Tag: culture

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Community Community Development Education Health and Wellness History Hometown Heroes Sonia Montalvo

Holly Edwards: The Legacy of Lamb and Lion Lives On

by Sonia Montalvo | Photos by Anica Marcelino

Holly Edwards was a force—both gentle and unyielding—who forever shaped Charlottesville’s community. Even now, nearly a decade since her passing, the ripple effects of her civic-centered work as a nurse, City Councilor, and community advocate are felt in both big and small ways. Holly was not just a public figure; she was a servant leader who showed up in people’s lives, day in and day out, with compassion, wisdom, and quiet strength.

To her family, she was the matriarch who led by example; to her neighbors, a trusted advocate and friend; and to the community at large, she was a woman of action, embodying what it meant to stand firmly for what is right while offering warmth and kindness to those around her.

Saturn Edwards recalls their mother’s advice: “You gotta be tough,” emphasizing her belief in balance: “She specifically said that we have to be like a lion and a lamb. You have to balance your energy when you’re interacting with other people, and you have to stand up for yourself while also doing it with grace.” Saturn and their twin, Jean, were the youngest of Holly and Ken Edwards’s children, growing up in a close-knit family alongside siblings Christen and Shelby.

Video Credit: Anna Scholl

Photo of Holly  provided by family.

Jean, fondly known as Novella, reflects on spending after-school hours at Westhaven with Holly, who seamlessly integrated family with her community work. “She would pick us up, especially during the summer when she was working as a nurse, and be like, ‘I’m going to be in my office and do my own thing, but you guys can play with your toys.’” For the Edwards children, service was more than a responsibility—it was a natural part of life.

Christen and Shelby share similarly impactful memories. Holly supported and encouraged their interests: Shelby recalls her mother buying the book that the musical she starred in during high school was based on, while Christen remembers having empowering conversations with Holly about her teenage aspirations of becoming an Olympic swimmer like Michael Phelps.

Creating Community Care

Holly’s roots run deep in Charlottesville’s public housing communities, and Westhaven held a special place in her heart. Westhaven, Charlottesville’s oldest housing complex, was where Mrs. Edwards served as a Parish Nurse and Program Coordinator for the Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) at the Westhaven Clinic. Holly’s efforts brought healthcare directly to those who needed it most, ensuring equitable access for all. She didn’t limit her work to just one facet of community care—she also pursued political change.

Left to Right: Jean Edwards, Saturn Edwards (Front Row,) Shelby Edwards, Christen Edwards, & Ken Edwards (Back Row.)

During her time in local government, Holly Edwards served as Vice Mayor of Charlottesville from 2008 to 2010 during her term on the Charlottesville City Council. Elected to the council in 2007, she served until 2011. In her work, she fought for policies that mattered—equitable access to resources and healthcare, as well as support for the city’s most marginalized. But she also knew that leadership wasn’t just about standing tall; it was about lifting others. Her family understood her unmatched ability to listen, connect, and offer the right words at the right time.

Love and Lasting Impact

Ken Edwards, no stranger to community work, jokingly shares that he loved “the hype” surrounding his wife, Holly. As a Community Faith leader and long-time Government Service worker for the United States Postal Service, Ken has spent decades fostering spiritual growth, serving as a pastor at Union Grove Baptist Church and now the historic Zion Union Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. Alongside his late wife, the couple exemplified a life of unwavering service—Ken through his faithful leadership and commitment to public service, and Holly through her passionate advocacy for healthcare and social justice.

Reflecting on Holly’s tireless work, Ken expressed his admiration: “It was amazing how many people Holly touched in ways I never knew about… People would see her carrying the oxygen tank, taking care of the twins, and still showing up for the community. They were inspired to do more, to stop dragging their feet.” When asked about his own legacy, Mr. Edwards said, “I want people to know that I was friendly, I didn’t point the finger at anybody, I didn’t condemn anybody. I just tried to love everybody. Man, that’s what I want. If the church can get that right, guess what? We’ll be full every Sunday.”

Carrying the Torch

In 2017, Holly Edwards passed away, and the community continues to deeply feel her absence, with many still mourning the profound loss of her leadership and compassion. One of her many initiatives still utilized in Charlottesville today is her “Meet Me at the Bus” program, where she stood at the Westhaven bus stop with donuts and fruit, chatting with families as they sent their children to school. This practice has since been adopted by other organizations in the area to foster engagement with community youth and their parents.

Today, Holly’s children continue her legacy in their own ways. Shelby Edwards, a versatile professional, has made an impact in both the performing arts and the nonprofit sector. A performer and teacher in the theater world, Shelby has acted on stages from Virginia to Illinois. In a full-circle moment of legacy, Shelby also became the Executive Director of the Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) in 2020, the same organization where her mother once worked as a program coordinator. Now back in the Windy City, she continues her philanthropic work as a Director of Leadership Giving.

Christen, a leader in the education field, is involved in several equitable education initiatives aimed at supporting marginalized students and fostering inclusion. A graduate of North Carolina A&T and UVA, Christen was a part of the inaugural leadership team for  Charlottesville’s first Freedom School, which provides a comprehensive education on Black and Brown history, social activism, and community involvement. She also started the first equity committee in the Charlottesville school district. Christen states, “I wanted to be able to talk about equity, diversity, and inclusion… the voiceless need a voice, and if I’m gonna come back home, I’m gonna give back to Charlottesville because it’s the same community that built me up.” She now serves as a Manager of Research and Evaluation for the National Center for Teacher Residencies, a Chicago-based education organization.

Jean and Saturn, recent high school graduates, are making their mark on the community as well. Jean, currently a student at VCU’s School of Arts for Theatre, said: “I don’t know. I just feel like it’s still very early in my career. Even though I am very young, and like I can speak on some of these issues, I feel like I still have yet to experience all of it. I’m mostly looking forward to being at VCU. I’m a transfer student. I didn’t enjoy my previous college. It was much too small for my taste, and I knew I wanted more.”

Saturn, following in their mother’s footsteps of activism, has become a vocal advocate for Black queer and trans individuals, focusing on visibility and inclusivity within the Charlottesville community. Like their mother, who worked passionately to uplift marginalized groups, Saturn continues this legacy by setting an example of Black queer joy and resilience. “I’m really setting an example for what Black queer joy can look like,” Saturn says. “That’s why I decided to stay [in Charlottesville]… so other Black queer and trans youth can see me on my journey and say, ‘Wow, I can do that and be happy.’”

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Community Community Development Khalilah Jones Style

Living at the Intersection of Too Much Yet Not Enough: The Dichotomy of the Black Woman

by Khalilah Jones | Photos by Kristen Finn and Anica Marcelino

Hey friends! I have been confronted with a few situations lately and had something on my heart that I wanted to share. I know that my Sisters and all the GWORLS (if I may use a cute colloquialism), can relate. If you’re a Black woman, you’ve probably found yourself walking a tightrope that feels like it was designed by some twisted circus master. You’re told “you’re too loud,” but also asked why you’re so quiet. You’re praised for your resilience but chastised for your attitude. In the world of fashion, the workplace, relationships, and heck, in society in general, Black women are navigating a maze that’s often invisible to everyone else. Let’s break it down.

Fashion: Serving Looks and Stereotypes 

Black women have always been trendsetters. From banging out braids and amazing afros to making streetwear chic, we’re the blueprint. Here’s the kicker: while our style is constantly imitated, we’re often criticized for it. Have you ever been told your natural hair is unprofessional? Or that your curves are too much for the office? Welcome to my world. 

It’s a diabolical ride trying to stay fly while battling stereotypes. You see a white girl in cornrows, she’s considered “edgy.” You wear them, and it’s “ghetto.” We’re expected to tone down our essence to fit into a mold that was never meant for us, but guess what? We’re done dimming our light. It’s 2024, and I encourage you to unapologetically embrace your style, whether it fits mainstream standards or not. 

Photo by Anica Marcelino

The Workforce: Boss Moves and Backhanded Compliments 

Now, let’s talk about work. Black women are out here making boss moves, climbing the corporate ladder, and slaying glass ceilings, but let’s keep it 100—it’s not always a fair game. We’re often overqualified yet overlooked. You’re either the “token diversity hire,” or you’re not “a good fit.” 

Then there’s the infamous “angry Black woman” trope. Dare to speak up in a meeting? You’re aggressive. Stay silent? You’re not engaged. It’s exhausting playing this never-ending game of “professionalism” that feels like it was designed to keep us on our toes and jumping through endless hoops, but here’s the tea: Black women are rewriting the rules. We’re creating spaces that celebrate our voices and pushing for diversity that’s not just a box to tick but a fundamental change in culture. 

Relationships with Men: Love, Loyalty, and Liberation

On to relationships. If you’re like most Black women, you’ve likely been bombarded with all sorts of mixed messages. Society tells us to be strong but submissive, nurturing but independent. It’s like they want us to be superheroes with no room for vulnerability

Dating as a Black woman can feel like a minefield. We’re either fetishized or disregarded. Some men see us as exotic trophies, while others buy into stereotypes that paint us as undesirable. However, I will let you in on a secret—Black women are and always will be, magic. We bring love, loyalty, and a depth of understanding that’s unparalleled. The key is finding partners who see us as equals, who respect our strength without trying to diminish it.

Our Role in Society: The Backbone and the Spotlight 

Black women have always been the backbone of society. We’re the ones holding it down in our communities, advocating for change, and setting trends that everyone else follows. Yet, our contributions are often minimized or ignored. It’s a wrap for that jack! We’re no longer waiting for validation. We’re claiming our space, telling our stories, and demanding the recognition we deserve. Whether it’s in activism, art, business, or politics, Black women are leading the charge. And we’re doing it with that special razzle dazzle that’s uniquely our own. 

Embrace the Dichotomy 

Living at the intersection of too much yet not enough is a balancing act that only Black women truly understand. We’re constantly told to shrink ourselves while being expected to carry the weight of the world. She walks with the universe on her shoulders and somehow, seamlessly makes it look like a pair of wings. It is in this dichotomy that we find our strength. We’re redefining what it means to be a Black woman in every space we occupy. 

So, to all the Black women out there: keep being too much! Keep breaking barriers and challenging norms. Because in a world that often tries to tell us we’re not enough, we are everything and more. 

Stylishly Yours,

Khalilah

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Community Community Development Education Food and Drink Health and Wellness Politics

Cultivate Charlottesville Is Addressing Food Insecurity at the Roots

By Staff writer I Photos by Kristen Finn

Early morning in one of Cultivate Charlottesville’s partnership gardens located at City of Promise in the West Haven Neighborhood, it is easy to see the physical indication of true collaborative efforts. Cultivate staff, and city residents have worked together to care for the garden complete with a multitude of fresh vegetables including broccoli, greens, and even a banana tree grown using pieces from the parent plant belonging to Joy Johnson, the neighborhood’s eldest living resident. Residents of the neighborhood can come and take what they need from the garden at no charge. This garden, though special, is not a stand-alone passion project, but instead an integral part of the work done through the organization’s efforts to alleviate barriers to food accessibility in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Executive Director, Aleen Carey believes that in reference to the city surrounded by mountains, “We say it’s a foodie town. Everybody talks about gourmet restaurants, farms, wineries. So it’s well known as a foodie town, but it’s not yet a food equity town.” Stepping into the role of director in July, Aleen serves as the successor to the organization’s former Co-directors Jeanette Abi-Nader and Richard Morrison.

 Charlottesville’s food insecurity rate affects 17% of the college town’s population. Hearing this statistic may be shocking for some, but if on the side that the rate affects, is unsurprising for others. Food insecurity in short is the term used to describe the inadequate accessibility and availability of nutritional and safe foods to meet one’s basic needs. Since Charlottesville is home to about 46,000 residents, that means that well over 7,000 people face the struggles that food insecurity brings. Cultivate, a non-profit in the city, aims to address the issue by working with youth and community residents to create equitable and sustainable food systems. The community-focused and led organization works to accomplish this goal according to their mission,  through garden-based experiential learning, growing and sharing healthy food, amplifying community leaders, and advocating for food justice.

Cultivate Charlottesville Staff pictured left to right: Kellyn Kusyk, KJ Howard, Niko Lewis, and Jennifer Minor

Cultivate’s mission to provide healthy foods to the residents of the city who could benefit the most is achieved by utilizing three programs: City Schoolyard Garden, Food Justice Network, and Urban Agriculture Collective. Envisioned with each program uniquely impacting its participants, each of them works together to bring about the change the organization wishes to see. Partnering with nine  Charlottesville City Schools, City Schoolyard Garden educates students on how to grow their own foods, as well as offering them fresh produce to take home. If interested, students have the opportunity to also become Food Justice Interns for the organization which can also lead to growth  in the organization as they age,  with options available to become Community Apprentices and Advocates.

.  The Food Justice Network program partners with over 25 organizations inclusive of food pantries, hospital networks, educational institutions and housing initiatives, this tier works together to pool their resources and implement strategies to achieve food equity and accessibility across the city.

 The Urban Agriculture Collective (UAC)  is special to Cultivate because it is essentially the programs’ genesis. UAC focuses on working with public housing spaces and their residents to grow food free of charge. Carey states, “Someone said, “Oh, you guys haven’t been around for a very long time,” and I was like, wait, we’ve been around for more than a decade, but Cultivate is the thing that’s newer. So the individual programs, Urban Agriculture Collective, UAC actually started as something called Quality Control Council Farm (QCC.)”.  At the time Garrett [Square apartments],  and Miss Karen Waters. were the ones who got the QCC farm going. And then one of our current staff members Jennifer Minor was working in the QCC farm from day one. So she’s still a part of the organization.  It changed from Quality Control Council Farm to Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville. Now we just call it UAC because it’s part of Cultivate Charlottesville. But those guys started in 2007.” The alignment of these three programs assists Cultivate Charlottesville’s infrastructure to hit on all cylinders to battle food insecurity. Aleen shared that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlottesville faced a higher rate of food insecurity compared to the rest of the state. While the city’s average sits at the aforementioned 17%, the state’s average was just under Charlottesville’s, at 11%. Despite Charlottesville’s deep affluence and abundant food resources available in the well-endowed area, the stark disparity emphasized the need for the organization’s comprehensive approach beyond traditional food assistance programs, thus recognizing the importance of systemic change, Cultivate’s integrated approach focuses on not only offering food support but also advocating for policy changes.

Cultivate Charlottesville as an entity is taking on the hard work of establishing food security, but Aleen shares that even with all of their successes, there is still much work to be done. “Another thing that we say that can be a little, um,  touchy is when you look at the last 40 years, we have not effectively moved the hunger needle. Even though we’ve had some of our organizations, and non-profits in this area working on it, we have not changed it to some great degree. I think that Is the same for the United States, not just Charlottesville. I think that’s how it’s gone. So that’s where we say, if we want to be successful, you have to add the system work.” Carey went on to share that Cultivate wants the city at an organizational and political level, to continue thinking about what it will continue to take to make Charlottesville the food equity town it deserves to be. “…we have been nudging them for sure. We’re in our sixth year of an official partnership with the city that’s called the Food Equity initiative and that is money for us to do this work with them.” 

Setting their sights on expanding their reach, the non-profit is working with Charlottesville Parks and Rec to hopefully in the future obtain gardening space at the historic Booker T. Washington Park as well as Benjamin Tonsler Park. Due to Parks and Rec going through a strategic planning phase, the campaign is ongoing.

After a morning of working in the City of Promise garden,  Cultivate staff member KJ Howard asked his fellow colleagues who were loading the truck up to head to their next garden site, “Does anyone need any broccoli to plant at their site?” It is this statement alone that captures the spirit of community fostered by Cultivate Charlottesville, where the focus reaches far beyond individual gain to supporting each other for the shared benefit of the public.

 

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Community Community Development Entertainment Food and Drink Nadirah Muhammad Style Travel

Inclusivity Uncorked at Daze of Rosé

by Nadirah Muhammad 

With a wildly successful inaugural year already under its belt, this year’s Daze of Rosé Festival set its sights on a familiar goal: to continue being an annual celebration of Virginia Rosé that promotes inclusivity, art, and freedom of expression by gathering wine lovers together in a beautiful location.

The brains behind the operation, Matt Harmon, owner of Harmony Wine, a black-owned business focused on making wine accessible and approachable for all, reminds festival goers that, “However you drink, drink in Harmony.” With this mission in mind and a goal to increase inclusivity in the wine industry, this festival is a culmination of both Harmon’s work and his passion to ensure people from all walks of life can enjoy their right to “rosé all day.”

One step onto the Castle Hill Cider grounds on festival day and it is abundantly clear that Harmon’s vision has come to fruition. Tablescapes sprawling with abundant florals, dozens of local purveyors and diverse vendors, and various educational wine sessions are just a few of the highlights from the Daze of Rosé event. The main event? Getting to taste over 20 local wineries and vote in the People’s Choice Rosé Wine Competition, which perfectly embodies Harmon’s wish to make wine accessible to all and representative of the community, many of whom have traditionally felt excluded by the wine industry.

This festival is more than just an afternoon of wine and sunshine, but rather permission to appreciate the leisure and luxury of a space that often Black and Brown people have not seen ourselves represented in.

This annual collaboration between Harmony Wine and Castle Hill Cider works to eliminate the traditional branding of wine culture, which convinces us that a certain amount of knowledge, access, or experience is required to enter it. Instead, it invites us to convene, collaborate, and celebrate Virginia wine.

The festival’s driving message, to dress pink and drink pink, certainly rang true that day, as droves of wine lovers and enthusiasts lined up to participate in tastings within the barn, partake in wine education events in the loft, and take to the discovery lawn to enjoy additional offerings and dance the evening away amid the foothills of Central Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. 

 

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Arts Community Community Development Entertainment Niya Bates

reReflector 04: Big Lean & “Ghost of Vinegar Hill”

by Niya Bates | Photos by Lincoln Carr

Featured photo:Lincoln Carr aka “Big Lean” reflected on a truck hood.

I think we have all been a little haunted by what Lincoln Carr aka “Big Lean” calls the “Ghost of Vinegar Hill” in one of his recent singles. Piano chords open the track before the beat kicks in. In the first verse of the song, he talks about his grandma selling candy apples out of her home on Prospect Ave and other family on Grady Ave and 12th street. He laments watching the streets “swallow n*ggas like Reese’s pieces”: his observation of how Charlottesville’s drug and street culture negatively impacts us all and results in good people dying too young. In the second verse he speaks on Black youth being “trapped like the slave bones down at UVA”. The hook declares:

“Small city, small mindset. N— don’t grow up out it. Dreaming of making it out, but don’t know how to go about it. To live in the Ville, to die in the Ville. It’s almost like my town’s cursed – the Ghost of Vinegar Hill.”

By now, most Vinegar Hill Magazine readers are experts on the history of Charlottesville’s oldest Black neighborhood and the former Black business district that was razed in 1964 during Charlottesville urban renewal campaign – allegedly in the name of improving Charlottesville’s image, providing better housing, and encouraging more development downtown. Sixty years later, we are left with a large surface parking lot in front of Staples and an affordability crisis that is pushing more Black residents out of the city. Few buildings remain of the once vibrant Black neighborhood: The Jefferson School, Vinegar Hill Theater, the Oddfellows Hall (now Common House), and a few houses in the neighborhood. A majority of the businesses that flourished in Vinegar Hill, like Inge’s Grocery and the barbershops, have long since closed. The families who once owned homes in the neighborhood have been pushed into public housing developments, expensive rentals, or are struggling against increasing real estate assessments to hold onto family homes in 10th & Page, Rose Hill, and Fifeville. These are some of the ghosts in Big Lean’s song.

If you’ve been following Lincoln’ musical journey for a while, you’re probably a fan of his mellowed out beats and easy rhymes about what it was like growing up in Charlottesville in the 90s and 00s. When he first got into music professionally, I remember seeing him perform at Satellite Ballroom and the Tea Bazaar when those were the local hip-hop venues that supported artists like The Beetnix (fronted by Damani Harrison), Jae Griff (Josh Griffin), and Linz Prag. They hailed from a generation of local musicians whose families had been in the area for a while, and who came up in Charlottesville after its early 1990s moment as a rising east coast hip hop destination. My favorite hip hop professor, Claudrena Harold, told me that Charlottesville and UVA were even featured in The Source magazine in a “Rap on Campus” feature in 1991. Lincoln got into rap because his father had VHS tapes of 80’s hip hop music videos by LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee, Kurtis Blow, and others. His sister introduced him to 90s rap and hip hop, but Lincoln didn’t officially become “Big Lean” until the death of his friend-turned-brother in 2009.

Lincoln Carr along a fence in Richmond, VA where he currently resides. 

Lincoln’s family family lineage can be traced back in Charlottesville for at least five generations. He and his older sister, Shameera, have been doing their family’s genealogy and learned that one of their great grandmothers was Amy Bowles Farrow. She owned over 220 acres of land and is considered a founder of the Free State community, which was located near the present day Dunlora and Belvedere neighborhoods. Their family still owns some of that land, which is mentioned in another track called “Playa’s Anthem.” When asked what his family’s history meant to him as an artist, Lincoln replied, “The farther I go back, the more I see that my family has always been here in Charlottesville/Albemarle area and other parts of Virginia.  It’s interesting to see, because we were taught that we all just come from Africa, but I am finding more, and more indigenous and native roots.”

Big Lean’s music, especially “Ghost of Vinegar Hill” speaks to ways that he feels like Black people in Charlottesville haven’t progressed as much as we should as a community. Some of the lyrics in songs point to changes in street code that put money and clout above loyalty and community, values he believes would help the Black Community find success beyond oppressive “ghosts” and past traumas. Lincoln hopes that his music catalogue will leave life jewels and inspirational stepping stones for his future descendants. When I asked him about legacy and the future, Lincoln had a few things in mind. On building generational wealth, he said, “learning my history and knowing that we owned land and were self-sufficient at one point, and then losing that as a family, has inspired me to bring that back to my bloodline and teach how to keep it.” He thinks young people in Charlottesville need more creative outlets and more support for the arts, especially Black-owned live music venues, engineering and technical training, financial literacy, and therapy. He says, “We suppress our traumas, which leak into the community.” In his songs he addresses racial profiling and policing of Black communities. He also believes that the community needs to do more to prevent youth from coming into contact with the police. Over and over, he stressed the importance of community and working toward being more self-sufficient.

Lincoln Carr aka “Big Lean” 

If his previous musical projects have addressed the ghosts that haunt us, the next complete project “Keep It Playa” is more reflective of the healing journey that Lincoln has been on personally. “I’ve been creating music for 14+ years now, so I’m really comfortable and confident with myself and my music.  Not that I haven’t always been, but I’m past the point of feeling like I have something to prove lyrically.  You can hear this in my relaxed flow on this current project.  Add some heartbreak, and loses, and you have this current project.” Lincoln’s story shows how we can all use family history as a source of pride and empowerment. This March, we celebrate the women like Amy Bowles Farrow, who left a legacy that continues to build and whose descendants are carrying the torch.

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National Headlines

Conservatives Wanted to Keep Her Book Off Shelves, So She Opened Her Own Bookstore

If you’re keeping up with the headlines, you know that book bans are on the rise across the country. According to advocacy group PEN America, book bans in public schools increased 33 percent last school year. And if you follow our coverage on The Root, you know books written by authors of color and authors who…

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Business Channing Mathews Community Community Development Food and Drink

Pass the Cornbread!

Photo includes a picture of a white plate with a black cast iron skillet sitting on top. In the skillet is a partially eaten warm and fluffy piece of yellow cornbread. A knife sits carefully placed within the side of the cornbread to gather another fluffy piece. There is a dollop of whipped butter on the top with a spattering of chives, and a hint of black pepper at the top.
Skillet cornbread featured at the Ridley. Image provided by author

by Channing Mathews

When I think of cornbread, I am immediately transported to my maternal grandma’s Floridian kitchen, where both my grandma and eldest Auntie were always cooking up a storm. My grandma’s tiny house would be filled with the delicious smells of collards, stewed catfish, and saffron rice, with gravy bubbling nearby. But nothing beat the cornbread. That curiously warm mostly-bread-but almost cake always had me on my tippy toes, peering into the kitchen hoping that I would get that warm corner bite…you know, the one with crunchy edges. And that sweet savory bite of yellow goodness and golden sunshine hitting my tastebuds is ingrained in my memory forever…and is my standard for excellence.

My momma took crunchy edges to the next level when she introduced a cornbread variation, cracklin’ bread, into our lives and into my always hungry belly. In this version, my momma used yellow cornmeal and added in pieces of pork crackling, which is essentially pieces of crispy and chewy pork skin– think of bacon with more emphasis on the lard– and jalapeño…whew, chile! You talk about DELICIOUS!

Though my momma’s side of the family stuck to yellow cornbread, my papa is notorious for his skillet white cornbread. I would watch in fascination as he made what Southerners call “hoe-cake bread.” Using a black skillet, I would watch him pour the white cornmeal batter into the hot pan, sizzling as it landed. As bubbles percolated the top of the gooey mixture, he would flip the cake in one swoop, exposing a crispy brown underside. Once done, the dense brown cake was ready to serve, and I’d be salivating over every crispy crunch.

As an adult I still love cornbread in its many varieties, and the stories that come with them. Even in my own family, you can see the evolution of cornbread and its many varieties. Cornbread is a traditional food that can be found across many Black holiday dinner tables across the US. Whether we are celebrating Thanksgiving or just having a regular Sunday dinner, you will often hear a “Pass the cornbread” as you pile your plate with deliciousness.

The three versions of cornbread that capture my childhood– yellow/sweet cornbread, crackling bread, and hoecake bread– are all representations of a blended history between Indigenous and Black enslaved people’s cooking that have been passed down through our generations. As food historian and author Michael Twitty notes in his book, The Cooking Gene, cornbread is rooted in the cooking practices of Indigenous peoples across what is now known as the Southeastern United States and Mexico. Twitty outlines how teosinte seed, the ancestor of the corn/maize varieties that we know in America today, was grown by hundreds of Indigenous groups to nourish the masses. Simultaneously, corn remained a staple across many African cultures, traveling with enslaved groups to the Americas where our ancestors recreated dishes reminiscent of the lands they once knew and blended them with Indigenous practices that form the roots of Southern cooking today. My dad’s hoecake bread comes from our enslaved ancestors who mixed white cornmeal, water, and occasionally a little salt, which often came in the form of ash, to form a dense pancake-like batter that was cooked on a hoe in an open fire. My mother’s cracklin’ bread could be considered a “wealthy” version of the hoecake bread, where small bits of meat available to our ancestors could be stretched by mixing it with cornmeal and preserving its nutrients to feed the endlessly working bodies who tended local crops. In reading Twitty’s book, I continue to be amazed at what our people were able to do with so little, and how much we have yet to discover about our contributions to Western culture.

My emerging journey as a food and drink writer is a search for uncovering more of these stories, of how our most beloved foods came to fill the spaces of our most beloved communities. Furthermore, I seek out the ways new food spaces are honoring the ways of our ancestors, springing us back to the memories of our childhoods, and, in my case, on the floors of my grandma’s kitchen.

This week, my search took me to check out The Ridley, an upscale, Black-owned restaurant in Charlottesville on Main Street that serves Southern cuisine. As expected, the Ridley featured a skillet cooked cornbread packed with sweet and savory bites, among them honey, whipped butter, cracked pepper and chives. And HONEY! You talk about good! As my friends and I enjoyed our meals, I was transported to my grandma’s kitchen as I savored every sweet and savory morsel…melded together perfectly with a good dollop of butter. Though the Ridley boasts a solidly southern menu featuring seafood, burgers, steaks and our favorite veggie sides, the cornbread was by far and above my favorite choice of the meal. What made the meal extra sweet was knowing that some of the proceeds from our meal were going towards the Ridley Scholarship Program, a merit-based scholarship program that recruits talented Black students to attend the University of Virginia. The program, along with the restaurant, is named in honor of Dr. Walter N. Ridley who earned a doctorate of education from the University of Virginia, becoming the first Black graduate of the University in 1953.

Thanks to The Ridley for transporting me back to my grandma’s kitchen, and for celebrating the legacies of our ancestors.

 

 

 

Categories
National Headlines

Black Beauty Roster Partners with WarnerMedia to Train Beauty Professionals how to Style Talent of Color

Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Tabitha Brown and many more Black actresses have had to deal with the horrors of the on set because stylists were not trained on how to do Black hair or makeup. Luckily, , a for diverse hair and makeup education, has partnered with WarnerMedia to train professional stylists how to treat Black hair and skin. This partnership aims to increase the diversity of beauty professionals in the industry as well as improve the ways in which Black characters are styled and costumed for the .

BBR Co-founder Simone Tetteh said BBR was inspired by the racial reckoning of summer 2020. While reflecting on the value of Black life and , she realized one group that needed advocacy were Black beauty professionals.

“I think we’ve all seen the stories and the tweets and heard about these horror stories that happened when there is just a lack of diversity behind the camera. We’re in a really interesting place where for the first time, I think in my lifetime, I’m able to turn on any channel or any streaming service and see someone who looks like me. And as great as that diversity is, we recognize that at same diversity is not in the hair and makeup chair,” said Tetteh.

The partnership with WarnerMedia was a result of their summit held last year. The WarnerMedia team reached out to BBR and they joined them in a panel, learning more how they can be a better ally and advocate.

From WarnerMedia’s Press Release:

“We’ve listened to the needs of our talent and creative communities’ desire to access beauty professionals that will help them continue to create best in class content while delivering an equitable and intentional experience. We acknowledge that not everyone’s the same and the needs of our talent to do their best work is paramount. We are thrilled to partner with BBR, a company that shares our commitment to championing underrepresented artists and inclusive environments to increase across the industry,” says Yvette Urbina, Vice President, Equity + Inclusion, Pipeline and Content, WarnerMedia.

Tetteh said it’s important that Black and brown look authentic on screen. One of the biggest factors toward making them look like themselves is hair and makeup. With the amount of makeup and natural hair products available to Black women now, actresses prefer to bring their own products to the . The need for better styling of isn’t as simple as providing those products on the table if the stylists don’t know how to use them.

Tetteh said the problem is ultimately rooted in education.

“You don’t learn how to work on a 4c hair in cosmetology school. You don’t learn how to work on a mannequin with 4c hair in cosmetology school. It’s simply not taught. That is really why there is such a disconnect,” Tetteh said. “That’s really what a major tenant of BBR is too, is providing education – educational resources for not just beauty talent color, but also white beauty talent too they can feel really confident in their skills and be able to work with any texture of hair that sits in their chair or any skin tone that sits in their chair as well.”

From WarnerMedia’s Press Release

“As we continue to see more diverse talent in front of the camera, we have to ensure we are diversifying behind the camera as well — especially with hair and makeup. We’ve seen and heard of too many on-set hair and makeup horror stories from talent of color and it’s time we change the narrative,” says Simone Tetteh, Black Beauty Roster Co-founder. “We’re thrilled WarnerMedia wants to partner with us to not only diversify the industry but lead the charge by changing it for the better.”

The BBR leadership council is composed of leading hair and makeup professionals in the industry including Sir John, Kim Kimble, Vernon Francois, and Larry Sims.

BBR holds educational resource for brands and companies to help them learn how to be better allies and advocates for their . Tetteh said the goal is for talent of color to be considered and feel safe in the chair and for beauty to feel competent and with the knowledge and skillset so they can work with anyone.

“It’s crazy to think that, you know, just 10 years ago, people were fighting for diversity in the hair and makeup trailer, like really pushing for it. And now it seems like it’s not as much of a fight as more much of it is like we’re pushing the b oulder up hill, but I think we’re getting closer and closer to the top of that mountain ,” said Tetteh.

Source: Black Beauty Roster Partners with WarnerMedia to Train Beauty Professionals how to Style Talent of Color

Categories
National Headlines

Essence Ventures Has Acquired BeautyCon Media

BeautyCon—the beauty and fashion influencer and content creator community founded by a Black woman and made even more popular by its annual , in and —just got even Blacker.

Per a press release provided to The Root, the seven-year-old entity has been acquired by an affiliate of Essence Ventures, “the independent Black-owned consumer technology company focused on emerging technology, content, community and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color” owned by Richelieu Dennis, co-founder of Sundial Brands, known for Shea Moisture, among other product lines.

“BeautyCon is an incredible brand founded by Marina Curry, a Black woman and pioneer who brought greater diversity to the beauty and media industries,” Dennis, also founder and chair of Essence Ventures, said in statement in which he also thanked former BeautyCon CEO Moj Mahdara “for her hard work and dedication to scale the company and build a diverse and inclusive community around beauty and fashion.”

“As we continue our mission to bring heightened inclusivity to the space and transform the face of media ownership, the decision to continue with BeautyCon Media was an easy one,” Dennis added.

The release further explains that as part of the acquisition, Essence Ventures—which operates the Essence Festival of Culture, will assume operations of the BeautyCon festival, “which brings together the biggest names in beauty and wellness.” Both festivals have understandably faced since the onset of the pandemic, with Essence Fest quickly and effectively pivoting to first a virtual format in 2020, followed by in 2021 in place of in New Orleans.

Seemingly, BeautyCon was not as successful at adapting to the restrictions compelled by COVID-19. As the release explains: “in May 2021, BeautyCon commenced an ABC (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors) process as an alternative to bankruptcy. During the ABC process, an affiliate of Essence Ventures purchased all of the assets of BeautyCon in a foreclosure sale.”

The acquisition of BeautyCon is “the latest in a series of investments made by Essence Ventures, which aims to scale Black-owned brands and bring much-needed diversity to the space,” the release states. In addition to EssenceCommunications, Inc. (which produces Essence Fest), the company’s portfolio also includes Afropunk and Naturally Curly, among others.

As we wait to see how BeautyCon will develop under the Essence Ventures umbrella, the company is kicking off New York Fashion Week with its annual in celebration of “global Black Fashion.” Sponsored by Coca-Cola and Hennessy, this season’s event will feature Black designers Arc of Andre, Grayscale, LAVNTG and Eclecticist, as well as conversations with fashion industry leaders. Following the successful hybrid format of Essence Fest, portions of the limited space event will be rebroadcast on Monday, September 13 at 7 pm ET on .

More from Essence:

Coming on the heels of its which features rapper Megan Thee Stallion, this star-studded experience discovering and recognizing cutting-edge Black creatives in fashion and their contributions is critical as the fashion industry continues to grapple with diverse representation and constructing solutions for economic inclusion. During this red-carpet event, ESSENCE will highlight Black excellence with awe-inspiring runway collections, exclusive designer showcases, insightful conversations with industry mavens and celebrities, post-worthy photo moments, and more.

“Our annual Essence Fashion House experience is a testament to all of the amazing designers and influencers across the diaspora who have had such a great impact on the industry,” said Essence Deputy Editor Cori Murray. “Essence is proud of our longstanding commitment to showcase the power of Black designers across our pages, stages and digital platforms…As conversations around diversity in the industry continue, we can look forward to a bright future with the talent that we will see during our event.”

“Black designers and creatives have long been disruptors and innovators who have inspired and transformed the fashion industry at-large and continue to be leaders of culture across the globe–and yet who have not received correspondent levels of recognition for their contributions,” added Latraviette Smith-Wilson, Essence’s Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer. “Essence Fashion House puts a well-earned spotlight on the power and pervasiveness of their creativity and serves as a platform for them to be duly acknowledged during one of the most recognized weeks in global fashion.”

Source: Essence Ventures Has Acquired BeautyCon Media

Categories
Entertainment

Waasi’s Rebellion

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So even before I could get out my first question, he interrupts me and asks in a shy but abrupt way, “So do you want to hear about Malcolm or do you want to hear about Waasi?”  He asks the question as if I should brace myself if I really wanted to learn about Waasi. He gives one of those Kawai Leonard laughs and says, “There’s a major difference between Waasi and Malcolm.”

In Swahili, the word waasi means rebel or rebellious one. “I’ve always been kind of weird. You know, I was into Anime (Japanese inspired animation and cartoons).  While most of the people in my generation were in the house playing video games, I liked to be outdoors. I lived in an imaginary world.  I’m the type of person who thinks outside the box. Shit, I wore skinny jeans before people started wearing skinny jeans,” said young Waasi.

Brother Waasi goes on this short soliloquy to qualify the fact that he is at heart a rebel—in every sense of the word.  I mean just follow his music and his artistry.  It’s hard to categorize him. He just doesn’t fit into the boxes that we typically want to fit artists into. As music connoisseurs, we always want to be able to put certain artists into categories of where they fit, but Waasi doesn’t fit.

Waasi's Rebellion

Waasi doesn’t fit, and from what I gather from our conversation, Waasi has no desire to fit.  Waasi presents himself as something otherworldly. From the blonde hair to the skinny jeans, to the piercing but star-gazing look, this kid is from another planet, and he knows it, and what is more, he embraces it.

I couldn’t help but keep hearing the Nina Simone song ‘Misunderstood’ in the back of my mind during the interview.  Waasi kind of put me in that frame of mind, so I asked him, ‘How have you dealt with being misunderstood?’  He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. It seemed like somewhat of a sobering moment.

“It was hard at first.” (Long pause.) “Regardless of what you do, people are going to have something to say,” he replied as he collected his thoughts.  He goes on to say some of the most tweetable -ish I’ve heard in a minute, “The best way to be relevant is to be who you are. I’m not trying to fit in.”

Waasi has developed a growing audience and following for his music over the past year or so. His mixtape from January of 2018 ‘BETTERDAZE’ has more than 30,000 plays on Sound Cloud, with listeners from all over the world.  His sound has that type of reach that doesn’t say, ‘local rapper’. It says this kid Waasi is something Charlottesville should support to the fullest and make sure this winged creature flies and carries us along for the ride.

The signature track on the mixtape was ‘Groovin’ which is accompanied by a video that displays two components of the hybrid culture of Charlottesville—rugged urban hip-hop culture and frat boy post-adolescent foolishness. It’s a sound that is somewhat Chicago house music but at the same time distinctly Charlottesvillian. Outfitted in his ‘Dreamin’ Diamonds’ t-shirt, Waasi presents himself as one who is deeply rooted but ready to grow and go far and wide.

So inevitably the question for many of us is, ‘Well how in the world did Waasi get into this music thing?’  Well, it turns out that in his eclectic individuality, brother Waasi is also a poet.  “I started writing poetry in middle school, but I hid it from everybody. I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even let my family know,” Waasi revealed.  Most of his poetry was about himself. Poetry, as he puts it, gave him the ability to self-reflect and actually notice his own existence.

“Poetry helped me to be comfortable with myself,” Waasi emphasized the point that his aim is to help people and to motivate them to comfortable with themselves. “I want to inspire people to take their negative thoughts and hesitations and just go do what brings them life,” Waasi spoke of how he saw a lack of individuality and how there is a lot of copy-catting going on. To illustrate, Waasi said, “You see those face-tat rappers. It got played out fast, but everybody was doing it.”

When many people who aspire to be rappers are more concerned about money or fame, Waasi has a different motivation for being successful, both as an artist and financially.  “I watched my parents struggle and still make shit shake. I want to do the same for them.” Waasi at this point in the interview delves deep into how family and friends are his motivation.  He goes on to discuss how he wants to provide a life for his three siblings so they can live comfortably. He by reflex delves into a lyric from his ‘BETTERDAZE’ mixtape and says, “The outcome is going to be amazing.” Waasi is adamant that it’s not about him; he just wants to put the people around him in a better position. I could only respect the young man for this. This is the type of energy we should definitely be supporting.

When I asked him about his top five all-time artists, he quickly stated Andre 3000, Kendrick, Kanye (the old Ye’), J. Cole, and of course Hov. Of Jay-Z, he said, “Hov is living proof that a young black man who started out hustling can use art to turn his life around and put the people around him in a better position.”

When I asked him who he’s listening to today, he definitely checked me on my contemporary hip-hop knowledge. Waasi was like, “How you don’t know who Smino is man? Smino stands out from everybody.”  He keeps spitting, “Yo, you heard of Jid from Dreamville, right?” I try to pretend like I’m hip. But he knows I’m not.  We laugh.  I’m impressed by his range of knowledge about hip-hop and music in general. Waasi is obviously a student of the game and is on his way to being a major player.

I nearly forgot before we finished to ask him about Malcolm. “Malcolm is an overall nice guy, you know.” He presents Malcolm as an unassuming and laid back person. “Waasi is Malcolm’s outlet to express himself.” He goes on to say that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Malcolm, but Waasi’s rebellious nature gives balance to Malcolm. “We were just kids beating on the lockers and lunch tables at AHS (Albemarle High School) and MHS (Monticello High School) and battle rapping and what not, and that gave birth to Waasi.  I would be in the music studio all day at MHS, even afterschool becoming Waasi, the rebellious one. Malcolm and Wassi want the same things. They want people to just be free to be themselves, but they just go about it in different ways.”

Waasi’s new video will premiere on YouTube on February 14th called ‘YOUANDI’ and promises it is going to be one of a few of his visuals that will change the game. Check out Waasi’s catalog on SoundCloud follow him on Instagram @itswaasi. After talking to this young man and seeing the depth that is within him, I’m convinced that Waasi’s rebellion is one that we should join.

Written by Sarad Speaks