This accurately sums up my weekend. How was yours? This accurately sums up my weekend. How was yours?
It’s been a challenge to find joy this week. But It’s been a challenge to find joy this week. But Black Joy has been my mission. Most of the people in my life have been overwhelmed and exhausted by constant grief, fear, and disrespect. Many of us have been reminded of the times we were pulled over by cops for driving while Black or the times we’ve feared for our parents, siblings, children, cousins, and other friends and family members. Sometimes it feels like we are all stuck in this cycle, doomed to witness and experience Black suffering and trauma forever. I have to constantly remind myself that times haven’t changed but we ARE changing things. We have to. And until those changes really take place permanently, I’m choosing Black Joy whenever I can. Because Black Joy is resistance. 

Here’s where I was able to find joy this week:

🤍 Interviewing @majorcreates + @tiffanydbrown_, two dynamic and talented  Black women for @heartandhustlepodcast.

🤍 Long chats with @studio404design about everything under the sun. 

🤍 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and how unapologetically Black it is. 

🤍 Texting Marvel memes back and forth with @mmalikaj who is FINALLY obsessed with Marvel. My hard work has paid off! 👏🏽

🤍 Trying to recreate @eatatbento at home since we live in DC now. 

🤍 Reading The Gilded Ones. 

🤍 Knowing that @bohemianseoul is moving east! 

If you are Black, where did you find joy this week? If you aren’t Black, we’re you able to bring joy to a person who is Black this week or amplify a voice celebrating Black joy?
We receive hate, lies, injustice, and death. But We receive hate, lies, injustice, and death. 

But we deserve joy.

So many of us are reaching new levels of exhaustion because of the continued attacks on our community by those who are being paid to protect us. There are some days where our situation feels impossible. On those days, please take the time out to do one small thing that brings you joy. As Black people, we have to experience and carry so much trauma while living in this country. But we deserve joy. We deserve joy.
I’ve been spending every free moment chasing gor I’ve been spending every free moment chasing gorgeous blooms. I know they don’t last long so I’m trying to enjoy them as much as a can while they are here. It’s a great reminder to live in the moment and enjoy your life right now.
Lately I’ve been meditating, manifesting, and do Lately I’ve been meditating, manifesting, and doing a little bit of yoga before I even get out of bed. Yes, you heard that right, I do bed yoga. Doing these simple things before I leave the comfort of my bed have really been helping me feel like I can take on anything during the day. Do you do anything special in the morning that makes you feel more equipped to handle the day?
I’m so happy that the weather is consistently co I’m so happy that the weather is consistently cooperating and we can get out to explore more! I’m usually a homebody but being stuck inside this past winter has really made me appreciate every good weather day so much more than I ever have before. The best thing about being in a new city is that everything is new to me so even staying close to home feels like an adventure.
Drinking my way through Orlando with all the best Drinking my way through Orlando with all the best teas!🧋
Home is whenever I’m with you. 🤍🍵 @qreatec Home is whenever I’m with you. 🤍🍵 @qreatecoffee
Happy first day of spring! Most of the blooms aren Happy first day of spring! Most of the blooms aren’t out yet in the DC area but that didn’t stop us from spending every moment we could outside today. I am SO happy that winter is officially over and I can’t wait to twirl around under cherry blossoms in a few weeks.
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Personal · July 8, 2016

No Justice No Peace

black-lives-matter

image source

It’s an exhausting week to be black in America.

There are certain things that you deal with on a regular basis when you are black that white people don’t ever think about. For example, I know that at any moment, a white person may walk up to me without saying a word and touch my hair as if I am some sort of zoo exhibit (yes, this has happened to me more than once). I know that people who I think are friends may make racist statements in front of me and then act confused when I am upset by it. I know that if I get upset in any way there are white people who may say things to me like, “Oh no, she’s getting mad! The black side is coming out!”

This is just a tiny fraction of my experience as a black woman.

When I get together with my black friends, we share our stories and try to make sense of them. Some of them mirror mine. Some of them are less common but just as bizarre such as my friend’s experience on her Ivy League college campus of being asked by a white student if black people can drink and properly digest milk. Some are more violent like my friend who was maced at 16 years old while minding his own business and walking home from his part time job.

At this point, I don’t have one black friend who hasn’t experienced some form of racism. We navigate through our daily lives with the knowledge that we must work harder to achieve the same success as those who do not have black skin. We know that we will not be shielded from witnessing the murders of people who look like us in the same way that videos of white people being murdered are blocked and banned from our screens. We know that a routine traffic stop for an expired tag or a broken tail light might lead to our demise. We know that for us, working, running, smoking, talking, walking, and breathing can be a death sentence.

Yet, as early as a few months ago, a distant friend on Facebook, who is white, expressed shock over learning that some of her black friends “still” experience racism. Those of us who are black know that racism has never stopped. When we would try to bring it up we were told that we were “playing the black card”. We are just “angry black women” who can’t “take a joke”.

black-lives-matter (1)

image source

For some reason, a black person telling a white person that we are experiencing racism, that we are afraid for our lives and the lives of our families and friends, that the victim did not deserve to be murdered, is often not enough. For some reason videos must be watched, white people must be able to see it first hand.

I have said it before and I will say it again. We experience racism and it happens often. Many of us are tired and fed up. Many of us are scared.

I fully believe that in order to overthrow the system of white supremacy and bring real equality to all people, we must work together. I believe that white people standing up, speaking out, and being active is indispensable to the movement. If you are white and you have been afraid to speak out before, stop being afraid. Listen first, then take action.

If you are black and you have been afraid to speak out about your experiences, now is the time to put those fears aside. Your voice matters, your pain matters, YOU MATTER.

Don’t ever let anyone make you feel as if your story shouldn’t be shared and your anger shouldn’t be felt.

We will not stay silent anymore and watch as history repeats itself again and again. We must all take action to dismantle white supremacy. This is a sad and disgusting time in our history and it falls on all of us to make the future better. It will require hard work, bravery, and lots of love but I believe we have the power to get it done. Years from now, history books will discuss the brutality, racism, and hatefulness that our world is currently full of. Let’s work together to take those American History books into a more positive direction.

 

In: Personal · Tagged: black girls rock, black in america, black lives matter, equality

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Hi! I'm Charisma, a creative entrepreneur who loves to help others reach their full potential. I'm a photographer, a writer, and the owner of Kismet + Charisma, an online boutique that pairs minimalist, cozy, boho style with activism. In my little corner of the internet you'll find my latest travels, what I'm currently reading, how I practing Black joy as resistence, and how I'm finding hygge in my daily life. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.

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This accurately sums up my weekend. How was yours? This accurately sums up my weekend. How was yours?
It’s been a challenge to find joy this week. But It’s been a challenge to find joy this week. But Black Joy has been my mission. Most of the people in my life have been overwhelmed and exhausted by constant grief, fear, and disrespect. Many of us have been reminded of the times we were pulled over by cops for driving while Black or the times we’ve feared for our parents, siblings, children, cousins, and other friends and family members. Sometimes it feels like we are all stuck in this cycle, doomed to witness and experience Black suffering and trauma forever. I have to constantly remind myself that times haven’t changed but we ARE changing things. We have to. And until those changes really take place permanently, I’m choosing Black Joy whenever I can. Because Black Joy is resistance. 

Here’s where I was able to find joy this week:

🤍 Interviewing @majorcreates + @tiffanydbrown_, two dynamic and talented  Black women for @heartandhustlepodcast.

🤍 Long chats with @studio404design about everything under the sun. 

🤍 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and how unapologetically Black it is. 

🤍 Texting Marvel memes back and forth with @mmalikaj who is FINALLY obsessed with Marvel. My hard work has paid off! 👏🏽

🤍 Trying to recreate @eatatbento at home since we live in DC now. 

🤍 Reading The Gilded Ones. 

🤍 Knowing that @bohemianseoul is moving east! 

If you are Black, where did you find joy this week? If you aren’t Black, we’re you able to bring joy to a person who is Black this week or amplify a voice celebrating Black joy?
We receive hate, lies, injustice, and death. But We receive hate, lies, injustice, and death. 

But we deserve joy.

So many of us are reaching new levels of exhaustion because of the continued attacks on our community by those who are being paid to protect us. There are some days where our situation feels impossible. On those days, please take the time out to do one small thing that brings you joy. As Black people, we have to experience and carry so much trauma while living in this country. But we deserve joy. We deserve joy.
I’ve been spending every free moment chasing gor I’ve been spending every free moment chasing gorgeous blooms. I know they don’t last long so I’m trying to enjoy them as much as a can while they are here. It’s a great reminder to live in the moment and enjoy your life right now.
Lately I’ve been meditating, manifesting, and do Lately I’ve been meditating, manifesting, and doing a little bit of yoga before I even get out of bed. Yes, you heard that right, I do bed yoga. Doing these simple things before I leave the comfort of my bed have really been helping me feel like I can take on anything during the day. Do you do anything special in the morning that makes you feel more equipped to handle the day?
I’m so happy that the weather is consistently co I’m so happy that the weather is consistently cooperating and we can get out to explore more! I’m usually a homebody but being stuck inside this past winter has really made me appreciate every good weather day so much more than I ever have before. The best thing about being in a new city is that everything is new to me so even staying close to home feels like an adventure.
Drinking my way through Orlando with all the best Drinking my way through Orlando with all the best teas!🧋
Home is whenever I’m with you. 🤍🍵 @qreatec Home is whenever I’m with you. 🤍🍵 @qreatecoffee
Happy first day of spring! Most of the blooms aren Happy first day of spring! Most of the blooms aren’t out yet in the DC area but that didn’t stop us from spending every moment we could outside today. I am SO happy that winter is officially over and I can’t wait to twirl around under cherry blossoms in a few weeks.
Happy Gotcha Day @valkyrieambrosonokeefe! I truly Happy Gotcha Day @valkyrieambrosonokeefe! I truly don’t know how we would have made it through this year without you! You are the sweetest, happiest, cuddliest dog ever. 🤍🐾

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