GirlTrek is the community for you. GirlTrek is a public health non-profit for Black women and girls. GirlTrek's mission is to inspire women to reclaim healthy living by walking. They have also encouraged Black women towards careers in health and wellness. Providing world-class training for women to excel in professions like mental health, nutrition, fitness, and more. Walk towards your healing and check out GirlTrek today!
GOLDE
Golde's is the place where superfoods and beauty meet. This Black-owned wellness brand has been taking the industry by storm since 2017. The owner of this self-funded brand is Trinity Mouzon. She and her long-time boyfriend founded the brand at the age of 23. The brand sells rich superfood blends that range from cacao turmeric, matcha turmeric, and original. They also have two organic super-food face masks: Papaya and super-food greens. If you're having a hard time deciding what product to try first, no worries! They also sell kits
Ivy's Tea Co.
Ivy's Tea Co. is where tea and hip-hop meet. Herbalist Shanae Jones launched the organic tea brand in 2016. Shanae pays homage to black culture through her tea. Some of the names of the teas include "Sister-Sister", "C.R.E.A.M", "Blow", and "Nip's Tea" honoring the late Nipsey Hustle. The affordable holistic brand also sells raw, natural, and organic herbal-infused honey (yum!). The names of the honey add even more flavor: "So Icy", "Side Piece", "Crime", and "Shmoney" to name a few.
Herb'N Eden
If you're all about a self-care Sunday routine, then this next brand is for you. Herb'N Eden is an all-natural herbal soap and body care brand crafted with excellence. Their products are made with exclusive botanical ingredients to enhance and honor the skin. Herb'N Eden's products are also plant-based and highly beneficial for all skin types. We assure you your skincare prayers will be answered with Herb'N Eden
NaturalAnnie Essentials
Looking for the perfect scent to set the mood in your home? Annie's candles are essential to set any mood. Her soy crafted candles will have you all the way, relaxed sis. She recently released Brown Sugar Rum candles just in time for the holiday season. If you're thinking about purchasing their amazing holiday scented candles better act fast! She frequently sells out. You can always purchase NaturalAnnie Essentials fun quote candles. Her "Currently Overthinking" and "Get Shit Done" candles are my new current fave.
Goodnight Darling Co.
Calling all sleep lovers! We just found your new favorite brand to support. Goodnight Darling Co. is everything you need for a good night's rest. Their beauty, wellness, and herbal apothecary are dedicated to helping women sleep well, starting with a nice bath. Detox bath soaks, herbal tea blends, relaxing pillow spray, and a plush soft fleece are some of the many products currently available for purchase. If you're overdue for a nap, Goodnight Darling Co. will have you feeling all the way good.
Homebody
Due to 2020 being messy, I think we have all embraced our true inner Homebody. This modern wellness brand will have you canceling all of your plans. Homebody is dedicated to those who are suffering from pain, stress, mood swings, or just plain ole "my non-existent cat is sick, so I can't go out tonight" syndrome. Their bath soak product is infused with CBD, vitamins and amethyst to help anyone struggling with mental health issues. The bath soaks may also double as fun-colored face mask.
A Little Wellness
OK, so maybe you don't need a whole lot of wellness, but just a little bit of wellness. A little wellness is a small Etsy stop shop for a gentle amount of care into your dietary routine. The brand began with female DJ Crystal DeVone and her passion for wellness. Her most popular product is her infused sea moss. Sea moss-infused selections range from Elderberry (for your immune system), Moringa (best for skin, hair, liver, and mood disorder to name a few), and Burdock (a powerhouse when it comes to antioxidants). These infused sea mosses are perfect for your morning smoothie.
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
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Colman Domingo’s Career Advice Is A Reminder That Our Words Shape Our Reality
When it comes to life, we are always here for a good reminder to shift our mindsets, and Colman Domingo just gave us one we didn't know we needed.
In a resurfaced clip from an appearance at NewFest shared as a repost via Micheaux Film Festival, the Emmy award winner dropped a gem on how he has navigated his decades-spanning career in Hollywood. The gem in question? Well, Colman has never identified with "struggle" in his career. Let that sit.
Colman Domingo On Not Claiming Struggle
"I’ve never said that this career was tough. I’ve never said it was difficult. I’ve never said it was hard," Colman said. "Other people would say that—‘oh, you're in a very difficult industry. It's very hard to get work and book work.’ I’m like, I’ve never believed that."
Instead of allowing himself to be defined by other people's projections about their perceptions of what the industry is or was, Colman dared to believe differently even if his reality was playing catch up with his dreams:
"Like Maya Angelou said words are things. And if you believe that, then that's actually what it is. Actually I've just never believed it. Someone told me some years ago, they said, 'I remember you were, you're a struggling actor.' I'm like, 'I don't.'"
"I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living..."
He continued:
"Even when I was bartending and hustling and not having opportunities or anything, I never believed that I was struggling because I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living and creating and being curious."
Colman’s philosophy of attaching to living instead of struggle has blossomed into an enduring career. He first made his mark on stage in acclaimed Broadway productions before transitioning to the screen, where his star began to rise in the 2010s following his role as Victor Strand in Fear The Walking Dead. From there, his presence only grew, landing memorable supporting roles in If Beale Street Could Talk, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and the hit series Euphoria.
In more recent years, Colman has stepped fully into the spotlight with standout leading performances in Rustin and Sing Sing, both of which earned him widespread critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations for Best Actor.
With all that said, Colman's advice is no doubt powerful, especially for those who are chasing their dreams, building something from the ground up, or have question marks about what's next in their careers. Words shape our realities, and how we speak about our journeys even in passing matters.
Words Create Our Reality & Colman Is Living Proof
"I tell young people that. To remember the words that you say about yourself and your career are true. So, I choose to make it full of light and love and it's interesting and every day I'm going to learn something new even if it looks like I don't have what I want but it's important to be in the moment... you really build on the moments moment to moment.
"And you're looking back at your career as I've been in it for what 33 years and you're like, 'Wow, that's what I've been doing.' And I've stayed strong to that so I think that is truly my advice."
Let this be your sign to give your path a reframe. When the path you're on feels uncertain, the journey is still unfolding. Like Colman said: "I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living."
That's a Black king right there.
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