home.social

#blackowned — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #blackowned, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Tapping into positivity
    Sharon A. Keyser’s SKCreations, LLC delivers colour and great textiles not just because of its founder’s love of both, but because of a deeper pursuit for all to feel positive about who we are—and changing the world at the same time

    lucire.com/2026/0407fe0.shtml #SKCreations #NYC #NY #USA #FashionDesigner #BlackOwned #BlackMastodon #fashion #mode #moda #interview

  2. Black Brilliance Across Borders: My first Black History Month in Canada

    Nikki Adebiyi, Founder, Bounce Black

    This February marked my first Black History Month in Canada, and my first Canadian winter!

    Aside from the fact that I’ve never seen this much snow in my life, nor have I ever been so cold that my face hurts…it’s been wonderful, I promise.

    In the words of one speaker at an event I attended, “I’m all blacked out”.

    As a speaker and event producer myself, that is a sentiment that applies everywhere because I typically feel the same during October, which is Black History Month in the UK. It’s busy and exhausting, but all in the best of ways!

    This year, Canada celebrated 30 years of Black History Month with the theme: ‘Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries’.

    There was no shortage of events, to say the least. There were certainly much more than I was able to attend. But the ones that I did go to have left a profound impression on me, and I’d love to tell you about them…

    Black people play hockey? On ice!?

    I kicked off my February at the A Different Booklist store in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. In the middle of the historically Black neighbourhood of Bathurst, people of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in a gorgeous Black bookstore for the launch of Black Aces by The Athletic’s NHL staff writer Julian McKenzie.

    Black Aces is McKenzie’s debut book, featuring a collection of stories about renowned Black hockey players, which, as you can imagine, is a huge part of winter sporting in Canada.

    As curious and as open as I can be, ice hockey is a sport that I have yet to acquaint myself with. Unless you count PE at school, where we sometimes ran around the sports-and-lunch hall, whacking plastic pucks into makeshift goalposts.

    Still, different gear, different climate and a different arena makes for a different experience entirely.

    After the book launch, and a few conversation primers on the rules of the game, it’s now on my list of essential things to do in Canada.

    Side note: I love that people who look like me have ventured into activities that I probably wouldn’t even think to try. Not only do you have to be excellent at hockey, you have to be competent at skating on ice! That’s an impressive level of hand-eye coordination, so kudos to them for doing it well enough to merit recognition. I love that for us!

    Further side note: How much Julian knows about Black British culture tickled me, and further confirmed my belief that Black London and Black Toronto are much like identical twins who were separated during childhood, but when later reunited, it’s uncanny how alike they are.

    I also later returned to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for the free headshots they were offering to young Black creatives. Here’s my favourite one:

    Word, Sound & Power Showcase

    Next, I visited York University for its Word, Sound & Power event which showcased, and paid homage to, an array of Black talent in the arts, including musical composition, singing, dance, poetry and dramatic monologues.

    To my great surprise, we were honoured to be joined by Toronto’s poet laureate Lillian Allen (pictured), as well as Canada’s first Black female MP, the Hon. Jean Augustine herself, who is responsible for passing the law that made Black History Month officially recognised across the nation.

    Overeall, it was an eventful night of warm reflections, riveting stories and powerful calls to action. I especially enjoyed Ms. Augustine’s reflections on her life, career and social progress in Canada. The question she centred her speech on, “are we there yet?”, remains with me even now.

    Living In Colour Symposium

    Downtown at the University of Toronto, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) held their Black History Month Symposium on ‘Black Life, Law and Belonging in Canada’.

    The organisation itself is remarkable, being the only legal clinic in the province of Ontario that is dedicated to tackling anti-Black racism through legal advocacy.

    Their additional focus on public education and community engagement resulted in an impactful itinerary of powerful speech after speech interspersed with thoughtful panel discussions.

    The sessions covered a range of topics, including:

    • Black history in Canada
    • The role of legal advocacy in advancing justice and equity for Black comunities
    • The complexity of belonging and integration in immigration
    • The work required for Black longevity and equity in Canada
    • The changing landscape of advocacy in the age of AI

    Speakers included MPs, lawyers, other legal professionals, and grassroots activists.

    Although, unfortunately, I missed out on most of the talks due to commute time and weather-related delays on public transport, what I did gain during my time there was an insight into how similar the issues of racial justice are across the Black diaspora.

    As ever, as always, this is both comforting and infuriating.

    That there is a shared language of racialised experiences across borders and cultuers is helpful as I could immediately make sense of the discussion despite not being a Black Canadian.

    However, it is not fun learnng that people who look like me struggle in similar ways wherever we are in the world.

    Still, I left the event encouraged by the work being done and the shared understanding of the cultural, spiritual and intellectual shift that is going to be necessary for us to move forward collectively.

    The Power of Community Symposium

    On the penultimate weekend of Black History Month, I returned to the City Hall area for the Black Founders Network Power of Community Symposium. This was a whole-day affair, that I missed a lot of due to commuting issues again, but what I caught of it was powerful.

    The theme was ‘The Next Era: Sustaining the Momentum’ as a nod to the last three years of the Symposium’s gathering of Black founders, investors, professionals and other ecosystem partners.

    Having attended only once and left with a profound impression of the lesson that I need to bet on myself more, I certainly hope to see more from the BFN team.

    Their BeHer Summit on March 6th, too, was spectacular and inspiring. I made sure to be there on time as I could not risk missing out on the wisdom and networking opportunities with powerhouse women from all over the GTA. And sure enough, it did not disappoint!

    BFN events embody the message of refusing to play small because they certainly know how to do it big. Both events fed me more than just physically, but the food, too, was wonderful, with Caribbean cuisine at the Symposium, and soul food at the Summit.

    It was also wonderful to meet some of the team behind the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM), and learn more about both the background and the future of the project.

    Overall, I was inspired to bet on myself and see this entrepreneurial journey through, and not only for my good but for the good of the community I serve. Legacy was a running theme, and I have begun thinking more about what it would look like for my work to outlast me.

    Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite Conference

    My Canadian Black History Month concluded with the Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite conference, which I had heard about before arriving in Canada, and I was grateful that I won a sponsored ticket to attend.

    Between the keynotes, the firesides, the panels and the workshops, gem after gem was shared by the speakers. I took pages and pages of notes, both paper and digital. And weeks later, I am still meditating on the insights and reflections of the sessions.

    In particular, Suzannah Kelly’s workshop on intentional leadership and legacy left a profound impression on me. She led a powerful session that inspired much reflection, with questions based on the premise that legacy is built through our daily choices, not by chance.

    A good leader’s legacy is less about results and more about the culture, access and opportunities we create for others.

    Our legacy shows up in the small moments, such as what we challenge, who we elevate, and how people feel after encountering us.

    Every interaction leaves an impact, and the impact that we leave behind is our legacy.

    True leadership, she also stressed, is measured by what changes because we were present. That is, who grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible for others. This requires clarity of values, courage to use our voice, and a willingness to be visible. Ultimately, legacy is what remains because we chose not to stay silent.

    This, in addition to the other talks, guaranteed that I came away with much to think through, much to hope for and much to be proud of.

    I also enjoyed the RBC photo booth, which had one of the best lighting setups for candid photography of Black skin that I have seen in a long time. All the photos came out great!

    Lastly, as with most of the events I attended, there were a number of Black-owned businesses on display, from beauty and jewellery brands to authors and coaches.

    One particular brand that made an impression on me was Blaque Wellness, whose Matriarch of the family-run business drew me in. A beautiful Black grandmother who showered me with care and compliments, seeking to understand my skincare needs, and offered me a hands-on demonstration of how their products could be embedded in my regimen.

    It reminded me of how warm and wonderful it is to be seen and thought of from start to finish, including in product design.

    Final Thoughts

    The previous sentiments are exactly how I would summarise my experience of my first Canadian Black History Month, namely that it catered for and catered to me. I was the target audience for whom an experience was specifically designed and curated, and I came away from it with abundance. I received so much more than I expected, and I am inspired to implement my learnings, so that other people can benefit from them too.

    The first being sharing what I learned with you all here in this blog.

    Although it is March, we celebrate Black history all year-round. I hope you found something useful in this post to help you champion Black futures!

    #BlackBusinesses #BlackExcellence #BlackFoundersNetwork #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLegacyActionCentre #BlackLegalCentre #BlackOwned #BlackTalentInitiative #blackHistory #Blackhurst #BlackhurstCulturalCentre #Blaque #BlaqueWellness #bounceBlack #Canada #history #Ignite #JeanAugustine #life #mentalHealth #MonicaRogers #NikkiAdebiyi #RBC #ShahaddahJack #SuzannahKelly #TorontoTempo #travel #writing
  3. Black Brilliance Across Borders: My first Black History Month in Canada

    Nikki Adebiyi, Founder, Bounce Black

    This February marked my first Black History Month in Canada, and my first Canadian winter!

    Aside from the fact that I’ve never seen this much snow in my life, nor have I ever been so cold that my face hurts…it’s been wonderful, I promise.

    In the words of one speaker at an event I attended, “I’m all blacked out”.

    As a speaker and event producer myself, that is a sentiment that applies everywhere because I typically feel the same during October, which is Black History Month in the UK. It’s busy and exhausting, but all in the best of ways!

    This year, Canada celebrated 30 years of Black History Month with the theme: ‘Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries’.

    There was no shortage of events, to say the least. There were certainly much more than I was able to attend. But the ones that I did go to have left a profound impression on me, and I’d love to tell you about them…

    Black people play hockey? On ice!?

    I kicked off my February at the A Different Booklist store in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. In the middle of the historically Black neighbourhood of Bathurst, people of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in a gorgeous Black bookstore for the launch of Black Aces by The Athletic’s NHL staff writer Julian McKenzie.

    Black Aces is McKenzie’s debut book, featuring a collection of stories about renowned Black hockey players, which, as you can imagine, is a huge part of winter sporting in Canada.

    As curious and as open as I can be, ice hockey is a sport that I have yet to acquaint myself with. Unless you count PE at school, where we sometimes ran around the sports-and-lunch hall, whacking plastic pucks into makeshift goalposts.

    Still, different gear, different climate and a different arena makes for a different experience entirely.

    After the book launch, and a few conversation primers on the rules of the game, it’s now on my list of essential things to do in Canada.

    Side note: I love that people who look like me have ventured into activities that I probably wouldn’t even think to try. Not only do you have to be excellent at hockey, you have to be competent at skating on ice! That’s an impressive level of hand-eye coordination, so kudos to them for doing it well enough to merit recognition. I love that for us!

    Further side note: How much Julian knows about Black British culture tickled me, and further confirmed my belief that Black London and Black Toronto are much like identical twins who were separated during childhood, but when later reunited, it’s uncanny how alike they are.

    I also later returned to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for the free headshots they were offering to young Black creatives. Here’s my favourite one:

    Word, Sound & Power Showcase

    Next, I visited York University for its Word, Sound & Power event which showcased, and paid homage to, an array of Black talent in the arts, including musical composition, singing, dance, poetry and dramatic monologues.

    To my great surprise, we were honoured to be joined by Toronto’s poet laureate Lillian Allen (pictured), as well as Canada’s first Black female MP, the Hon. Jean Augustine herself, who is responsible for passing the law that made Black History Month officially recognised across the nation.

    Overeall, it was an eventful night of warm reflections, riveting stories and powerful calls to action. I especially enjoyed Ms. Augustine’s reflections on her life, career and social progress in Canada. The question she centred her speech on, “are we there yet?”, remains with me even now.

    Living In Colour Symposium

    Downtown at the University of Toronto, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) held their Black History Month Symposium on ‘Black Life, Law and Belonging in Canada’.

    The organisation itself is remarkable, being the only legal clinic in the province of Ontario that is dedicated to tackling anti-Black racism through legal advocacy.

    Their additional focus on public education and community engagement resulted in an impactful itinerary of powerful speech after speech interspersed with thoughtful panel discussions.

    The sessions covered a range of topics, including:

    • Black history in Canada
    • The role of legal advocacy in advancing justice and equity for Black comunities
    • The complexity of belonging and integration in immigration
    • The work required for Black longevity and equity in Canada
    • The changing landscape of advocacy in the age of AI

    Speakers included MPs, lawyers, other legal professionals, and grassroots activists.

    Although, unfortunately, I missed out on most of the talks due to commute time and weather-related delays on public transport, what I did gain during my time there was an insight into how similar the issues of racial justice are across the Black diaspora.

    As ever, as always, this is both comforting and infuriating.

    That there is a shared language of racialised experiences across borders and cultuers is helpful as I could immediately make sense of the discussion despite not being a Black Canadian.

    However, it is not fun learnng that people who look like me struggle in similar ways wherever we are in the world.

    Still, I left the event encouraged by the work being done and the shared understanding of the cultural, spiritual and intellectual shift that is going to be necessary for us to move forward collectively.

    The Power of Community Symposium

    On the penultimate weekend of Black History Month, I returned to the City Hall area for the Black Founders Network Power of Community Symposium. This was a whole-day affair, that I missed a lot of due to commuting issues again, but what I caught of it was powerful.

    The theme was ‘The Next Era: Sustaining the Momentum’ as a nod to the last three years of the Symposium’s gathering of Black founders, investors, professionals and other ecosystem partners.

    Having attended only once and left with a profound impression of the lesson that I need to bet on myself more, I certainly hope to see more from the BFN team.

    Their BeHer Summit on March 6th, too, was spectacular and inspiring. I made sure to be there on time as I could not risk missing out on the wisdom and networking opportunities with powerhouse women from all over the GTA. And sure enough, it did not disappoint!

    BFN events embody the message of refusing to play small because they certainly know how to do it big. Both events fed me more than just physically, but the food, too, was wonderful, with Caribbean cuisine at the Symposium, and soul food at the Summit.

    It was also wonderful to meet some of the team behind the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM), and learn more about both the background and the future of the project.

    Overall, I was inspired to bet on myself and see this entrepreneurial journey through, and not only for my good but for the good of the community I serve. Legacy was a running theme, and I have begun thinking more about what it would look like for my work to outlast me.

    Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite Conference

    My Canadian Black History Month concluded with the Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite conference, which I had heard about before arriving in Canada, and I was grateful that I won a sponsored ticket to attend.

    Between the keynotes, the firesides, the panels and the workshops, gem after gem was shared by the speakers. I took pages and pages of notes, both paper and digital. And weeks later, I am still meditating on the insights and reflections of the sessions.

    In particular, Suzannah Kelly’s workshop on intentional leadership and legacy left a profound impression on me. She led a powerful session that inspired much reflection, with questions based on the premise that legacy is built through our daily choices, not by chance.

    A good leader’s legacy is less about results and more about the culture, access and opportunities we create for others.

    Our legacy shows up in the small moments, such as what we challenge, who we elevate, and how people feel after encountering us.

    Every interaction leaves an impact, and the impact that we leave behind is our legacy.

    True leadership, she also stressed, is measured by what changes because we were present. That is, who grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible for others. This requires clarity of values, courage to use our voice, and a willingness to be visible. Ultimately, legacy is what remains because we chose not to stay silent.

    This, in addition to the other talks, guaranteed that I came away with much to think through, much to hope for and much to be proud of.

    I also enjoyed the RBC photo booth, which had one of the best lighting setups for candid photography of Black skin that I have seen in a long time. All the photos came out great!

    Lastly, as with most of the events I attended, there were a number of Black-owned businesses on display, from beauty and jewellery brands to authors and coaches.

    One particular brand that made an impression on me was Blaque Wellness, whose Matriarch of the family-run business drew me in. A beautiful Black grandmother who showered me with care and compliments, seeking to understand my skincare needs, and offered me a hands-on demonstration of how their products could be embedded in my regimen.

    It reminded me of how warm and wonderful it is to be seen and thought of from start to finish, including in product design.

    Final Thoughts

    The previous sentiments are exactly how I would summarise my experience of my first Canadian Black History Month, namely that it catered for and catered to me. I was the target audience for whom an experience was specifically designed and curated, and I came away from it with abundance. I received so much more than I expected, and I am inspired to implement my learnings, so that other people can benefit from them too.

    The first being sharing what I learned with you all here in this blog.

    Although it is March, we celebrate Black history all year-round. I hope you found something useful in this post to help you champion Black futures!

    #BlackBusinesses #BlackExcellence #BlackFoundersNetwork #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLegacyActionCentre #BlackLegalCentre #BlackOwned #BlackTalentInitiative #blackHistory #Blackhurst #BlackhurstCulturalCentre #Blaque #BlaqueWellness #bounceBlack #Canada #history #Ignite #JeanAugustine #life #mentalHealth #MonicaRogers #NikkiAdebiyi #RBC #ShahaddahJack #SuzannahKelly #TorontoTempo #travel #writing
  4. Black Brilliance Across Borders: My first Black History Month in Canada

    Nikki Adebiyi, Founder, Bounce Black

    This February marked my first Black History Month in Canada, and my first Canadian winter!

    Aside from the fact that I’ve never seen this much snow in my life, nor have I ever been so cold that my face hurts…it’s been wonderful, I promise.

    In the words of one speaker at an event I attended, “I’m all blacked out”.

    As a speaker and event producer myself, that is a sentiment that applies everywhere because I typically feel the same during October, which is Black History Month in the UK. It’s busy and exhausting, but all in the best of ways!

    This year, Canada celebrated 30 years of Black History Month with the theme: ‘Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries’.

    There was no shortage of events, to say the least. There were certainly much more than I was able to attend. But the ones that I did go to have left a profound impression on me, and I’d love to tell you about them…

    Black people play hockey? On ice!?

    I kicked off my February at the A Different Booklist store in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. In the middle of the historically Black neighbourhood of Bathurst, people of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in a gorgeous Black bookstore for the launch of Black Aces by The Athletic’s NHL staff writer Julian McKenzie.

    Black Aces is McKenzie’s debut book, featuring a collection of stories about renowned Black hockey players, which, as you can imagine, is a huge part of winter sporting in Canada.

    As curious and as open as I can be, ice hockey is a sport that I have yet to acquaint myself with. Unless you count PE at school, where we sometimes ran around the sports-and-lunch hall, whacking plastic pucks into makeshift goalposts.

    Still, different gear, different climate and a different arena makes for a different experience entirely.

    After the book launch, and a few conversation primers on the rules of the game, it’s now on my list of essential things to do in Canada.

    Side note: I love that people who look like me have ventured into activities that I probably wouldn’t even think to try. Not only do you have to be excellent at hockey, you have to be competent at skating on ice! That’s an impressive level of hand-eye coordination, so kudos to them for doing it well enough to merit recognition. I love that for us!

    Further side note: How much Julian knows about Black British culture tickled me, and further confirmed my belief that Black London and Black Toronto are much like identical twins who were separated during childhood, but when later reunited, it’s uncanny how alike they are.

    I also later returned to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for the free headshots they were offering to young Black creatives. Here’s my favourite one:

    Word, Sound & Power Showcase

    Next, I visited York University for its Word, Sound & Power event which showcased, and paid homage to, an array of Black talent in the arts, including musical composition, singing, dance, poetry and dramatic monologues.

    To my great surprise, we were honoured to be joined by Toronto’s poet laureate Lillian Allen (pictured), as well as Canada’s first Black female MP, the Hon. Jean Augustine herself, who is responsible for passing the law that made Black History Month officially recognised across the nation.

    Overeall, it was an eventful night of warm reflections, riveting stories and powerful calls to action. I especially enjoyed Ms. Augustine’s reflections on her life, career and social progress in Canada. The question she centred her speech on, “are we there yet?”, remains with me even now.

    Living In Colour Symposium

    Downtown at the University of Toronto, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) held their Black History Month Symposium on ‘Black Life, Law and Belonging in Canada’.

    The organisation itself is remarkable, being the only legal clinic in the province of Ontario that is dedicated to tackling anti-Black racism through legal advocacy.

    Their additional focus on public education and community engagement resulted in an impactful itinerary of powerful speech after speech interspersed with thoughtful panel discussions.

    The sessions covered a range of topics, including:

    • Black history in Canada
    • The role of legal advocacy in advancing justice and equity for Black comunities
    • The complexity of belonging and integration in immigration
    • The work required for Black longevity and equity in Canada
    • The changing landscape of advocacy in the age of AI

    Speakers included MPs, lawyers, other legal professionals, and grassroots activists.

    Although, unfortunately, I missed out on most of the talks due to commute time and weather-related delays on public transport, what I did gain during my time there was an insight into how similar the issues of racial justice are across the Black diaspora.

    As ever, as always, this is both comforting and infuriating.

    That there is a shared language of racialised experiences across borders and cultuers is helpful as I could immediately make sense of the discussion despite not being a Black Canadian.

    However, it is not fun learnng that people who look like me struggle in similar ways wherever we are in the world.

    Still, I left the event encouraged by the work being done and the shared understanding of the cultural, spiritual and intellectual shift that is going to be necessary for us to move forward collectively.

    The Power of Community Symposium

    On the penultimate weekend of Black History Month, I returned to the City Hall area for the Black Founders Network Power of Community Symposium. This was a whole-day affair, that I missed a lot of due to commuting issues again, but what I caught of it was powerful.

    The theme was ‘The Next Era: Sustaining the Momentum’ as a nod to the last three years of the Symposium’s gathering of Black founders, investors, professionals and other ecosystem partners.

    Having attended only once and left with a profound impression of the lesson that I need to bet on myself more, I certainly hope to see more from the BFN team.

    Their BeHer Summit on March 6th, too, was spectacular and inspiring. I made sure to be there on time as I could not risk missing out on the wisdom and networking opportunities with powerhouse women from all over the GTA. And sure enough, it did not disappoint!

    BFN events embody the message of refusing to play small because they certainly know how to do it big. Both events fed me more than just physically, but the food, too, was wonderful, with Caribbean cuisine at the Symposium, and soul food at the Summit.

    It was also wonderful to meet some of the team behind the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM), and learn more about both the background and the future of the project.

    Overall, I was inspired to bet on myself and see this entrepreneurial journey through, and not only for my good but for the good of the community I serve. Legacy was a running theme, and I have begun thinking more about what it would look like for my work to outlast me.

    Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite Conference

    My Canadian Black History Month concluded with the Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite conference, which I had heard about before arriving in Canada, and I was grateful that I won a sponsored ticket to attend.

    Between the keynotes, the firesides, the panels and the workshops, gem after gem was shared by the speakers. I took pages and pages of notes, both paper and digital. And weeks later, I am still meditating on the insights and reflections of the sessions.

    In particular, Suzannah Kelly’s workshop on intentional leadership and legacy left a profound impression on me. She led a powerful session that inspired much reflection, with questions based on the premise that legacy is built through our daily choices, not by chance.

    A good leader’s legacy is less about results and more about the culture, access and opportunities we create for others.

    Our legacy shows up in the small moments, such as what we challenge, who we elevate, and how people feel after encountering us.

    Every interaction leaves an impact, and the impact that we leave behind is our legacy.

    True leadership, she also stressed, is measured by what changes because we were present. That is, who grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible for others. This requires clarity of values, courage to use our voice, and a willingness to be visible. Ultimately, legacy is what remains because we chose not to stay silent.

    This, in addition to the other talks, guaranteed that I came away with much to think through, much to hope for and much to be proud of.

    I also enjoyed the RBC photo booth, which had one of the best lighting setups for candid photography of Black skin that I have seen in a long time. All the photos came out great!

    Lastly, as with most of the events I attended, there were a number of Black-owned businesses on display, from beauty and jewellery brands to authors and coaches.

    One particular brand that made an impression on me was Blaque Wellness, whose Matriarch of the family-run business drew me in. A beautiful Black grandmother who showered me with care and compliments, seeking to understand my skincare needs, and offered me a hands-on demonstration of how their products could be embedded in my regimen.

    It reminded me of how warm and wonderful it is to be seen and thought of from start to finish, including in product design.

    Final Thoughts

    The previous sentiments are exactly how I would summarise my experience of my first Canadian Black History Month, namely that it catered for and catered to me. I was the target audience for whom an experience was specifically designed and curated, and I came away from it with abundance. I received so much more than I expected, and I am inspired to implement my learnings, so that other people can benefit from them too.

    The first being sharing what I learned with you all here in this blog.

    Although it is March, we celebrate Black history all year-round. I hope you found something useful in this post to help you champion Black futures!

    #BlackBusinesses #BlackExcellence #BlackFoundersNetwork #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLegacyActionCentre #BlackLegalCentre #BlackOwned #BlackTalentInitiative #blackHistory #Blackhurst #BlackhurstCulturalCentre #Blaque #BlaqueWellness #bounceBlack #Canada #history #Ignite #JeanAugustine #life #mentalHealth #MonicaRogers #NikkiAdebiyi #RBC #ShahaddahJack #SuzannahKelly #TorontoTempo #travel #writing
  5. Black Brilliance Across Borders: My first Black History Month in Canada

    Nikki Adebiyi, Founder, Bounce Black

    This February marked my first Black History Month in Canada, and my first Canadian winter!

    Aside from the fact that I’ve never seen this much snow in my life, nor have I ever been so cold that my face hurts…it’s been wonderful, I promise.

    In the words of one speaker at an event I attended, “I’m all blacked out”.

    As a speaker and event producer myself, that is a sentiment that applies everywhere because I typically feel the same during October, which is Black History Month in the UK. It’s busy and exhausting, but all in the best of ways!

    This year, Canada celebrated 30 years of Black History Month with the theme: ‘Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries’.

    There was no shortage of events, to say the least. There were certainly much more than I was able to attend. But the ones that I did go to have left a profound impression on me, and I’d love to tell you about them…

    Black people play hockey? On ice!?

    I kicked off my February at the A Different Booklist store in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. In the middle of the historically Black neighbourhood of Bathurst, people of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in a gorgeous Black bookstore for the launch of Black Aces by The Athletic’s NHL staff writer Julian McKenzie.

    Black Aces is McKenzie’s debut book, featuring a collection of stories about renowned Black hockey players, which, as you can imagine, is a huge part of winter sporting in Canada.

    As curious and as open as I can be, ice hockey is a sport that I have yet to acquaint myself with. Unless you count PE at school, where we sometimes ran around the sports-and-lunch hall, whacking plastic pucks into makeshift goalposts.

    Still, different gear, different climate and a different arena makes for a different experience entirely.

    After the book launch, and a few conversation primers on the rules of the game, it’s now on my list of essential things to do in Canada.

    Side note: I love that people who look like me have ventured into activities that I probably wouldn’t even think to try. Not only do you have to be excellent at hockey, you have to be competent at skating on ice! That’s an impressive level of hand-eye coordination, so kudos to them for doing it well enough to merit recognition. I love that for us!

    Further side note: How much Julian knows about Black British culture tickled me, and further confirmed my belief that Black London and Black Toronto are much like identical twins who were separated during childhood, but when later reunited, it’s uncanny how alike they are.

    I also later returned to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for the free headshots they were offering to young Black creatives. Here’s my favourite one:

    Word, Sound & Power Showcase

    Next, I visited York University for its Word, Sound & Power event which showcased, and paid homage to, an array of Black talent in the arts, including musical composition, singing, dance, poetry and dramatic monologues.

    To my great surprise, we were honoured to be joined by Toronto’s poet laureate Lillian Allen (pictured), as well as Canada’s first Black female MP, the Hon. Jean Augustine herself, who is responsible for passing the law that made Black History Month officially recognised across the nation.

    Overeall, it was an eventful night of warm reflections, riveting stories and powerful calls to action. I especially enjoyed Ms. Augustine’s reflections on her life, career and social progress in Canada. The question she centred her speech on, “are we there yet?”, remains with me even now.

    Living In Colour Symposium

    Downtown at the University of Toronto, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) held their Black History Month Symposium on ‘Black Life, Law and Belonging in Canada’.

    The organisation itself is remarkable, being the only legal clinic in the province of Ontario that is dedicated to tackling anti-Black racism through legal advocacy.

    Their additional focus on public education and community engagement resulted in an impactful itinerary of powerful speech after speech interspersed with thoughtful panel discussions.

    The sessions covered a range of topics, including:

    • Black history in Canada
    • The role of legal advocacy in advancing justice and equity for Black comunities
    • The complexity of belonging and integration in immigration
    • The work required for Black longevity and equity in Canada
    • The changing landscape of advocacy in the age of AI

    Speakers included MPs, lawyers, other legal professionals, and grassroots activists.

    Although, unfortunately, I missed out on most of the talks due to commute time and weather-related delays on public transport, what I did gain during my time there was an insight into how similar the issues of racial justice are across the Black diaspora.

    As ever, as always, this is both comforting and infuriating.

    That there is a shared language of racialised experiences across borders and cultuers is helpful as I could immediately make sense of the discussion despite not being a Black Canadian.

    However, it is not fun learnng that people who look like me struggle in similar ways wherever we are in the world.

    Still, I left the event encouraged by the work being done and the shared understanding of the cultural, spiritual and intellectual shift that is going to be necessary for us to move forward collectively.

    The Power of Community Symposium

    On the penultimate weekend of Black History Month, I returned to the City Hall area for the Black Founders Network Power of Community Symposium. This was a whole-day affair, that I missed a lot of due to commuting issues again, but what I caught of it was powerful.

    The theme was ‘The Next Era: Sustaining the Momentum’ as a nod to the last three years of the Symposium’s gathering of Black founders, investors, professionals and other ecosystem partners.

    Having attended only once and left with a profound impression of the lesson that I need to bet on myself more, I certainly hope to see more from the BFN team.

    Their BeHer Summit on March 6th, too, was spectacular and inspiring. I made sure to be there on time as I could not risk missing out on the wisdom and networking opportunities with powerhouse women from all over the GTA. And sure enough, it did not disappoint!

    BFN events embody the message of refusing to play small because they certainly know how to do it big. Both events fed me more than just physically, but the food, too, was wonderful, with Caribbean cuisine at the Symposium, and soul food at the Summit.

    It was also wonderful to meet some of the team behind the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM), and learn more about both the background and the future of the project.

    Overall, I was inspired to bet on myself and see this entrepreneurial journey through, and not only for my good but for the good of the community I serve. Legacy was a running theme, and I have begun thinking more about what it would look like for my work to outlast me.

    Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite Conference

    My Canadian Black History Month concluded with the Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite conference, which I had heard about before arriving in Canada, and I was grateful that I won a sponsored ticket to attend.

    Between the keynotes, the firesides, the panels and the workshops, gem after gem was shared by the speakers. I took pages and pages of notes, both paper and digital. And weeks later, I am still meditating on the insights and reflections of the sessions.

    In particular, Suzannah Kelly’s workshop on intentional leadership and legacy left a profound impression on me. She led a powerful session that inspired much reflection, with questions based on the premise that legacy is built through our daily choices, not by chance.

    A good leader’s legacy is less about results and more about the culture, access and opportunities we create for others.

    Our legacy shows up in the small moments, such as what we challenge, who we elevate, and how people feel after encountering us.

    Every interaction leaves an impact, and the impact that we leave behind is our legacy.

    True leadership, she also stressed, is measured by what changes because we were present. That is, who grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible for others. This requires clarity of values, courage to use our voice, and a willingness to be visible. Ultimately, legacy is what remains because we chose not to stay silent.

    This, in addition to the other talks, guaranteed that I came away with much to think through, much to hope for and much to be proud of.

    I also enjoyed the RBC photo booth, which had one of the best lighting setups for candid photography of Black skin that I have seen in a long time. All the photos came out great!

    Lastly, as with most of the events I attended, there were a number of Black-owned businesses on display, from beauty and jewellery brands to authors and coaches.

    One particular brand that made an impression on me was Blaque Wellness, whose Matriarch of the family-run business drew me in. A beautiful Black grandmother who showered me with care and compliments, seeking to understand my skincare needs, and offered me a hands-on demonstration of how their products could be embedded in my regimen.

    It reminded me of how warm and wonderful it is to be seen and thought of from start to finish, including in product design.

    Final Thoughts

    The previous sentiments are exactly how I would summarise my experience of my first Canadian Black History Month, namely that it catered for and catered to me. I was the target audience for whom an experience was specifically designed and curated, and I came away from it with abundance. I received so much more than I expected, and I am inspired to implement my learnings, so that other people can benefit from them too.

    The first being sharing what I learned with you all here in this blog.

    Although it is March, we celebrate Black history all year-round. I hope you found something useful in this post to help you champion Black futures!

    #BlackBusinesses #BlackExcellence #BlackFoundersNetwork #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLegacyActionCentre #BlackLegalCentre #BlackOwned #BlackTalentInitiative #blackHistory #Blackhurst #BlackhurstCulturalCentre #Blaque #BlaqueWellness #bounceBlack #Canada #history #Ignite #JeanAugustine #life #mentalHealth #MonicaRogers #NikkiAdebiyi #RBC #ShahaddahJack #SuzannahKelly #TorontoTempo #travel #writing
  6. Black Brilliance Across Borders: My first Black History Month in Canada

    Nikki Adebiyi, Founder, Bounce Black

    This February marked my first Black History Month in Canada, and my first Canadian winter!

    Aside from the fact that I’ve never seen this much snow in my life, nor have I ever been so cold that my face hurts…it’s been wonderful, I promise.

    In the words of one speaker at an event I attended, “I’m all blacked out”.

    As a speaker and event producer myself, that is a sentiment that applies everywhere because I typically feel the same during October, which is Black History Month in the UK. It’s busy and exhausting, but all in the best of ways!

    This year, Canada celebrated 30 years of Black History Month with the theme: ‘Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries’.

    There was no shortage of events, to say the least. There were certainly much more than I was able to attend. But the ones that I did go to have left a profound impression on me, and I’d love to tell you about them…

    Black people play hockey? On ice!?

    I kicked off my February at the A Different Booklist store in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. In the middle of the historically Black neighbourhood of Bathurst, people of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in a gorgeous Black bookstore for the launch of Black Aces by The Athletic’s NHL staff writer Julian McKenzie.

    Black Aces is McKenzie’s debut book, featuring a collection of stories about renowned Black hockey players, which, as you can imagine, is a huge part of winter sporting in Canada.

    As curious and as open as I can be, ice hockey is a sport that I have yet to acquaint myself with. Unless you count PE at school, where we sometimes ran around the sports-and-lunch hall, whacking plastic pucks into makeshift goalposts.

    Still, different gear, different climate and a different arena makes for a different experience entirely.

    After the book launch, and a few conversation primers on the rules of the game, it’s now on my list of essential things to do in Canada.

    Side note: I love that people who look like me have ventured into activities that I probably wouldn’t even think to try. Not only do you have to be excellent at hockey, you have to be competent at skating on ice! That’s an impressive level of hand-eye coordination, so kudos to them for doing it well enough to merit recognition. I love that for us!

    Further side note: How much Julian knows about Black British culture tickled me, and further confirmed my belief that Black London and Black Toronto are much like identical twins who were separated during childhood, but when later reunited, it’s uncanny how alike they are.

    I also later returned to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for the free headshots they were offering to young Black creatives. Here’s my favourite one:

    Word, Sound & Power Showcase

    Next, I visited York University for its Word, Sound & Power event which showcased, and paid homage to, an array of Black talent in the arts, including musical composition, singing, dance, poetry and dramatic monologues.

    To my great surprise, we were honoured to be joined by Toronto’s poet laureate Lillian Allen (pictured), as well as Canada’s first Black female MP, the Hon. Jean Augustine herself, who is responsible for passing the law that made Black History Month officially recognised across the nation.

    Overeall, it was an eventful night of warm reflections, riveting stories and powerful calls to action. I especially enjoyed Ms. Augustine’s reflections on her life, career and social progress in Canada. The question she centred her speech on, “are we there yet?”, remains with me even now.

    Living In Colour Symposium

    Downtown at the University of Toronto, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) held their Black History Month Symposium on ‘Black Life, Law and Belonging in Canada’.

    The organisation itself is remarkable, being the only legal clinic in the province of Ontario that is dedicated to tackling anti-Black racism through legal advocacy.

    Their additional focus on public education and community engagement resulted in an impactful itinerary of powerful speech after speech interspersed with thoughtful panel discussions.

    The sessions covered a range of topics, including:

    • Black history in Canada
    • The role of legal advocacy in advancing justice and equity for Black comunities
    • The complexity of belonging and integration in immigration
    • The work required for Black longevity and equity in Canada
    • The changing landscape of advocacy in the age of AI

    Speakers included MPs, lawyers, other legal professionals, and grassroots activists.

    Although, unfortunately, I missed out on most of the talks due to commute time and weather-related delays on public transport, what I did gain during my time there was an insight into how similar the issues of racial justice are across the Black diaspora.

    As ever, as always, this is both comforting and infuriating.

    That there is a shared language of racialised experiences across borders and cultuers is helpful as I could immediately make sense of the discussion despite not being a Black Canadian.

    However, it is not fun learnng that people who look like me struggle in similar ways wherever we are in the world.

    Still, I left the event encouraged by the work being done and the shared understanding of the cultural, spiritual and intellectual shift that is going to be necessary for us to move forward collectively.

    The Power of Community Symposium

    On the penultimate weekend of Black History Month, I returned to the City Hall area for the Black Founders Network Power of Community Symposium. This was a whole-day affair, that I missed a lot of due to commuting issues again, but what I caught of it was powerful.

    The theme was ‘The Next Era: Sustaining the Momentum’ as a nod to the last three years of the Symposium’s gathering of Black founders, investors, professionals and other ecosystem partners.

    Having attended only once and left with a profound impression of the lesson that I need to bet on myself more, I certainly hope to see more from the BFN team.

    Their BeHer Summit on March 6th, too, was spectacular and inspiring. I made sure to be there on time as I could not risk missing out on the wisdom and networking opportunities with powerhouse women from all over the GTA. And sure enough, it did not disappoint!

    BFN events embody the message of refusing to play small because they certainly know how to do it big. Both events fed me more than just physically, but the food, too, was wonderful, with Caribbean cuisine at the Symposium, and soul food at the Summit.

    It was also wonderful to meet some of the team behind the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM), and learn more about both the background and the future of the project.

    Overall, I was inspired to bet on myself and see this entrepreneurial journey through, and not only for my good but for the good of the community I serve. Legacy was a running theme, and I have begun thinking more about what it would look like for my work to outlast me.

    Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite Conference

    My Canadian Black History Month concluded with the Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite conference, which I had heard about before arriving in Canada, and I was grateful that I won a sponsored ticket to attend.

    Between the keynotes, the firesides, the panels and the workshops, gem after gem was shared by the speakers. I took pages and pages of notes, both paper and digital. And weeks later, I am still meditating on the insights and reflections of the sessions.

    In particular, Suzannah Kelly’s workshop on intentional leadership and legacy left a profound impression on me. She led a powerful session that inspired much reflection, with questions based on the premise that legacy is built through our daily choices, not by chance.

    A good leader’s legacy is less about results and more about the culture, access and opportunities we create for others.

    Our legacy shows up in the small moments, such as what we challenge, who we elevate, and how people feel after encountering us.

    Every interaction leaves an impact, and the impact that we leave behind is our legacy.

    True leadership, she also stressed, is measured by what changes because we were present. That is, who grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible for others. This requires clarity of values, courage to use our voice, and a willingness to be visible. Ultimately, legacy is what remains because we chose not to stay silent.

    This, in addition to the other talks, guaranteed that I came away with much to think through, much to hope for and much to be proud of.

    I also enjoyed the RBC photo booth, which had one of the best lighting setups for candid photography of Black skin that I have seen in a long time. All the photos came out great!

    Lastly, as with most of the events I attended, there were a number of Black-owned businesses on display, from beauty and jewellery brands to authors and coaches.

    One particular brand that made an impression on me was Blaque Wellness, whose Matriarch of the family-run business drew me in. A beautiful Black grandmother who showered me with care and compliments, seeking to understand my skincare needs, and offered me a hands-on demonstration of how their products could be embedded in my regimen.

    It reminded me of how warm and wonderful it is to be seen and thought of from start to finish, including in product design.

    Final Thoughts

    The previous sentiments are exactly how I would summarise my experience of my first Canadian Black History Month, namely that it catered for and catered to me. I was the target audience for whom an experience was specifically designed and curated, and I came away from it with abundance. I received so much more than I expected, and I am inspired to implement my learnings, so that other people can benefit from them too.

    The first being sharing what I learned with you all here in this blog.

    Although it is March, we celebrate Black history all year-round. I hope you found something useful in this post to help you champion Black futures!

    #BlackBusinesses #BlackExcellence #BlackFoundersNetwork #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLegacyActionCentre #BlackLegalCentre #BlackOwned #BlackTalentInitiative #blackHistory #Blackhurst #BlackhurstCulturalCentre #Blaque #BlaqueWellness #bounceBlack #Canada #history #Ignite #JeanAugustine #life #mentalHealth #MonicaRogers #NikkiAdebiyi #RBC #ShahaddahJack #SuzannahKelly #TorontoTempo #travel #writing
  7. Cataloging Black-owned record stores

    As part of celebrating Black History Month, here’s a list of known Black-owned record stores in the United States and other places around the globe. The list includes those stores that are either fully or partially Black-owned.

    Sadly, as with all variations of brick and mortar record retailers, the advent of streaming, digital downloading, and online retailers like Amazon.com has vastly decreased the number of Black-owned record stores. It was also noteworthy that several stores only recently identified in previously published stories/articles (in the past five years) were discovered to have now closed permanently.

    Kudos to these business owners for weathering the economic, social, and technological challenges of owning and operating an independent record store in the 21st Century. Please feel free to forward any additions, corrections, or suggestions to this list.

    Peace!

    Inside Dorsey’s Record Shop since 1946 in Pittsburgh (Neil & Marcus Dorsey) – Source: post-gazette.com

    ________

    Bantu Records: Johannesburg, South Africa

    Baoulecore Archive Center (2023): Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivorie

    Better Days Records (1998): Louisville, Kentucky

    Black Circle Records: Charleston (Summerville), South Carolina

    Black Star Vinyl (formerly Halsey & Lewis Records) (2017): Brooklyn, New York

    Blessed Love Record Shop: Berlin, Germany

    Brittany’s Record Shop (2018): Cleveland, Ohio

    Conservatory Vintage & Vinyl (2019): Chicago (Flossmoor), illinois

    Crates ATL (2025): Atlanta, Georgia

    DBS Sounds (1994): Atlanta (Riverdale), Georgia

    Della Soul Records (2021): Grand Rapids, Michigan

    DJ’s Record Shop: Jacksonville, Florida

    Dorsey’s Record Shop (1946): Pittsburgh (Homewood), Pennsylvania

    Fivespace: San Diego, California

    Forever Changes Vinyl Lounge (1971): Philadelphia (Phoenixville), Pennsylvania

    Freshtopia (2019): Norfolk, Virginia

    God’s Time: Accra, Ghana

    Good Stuff Records: Houston, Texas

    Gotwhatulike: Kansas City, Missouri

    Home Rule Records (2018): Washington, D.C.

    Jampac Records (1986): Charlotte (Monroe), North Carolina

    JB’s Record Lounge (2017): Atlanta, Georgia

    Kumanini Vinyls (2017); Busua, Ghana

    Maestro Records: London (Peckham), England, U.K.

    Memories of Soul: Newark, New Jersey

    Moodies Records (1982): Bronx, New York

    Moods Music (2000): Atlanta, Georgia

    Music Planet (1981): Flint, Michigan

    Needle to the Groove (2014): San Jose, California

    Offbeat (2014): Jackson, Mississippi

    Out of the Past Records (1968): Chicago, Illinois

    Peaches Records (1975): New Orleans, Louisiana

    PM Sounds (2019): Los Angeles (San Pedro), California

    Poo-Bah Records (1971): Los Angeles (Pasadena), California

    Pure Vinyl: London, England, U.K.

    Recs N Threads: St. Louis, Missouri

    Re-Runz Records (2016): Orlando, Florida

    Retrofit Records (2011): Tallahassee, Florida

    Rockers International Records: Kingston, Jamaica

    Serious Sounds (1991): Houston, Texas

    SOOK Vintage & Vinyl (2023): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Soulfolk’s Records & Tapes (2019): Nashville, Tennessee

    Stokley’s Records: Valdosta, Georgia

    Str33t Records (2021): Los Angeles (Alhambra), California

    Supertone Records: Londont (Brixton), England, U.K.

    The Jazzhole: Lagos, Nigeria

    The Real Vinyl Guru/Stall 570 (1989): Nairobi, Kenya

    The Record Track (1990): Chicago, Illinois

    Urban Lights Music (1993): Twin Cities, Minnesota

    Vinyl and Pages: Baltimore, Maryland

    Della Soul Records – Source: Facebook.com

    SOURCES:

    #AfricanAmericans #albums #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackOwned #cities #fun #geography #history #landUse #music #recordStores #records #tourism #travel #vinyl
  8. Happy Mother’s Day 🌹 to all you strong and loving mums, step-mums, grandmums and chosen mums out there!

    A bit of 🔥 from @messinabottle

    #messinabottle #blackowned #smallbusiness #genius

  9. @[email protected]

    See above to know what the event is all about.

    So my bf and I went to Busboys and Poets, and we had a great time.

    Did you know that the place is black owned? Yeah, this white oblivious enby did not realize it, but my bf (who is black) quickly picked up on it. 😂 It was his first time there, and my second.

    He loved the place. I hit a home run with this location.

    #BlackOwned #BusboysAndPoets #NeuroqueerMeetings

  10. This married slut loves it when i use her like the filthy fuckhole cumdump she is, she keeps coming back begging me for this treatment.
    Ladies do u want this treatment too?
    #interracial #blonde #bigblackdaddy #bigblackcock #facefucking #Faceslaping #pussypounding #asspounding #hotwifeforbbc #blackowned #fuckhole #cumdumpster

  11. This married slut loves it when i use her like the filthy fuckhole cumdump she is, she keeps coming back begging me for this treatment.
    Ladies do u want this treatment too?
    #interracial #blonde #bigblackdaddy #bigblackcock #facefucking #Faceslaping #pussypounding #asspounding #hotwifeforbbc #blackowned #fuckhole #cumdumpster

  12. TIL today. Hip Hop group Nappy Roots own a craft brewery in Atlanta called Atlantucky Brewing

    They hold gaming tournaments, and Happy Hour is appropriately called Nappy Hour. :ScarfLul:

    Their latest Live performance is from their brew house.

    youtube.com/watch?v=ng704wRxG1

    If I ever get down to Atlanta, I'm peeping this spot

    atlantucky.com/

    #Beer #CraftBeer #NappyRoots #HipHop #BlackOwned #BlackOwnedBrewery #AtlantuckyBrewing #Music #MusicVideo

  13. "North Carolina's first #Blackowned children's #bookstore is moving out of downtown Raleigh less than a year after it opened... On Monday, Scott-Miller posted on Instagram that the bookstore will leave its space on April 30 after receiving 'numerous threats'..."

    wral.com/story/black-owned-chi

    #racism #maga #books #whitenationalism

  14. I’ve just started reading this book by Theresa Runstedtler—and it is a very good read! I wouldn’t have known about this book had it not been for Roland Martin—his “Unfiltered” daily digital show (a must-watch on YouTube and the Black Star Network) featured Roland’s great interview with the author. Thank you Roland and Theresa! Support Black-owned media!! #blackowned #blackownedmediamatters #books #book #bookstodon #BlackMastodon #Mastodon

  15. @mostaurelius @blackmastodon
    Using Bookshop.org to Support Black-owned Bookstores

    1. Use the Store Locator; filter "Black-owned"; once upon a time they had a direct link, but alas no more
    2. Pick a store as recipient of your purchase subsidies; like Marcus Books
    3. Bookmark that URL in a place you will actually remember to use; Bookshop(.)org is a little tricksy and false and tries hard to forget your prefered bookshop and will divert your subsidies into the slush fund for all bookshops
    4. When buying or wishlisting books, start from the bookmark for your chosen store. Use Bookshop's own search form, not Google
    5. When ready to checkout out, start from the bookmark for your chosen store. Keep double checking during checkout. Make sure the "Thank you" / receipt page lands you back on your chosen store. Contact support if anything goes awry

    #Books
    #BlackOwned #Bookshop

  16. Friends, as we move into winter holiday shopping season, please consider my little shop for your gifts.

    My website is dragonandwolfdesigns.com

    Also, Joy is still job hunting. linkedin.com/in/denebeim

    We could use a bit of help this month as funds are rapidly dwindling. 0/$400

    ko-fi.com/dragonwolfdesigns
    Venmo grumpywitch
    PayPal.me/CherylMartin

    #ShopSmall #BlackOwned #QueerOwned #DisabledCrafter #HolidayGifts #FediGiftShop #ShopHandmade #MutualAidRequest

  17. Drinking a Hypebiscus by #SankofaBeerCompany. It is a Hibiscus Pale Ale, that blends the floral hibiscus flavor with a slight hop bite nicely.

    #Beer #CraftBeer #DCBeer #BlackOwnedBrewery #BlackOwned #BeerMastodon