Category Archives: Finance

07Sep/21
Finance

What Banks Don’t Want You to Know

“Banking is necessary. Banks are not.” ~ Wells Fargo 2004 Annual Report

Fact: The average American doesn’t have $400 in their savings account. This is linked to both poor financial habits and the way the banking system is set up. Banking is the most important business in the world! Without it, all business comes to a screeching halt. However, a little unknown fact is in order for banks to function, they rely heavily on us.

Unbeknownst to most, banks do not lend out their money, they lend out ours. What’s more, they cannot make a loan unless it has a deposit, and we are the source of where funds derive. These monies come from our deposits.

How were we convinced—better yet—lured to supply them with our hard-earned monies? With the help of consistent commercial advertisement, we are duped daily to believe they are the safest place to keep our monies.

Heard of the Fractional Reserve Lending System? Each time you deposit money in your bank, made consistently from our paychecks that create a guaranteed and indefinite supply of funds, banks 10x that deposit that can be then used to create loans that only banks profit from.

If you make a bi-weekly $1000 deposit acquired from your job to your checking account at your bank, they turn it into $10,000 by way of the Federal  Reserve. The bank must keep $1000 on their books BUT… they can lend out  90% (or $9,000) of the now suddenly made up $10,000, affixed with a high rate of interest ensuring profit on top of the gift we give them with each deposit. Now multiply that by the hundreds-of-millions of folks employed and the billions they send to banks!

This is called Arbitrage or the act of taking advantage of the money market with said strategies not shared with the public. While these banking families continue to create bloodline wealth with each deposit, we’re lucky to get 1.8% through a savings account—which often requires a sitting balance of $10,000 or more. 

The greatest fact is you don’t need banks to build sustainability because they were never designed for us to do so. You don’t need their loans nor to store your savings with them to create wealth. But there are a few strategies we can use to our benefit.

How would you like to become your own bank using similar strategies to create a coffer of resources so you’ll never have to apply for a loan, credit, or have to crowdfund?

In order to do so requires a will to forgo what you’ve been taught. I invite you to join the Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement where I show you ways to live off your savings and investments without falling victim to job loss or being taken advantage of in money markets rigged to fail.

Join the Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement 

M’Bwebe Ishangi, Founder and Author 
A Pot to Piss In: Intergenerational Wealth Planning for Black People 
Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement 
cryptowokemovement.com 
cryptowokemovement@gmail.com 
Facebook & Instagram: @cryptowoke

07Jun/21
Finance

How to Fight Racism…Financially

“If Black people started getting million-dollar Life Insurance Policies, the police killings would immediately stop.” 

May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed at the hands (really knee) of former Minneapolis policeman-naow-convicted-murderer, Derek Chauvin. From May 26th to August 31st, the police killed another 288 people. The same day Chauvin was pronounced guilty, 15-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant was fatally shot by police in Columbus, OH. She was one of six police shootings 24 hours post-verdict! A few weeks before, Andre Hill (age 47) was shot and killed by former cop Adam Coy. April 11th, Daunte Wright (age 20) was murdered by Brooklyn Center, MN officer, Kimberly Potter, who claimed she mistakenly pulled her gun despite tasers being known to be significantly lighter in weight and having bright neon colors to help tell the difference.

Police could’ve used tasers instead of guns in each encounter. Since 2005, 15,000 have died by police—that’s 1,000 annually. Only 104 officers have been charged with a mere 35 convicted of any crime.1 

Unarmed Black people are four times more likely to be killed by police. This civil disparity is continually evident: 

1) June 2015, after shooting nine Black people in a Charleston, SC church,  Dylann Roof was taken by police to Burger King before being booked. 2) October 2020, Lithia, FL, Nicholas Furgason (age 21) stabbed a cop in the neck and then fled. Deputy Charles Williams’s bodycam showed him changing from his gun to tase Furgason without taking his life. 3) On March 16, 2021, eight people, including six Asian-American’s, were gunned down in Atlanta, Georgia. April 22nd—just 37 days later—the  COVID-19 (Asian) Hate Crimes Act, passed 94-1. 

Black people have been the victim of hate crimes since we were brought here to be enslaved, and still, there are no hate crime laws for us! 

When will we realize chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “Hands up. Don’t shoot”  doesn’t work? What does work? Re-read the quote at the beginning of this piece… 

The life/annuity insurance sector totaled $678.7 billion in 2019. If we made sure we’re properly insured, insurance companies would demand and get police reform because death benefit payouts are a major financial loss for them!  Simple, we know what talks; not politricks, not marching, not voting…  shmoney! 

This strategy can lower police brutality AND simultaneously build Black wealth, empowering us for generations! Once we self-determine economically, congress may begin to take us seriously. Even if the killing of our people doesn’t decrease, properly insured, our families are able to create sustainable lives that enable living off annuities. This is the way of the rich! 

Want to know how to use insurance as a wealth-building tool? I invite you to join the Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement. I’ll show you how to live off your savings and investments using insurance and other methods without needing a job. 

Join the Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement 

M’Bwebe Ishangi, Founder and Author 
A Pot to Piss In: Intergenerational Wealth Planning for Black People 
Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement 
cryptowokemovement.com 
cryptowokemovement@gmail.com 
Facebook & Instagram: @cryptowoke

07Mar/21
Finance

Are You Financially Prepared For This “New Normal”?

“If you allow someone to feed you, they can also starve you.” 

Heard the saying, “feed a man a fish, feed him for a day”? Fact: it’s not really hard to fish… once you know how to. When it comes to finances, it has been purposely kept a mystery. Why?  Because this system would rather you let them feed you ‘fish’ instead of you ‘learning to fish’ on your own—and they’ve been successful at it! 

To no fault of their own, our parents told us we need a job to provide – which really means to survive. It was never suggested by them to master money, which enables you to own your time and earn your own income. In today’s world, the latter has become most apparent. With automated jobs on the rise, employment will be different, leaving many jobs we train for obsolete within the next five years. Artificial Intelligence will see to that as we embark on a new Industrial Revolution that will cause millions of unemployed citizens as a result. Since Trump took and left office, a total of 3 million jobs were lost and they’re not all because of a virus. 

Fact is, no job equals no money. Little-to-no finances lead to the inability to sustain yourself as well as compound debt. At this point, the topic of retirement can’t even be a thought, much less wealth transfer! As we witness the instability of this country, realize we don’t have to go down with it. Now, more than ever, is the time to be proactive in planning and then executing a sustainable plan that will cut your dependency on a possibly soon-to-be automated job to sustain yourself. 

There can only be but so many stimulus checks given out. Eventually, we will have to have a way to earn money to live in today’s world. None of our  “leaders” are speaking about this, nor our financial advisors—and they won’t! If we continue to wait for some miracle to “make it the way it was”, this awakening will be ruthless with no remorse.

PLAN IT THEN PLANT IT! 

2020 was either your best or worst financial year. Quarantine made us eat out less, travel and commute less, some got moratoriums on rent/mortgage, car insurance, and other t-bills. And let’s not mention two stimulus checks! But what did you do with it? Did you spend it on the holiday season or invest it? We cannot afford to use the same plan in this new normal. 

I invite you to join the Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement where I  show you ways to live off your savings and investments without falling victim to job loss nor being taken advantage of in money markets rigged to fail.  

Join the Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement 
M’Bwebe Ishangi, Founder and Author 
A Pot to Piss In: Intergenerational Wealth Planning for Black People 
Cryptowoke Financial Sustainability Movement 
cryptowokemovement.com | cryptowokemovement@gmail.com 
Facebook & Instagram: @cryptowoke

03May/20
Angel Kaba

Angel Kaba is Teaching How She Made $1k in 4 Days

Angel Kaba is a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, movement coach, content producer, and digital marketer. Pre-COVID-19 Quarantine in New York City, she was a regular teacher at Alvin Ailey and Steps on Broadway and held regular workshops and rehearsals for multiple gigs. Within 24 hours, her whole life changed. Her schedule was wiped and she had to figure out how to survive and generate income. Taking all of her skills into account, she earned over $1000 in 4 days from teaching her classes online and is now hosting a course to teach you how you can teach online too.

Photo by Wheaton Simis

Taji Mag (TM): What was your teaching schedule like before the pandemic “quarantined” us into not gathering in groups?

Angel Kaba (AK): I was teaching 4 times a week in different studios in Manhattan and the Bronx. On top of my regular schedule, I had special Workshops, rehearsals, and other gigs like music videos and performances for festivals.

TM: How were you affected by the quarantine?

AK: OMG, in 24hours I felt like my life changed as if in a movie, but not for the good. Studios started to close one after another. I was in shock. I had no idea what to do. I am an immigrant here, I have an artistic visa for dance. Legally I can’t do anything other than dance. I thought, “How will I be able to make money and survive?”

TM: What did you do to overcome this hit to your income?

AK: After the shock, I was like, ok, let’s find a solution! I remembered Ashani Mfuko, the money maker of the dance industry who has been speaking about “passive incomes” for years. I researched to find the best way to teach online classes – which platform to use, the cost – then I put a 100% online strategy into place. In 4 days I made $1200!

TM: What are some items people can look forward to when taking your course?

AK: I brought my strength as a teacher and made my knowledge and expertise available for my students during this challenging time. 

To take Angel’s course, contact her via email at afrodancenewyork[@]gmail.com. Keep with with all of her endeavors on Instagram!

02Feb/19

5 Do’s and Don’ts when Taking the Leap to Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is trendy right now. You may be feeling the need to “create multiple streams of income” and “become your own boss.” To many, that sounds like a dream come true. Entrepreneurship will show you who you are and challenge you in ways you’ve never imagined. However, many entrepreneurs become frustrated with a lack of quick success, and many customers become frustrated with a lack of quality products or service. The following five tips will help your transition into entrepreneurship, whether part-time or full-time, be as smooth as possible.

Do: Focus on the right product or service

This is particularly important if your business will rely solely on you, at least starting out. To make sure you are providing a quality product or service, you must focus on something for which you possess sufficient talent and that you enjoy. Think about it: if you absolutely love playing the piano, but the extent of your skills is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, then you should not become a piano teacher. Conversely, if you hate playing the piano but are an exceptional player, could you really be an effective teacher? Find something that you can do every day and do well.

Don’t: Reinvent the wheel

Once you figure out your product or service, focus on making sure the core of your business is exceptional. It may be tempting to want to make your business that takes a standard product and shares it in a way that the world has never seen before. Don’t. Yes, there may be twenty other cake designers in town, but you already have one thing that none of the others have–you! You will be different from everyone else. You have your own network. You have your own style. You have your own experiences. Lean on those, and your business will naturally stand out.

Do: Be consistent

Consistency is the key to achieving anything you want in life, including being a successful entrepreneur. If you want to grow, develop business, and make money, it is going to take more than a couple of hours per week in your spare time. You are going to have to commit to making the time to work on your business, and some things may have to take a backseat to your business. A few options for encouraging and tracking consistency are setting a schedule, writing a list of weekly goals, and having some progress benchmarks. Whatever you want to accomplish with your business, you will not get there without consistency.

Don’t: Get discouraged

You spend months doing market research, writing a business plan, developing your product, building a website, and finally launch your business. Then nothing. Or worse, someone buys your cake or hires you to decorate their home and are dissatisfied. You get a bad review. Maybe one of your clients can’t pay you. Maybe you miscalculated your expenses, and can’t pay your expenses for the month. Do not be discouraged! Every business, including yours, is going to face challenges. Instead of looking at challenges as setbacks, focus on how you can use those experiences to create systems to solve problems in the future. What can you learn? How can you move forward? The more challenges you face, the better you will get at bouncing back, and in the end, you’ll be a better entrepreneur because of it.

Do: Rely on your network for support

Your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and social media acquaintances will be essential to the success of your business. From the research stage to selling your product or service, make sure you keep them involved and aware. They will be your first customers. They will provide your first referrals. They will encourage you when you face challenges, and cheer you on when you succeed. Do not passively include your network in your business, be strategic and intentional. Know when and how to reach out to each person. Your parents may not receive information or have the same needs as your coworkers. Throughout your entrepreneurship journey, your network will grow as your business does.

Making the decision to become an entrepreneur is a major commitment. Whatever your product or service, whatever your goals, these five do’s and don’ts will start your business off right.

With the right network, success is always possible.

13Aug/18

Essence CEO Launches Funds for Black Businesses with Queen Latifah

Have you heard? At last month’s Essence Fest, Essence Ventures CEO Richelieu Dennis announced the official launch of the $100 million New Voices Foundation. Dennis, also Founder of the Shea Moisture Brand, had already invested more than $30 million in the 6 months prior to the announcement. “What many of you may not have known all these years is that when you were buying Shea Moisture products you weren’t just investing in that business,” said Dennis during the event’s opening press conference. “We need you to continue buying Shea Moisture so [that] we can continue putting that money back in[to] the community.” The New Voices Fund, dedicated to funding Black Women in business, was originally established in 2017.

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Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence

As if that were not enough, the CEO also took the opportunity to announce the new Essence Creators and Makers Fund. Essence Ventures, the parent company of Essence Communications, has already invested $20 million into that fund under the guidance of Dennis. Focused on curating African-American content, production company ‘Flavor Unit Entertainment’ lead by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere is the first partnership on the bill. Appropriately so, being that during the announcement Dennis gave credit to the duo for developing the idea in the first place. During a later panel discussion on Entrepreneurship, Queen Latifah spoke about the financial obstacles that new ventures often face. “One of the most difficult things is struggling to find the capital to continue your ideas. So by supporting us, you are going to keep this engine running in a way you [can’t] even imagine.” Flavor Unit Entertainment will both create and finance film, television, digital, and documentary-style content that reflects the lives and experiences of Women of Color. The Essence Platform — including print, digital, and live events — will be used to market and promote projects taken under the fund.

Essence

I truly respect Dennis for his direct actions against the disadvantages plaguing Black Economics. So far concerning the Makers and Creators who need to “own our content and not just be work for hire” and the Black Women Entrepreneurs that will receive funding for their businesses, I can’t wait to see what else is in store. “Essence and the vision… speaks to Black Women, but also that creates an economic engine through which… we can reinvest back into our community.” Dennis leads by the example that, with initiative, each of us can take part in the collective growth. I’m convinced that, in finding his purpose, Dennis has our backs for the long haul. That’s almost enough to make me grow back out my hair to support Shea Moisture again. Almost.

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Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence

Stayed tuned for surfacing news about The Essence Creators and Makers Fund.

Applications for The New Voices Foundation are not yet open, however, you can initiate a profile on the site here.

The New Voices Fund is a 501( c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Tax-deductible contributions can be made here.

24Apr/18
First Ladii

The Business of First Ladii

First LadiiHer name is Briana Barksdale, but she is known in the entertainment industry as First Ladii Briana B. She is originally from Greensboro, NC but she lived in Virginia for two years before relocating back to North Carolina to the state’s Capital, Raleigh.

Goals: A future goal that Briana sees for her financial literacy business is to help one thousand new clients gain financial freedom by the end of 2018.  

Bet You Didn’t Know!: If she could work with any top name in the entertainment industry she would choose to work with Oprah because she views her as the most successful woman of all time!

She has attended several schools – A&T, Columbia School of Broadcasting and is currently studying Entertainment Business at the Los Angelo’s Film School – and during her time at the previous schools, she majored in business, media, and broadcasting. It has always been her passion to help others achieve their goals or to motivate them to be “One Day closer to their Dreams.” She is very blessed to be working every day in her field of work and changing the financial lives of all people daily.

Her mother inspired her to start her own company. In growing up, her mother was an entrepreneur and she always had several side gigs. Her daughter studied her tactics and it inspired her to want to grow and achieve all that she could during her life. She currently maintains an established Credit Consulting franchise and specializes in Credit Restoration and Financial Literacy. She also owns a multi-production PR business called First Ladii Productions.

Life with The Company 

As a CEO, the qualities she feels are most valuable consist of leadership, tenacity, perseverance, and confidence.  Her credit restoration franchise offers services that mentor in the field and financial literacy services to help repair and retain all things financially related.

The biggest challenge she had to overcome when starting her business was the ability to overcome after failure and/or denial. In her position, she had to juggle so many companies and these tasks are sometimes difficult, but in situations of that nature, you have to reorganize your priorities.

Success is always around the corner! The contribution she made to her community through her success is of great importance. She was recently recognized by her partner company for reaching milestones in her credit literacy program. She also hosted a red carpet event with her production company that sponsors individuals with epilepsy.

First Ladii

Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

Are there any CEO boss ladies’ who are internationally known that you admire?

The CEO Boss Ladies that she admires are Issa Rae and Beyonce. She admires Beyonce because she has been consistent in her business ventures. She admires Issa Rae because she created a similar platform as her and her success is something that she models.

Are there any other creative talents that you have, that your audience doesn’t know about?

Barksdale shared that she has plenty of talents.  One of which is being a mother. She’s a mother of a two-year old. In addition, she writes and produces a radio show as well as a talk show entitled Goal Diggers. The show features and highlights individuals successfully chasing their dreams.

She can be reached through social media on the following platforms:

Personal:

@iamBrianaB (Facebook, Snapchat, IG, Twitter)

Business: (Facebook and IG)

@CreditBrianaB

@GoalDiggersShow

@ShayStarDOTcom

Her Websites:

www.FirstLadii.com

www.GoalDiggers.tv

www.ShayStar.com

www.myfes.net/BBarksdale

19Feb/18
Black Panther movie

My Reaction to the Black Panther movie aka Spoiler Alert!

Black Panther movieThe Black Panther movie released this weekend in all of it’s Black Excellence glory. It was worth the wait and the estimated $218M it earned during its opening weekend, shattering records and telling movie studios to STFU about Black movies not busting box offices wide open. More on that and my thoughts about the deeper storyline to come (skip to below the bullet points), but first my reactions to some of the Blackest moments and lines in the film. Ryan Coogler has a way of capturing the essence of Blackness, especially with Michael B. Jordan, from Fruitvale to Creed and now with Black Panther. The writers did an excellent job at including colloquialisms and mannerisms specific to Black culture and the actors did a phenomenal job of bringing them to life.

  • I loved the irony of the newscaster calling Wakanda a “third world country” which made me ask wtf defines a third world country to begin with?
  • Okoye (Danai Gurira): “Don’t freeze when you see her.” T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman): “What are you talking about? I never freeze.” Then he freezes, LMAO. Lupita has that effect, hunny.
  • Shuri (Letitia Wrightgives T’Challa a playful middle finger while walking away and Ramonda (Angela Bassett) calls her on it without even seeing it. Black Mothering at its finest…
  • Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordantells the lily-white museum director, “Don’t worry, I’m going to take it off of your hands,” referring to the Wakanda artifact. MJB is consistently Black as hell…
  • The boat ride to the ceremony with Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) giving us a taste of #danceislife deserves mention.
  • When T’Challa walked into the water and saw his nation rooting for him. That was powerful on multiple levels. We all need to be rooting for each other like that.
  • When Zuri (Forest Whitakerasks if anyone of royal blood wishes to challenge for the throne and Shuri raises her hand only to ask them to wrap it up because her outfit is too tight. Typical Black sibling trolling.
  • Ramonda yelling to T’Challa “SHOW HIM WHO YOU ARE!” during the challenge with  M’Baku (Winston Duke). Babbbbbbyyyy, I felt that in my bones. That needs to be a daily affirmation.
  • I loved how every ritual was ancestrally-based.
  • T’Challa telling Nakia she would make a great Queen if she wasn’t so stubborn (I almost threw my boot at the screen), for Nakia to respond that is WHY she would make a great Queen. T’Challa just wanted her to admit that she wanted to be his Queen.
  • Shuri’s consistent afrobeat playing throughout her lab. *hearts*
  • Shuri yells “WHAT ARE THOSE” to T’Challa’s traditional sandals. She then gives him his new soundproof footwear and says she calls them… wait for it… sneakers… get it? LMAO! THEN she tells him about his new suit design and he’s all my suit is fine and she says, “Functional, but old. If people are shooting at me, wait, let me put on my helmet.” She had jewel after adorable jewel. She tells him to strike the suit and he boots it across the room and she yells at him for messing up her lab, but informs him of the suit’s design and that it absorbs and then redistributes kinetic energy. She takes out her camera, for research purposes, and tells him to strike the suit again only to howl laughing when he goes flying across the room when he is blasted back by his own force.
  • Okoye said she couldn’t wait to get her wig off of her head and that it was a disgrace. Shots fired?
  • Nakia in the green dress in the Korea scene. Have mercy.
  • Black Panther movie
  • Agent Ross’s ole bitchass needed to be popped in the mouth for how he was speaking to T’Challa at the table. Find some respect.
  • Okoye pointed out that no weapons were allowed yet yielded her weapon less than 60 seconds later when the fight broke out! Black women always prepared for EVERYTHING. That jump down from the 2nd level was the first of her notable jump scenes.
  • Shuri’s excitement when the car populated in her lab. Adorbs.
  • The quick shot of Nakia driving barefoot was a great attention to detail since she lost her shoe when she used it as a weapon in the fight.
  • When their car is blasted by Klaue, Okoye flips, grabs her spear in mid-effin-air, and lands on a piece of the car. Then Nakia comes hilariously sliding in with just the seat and steering wheel.
  • Can we talk about how T’Challa could’ve ended Klaue and Killmonger wouldn’t have had his dead body as leverage if we weren’t in such a digital age? Oh ok.
  • Okoye’s disdain for taking the shot Agent Ross into Wakanda to be healed, and Shuri saying, “great, another broken white boy for us to fix, this is going to be fun.” Classics.
  • Killmonger showing his Wakanda tattoo and killing Klaue made me smile.
  • When they revealed that Young T’Chaka (Atandwa Kaniand Young Kuri (Denzel Whitaker) left baby Erik after killing his father, N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), I was livid. Though we are ultimately responsible for our actions, we cannot ignore the roots of our issues. People keep referring to Killmonger as the villain, but, in my opinion, he killed the main villain. He’s just a brother who needs some healing and therapy to learn to deal with his past and how to properly bring about the change he wants to see for his community.
  • Shuri to Agent Ross: “Don’t scare me like that colonizer!” when he woke and started asking her where he was. According to the internets, wypipo will officially be referred to as colonizers until further notice.
  • Black Panther movie
  • Killmonger points out there are 2 billion people that look like them struggling around the world and that Wakanda had the tools to LIBERATE them all. T’Challa remarks that it is not their way to use vibranium for they are not judge, jury, and executioner for people that are not their own and Killmonger then he says “Not your own? But didn’t life start right here on this continent? So aren’t all people your people?” JEWELS JUST FALLING FROM HIS LIPS!
  • Killmonger nonchalantly to Ramonda: “Hey Auntie.” By far tied for my favorite line of the movie. He makes the challenge for the throne and Zuri says it’ll take weeks. Killmonger says I don’t need the whole nation, I just need him. That was real. I also lowkey enjoyed watching him fight T’Challa . It was like he had the power of every oppressed souled within him. His pain was relatable. Hated that it was targeted towards his own blood, but that was also real. We usually strike out to those closest to us. Him having them burn all of the ancient flowers was egotistical and short sided, but also a key part of the character.
  • When Killmonger sits on the throne, he points out that where he’s from, Black people start revolutions without the firepower and resources to fight their oppressors. More jewel dropping…
  • Okoye’s face when W’Kabi agrees with Killmonger…
  • M’Baku to Agent Ross: “You cannot talk one more word or I will feed you to my children. Just kidding, we are vegetarians.” The vegan in me howled with laughter. Plus he made him shutup initially by overpowering his voice with their chants. Then he made Agent Ross turn away during the ritual. He won 4 times (presented the preserved T’Challa) in under 4 minutes.
  • I appreciate T’Challa realizing that his father was wrong for both leaving Killmonger and for turning his back on the Africans worldwide and for calling him out on it when they meet once again in the ancestral realm.
  • Killmonger: “All that challenge shit is over with. I’m the king now.” Hood af, lol!
  • W’Kabi so quickly fighting with Killmonger made the whole theater suck their teeth. Will Focus gon say he’s still in the sunken place. I DIED! LMAO
  • Killmonger got Black Panther suited. That shit was sexy.
  • We all felt Okoye’s pain when Killmonger killed one of her fellow Dora Milaje. *sad face*
  • Black Panther movie
  • Will also brought up a good point and asked where were the other 3 tribes during this fight before M’Baku’s tribe showed up to assist the Dora Milaje against W’Kabi and his tribe?
  • When W’Kabi and his techno rhino were charging towards M’Baku but Okoye stood between them and the rhino kissed her. All powerful. Then W’Kabi asked if she, his love, would kill him, and she said, for my nation, absolutely. POWERFULLLLLL.
  • So I was highkey pissed that T’Challa took Killmonger to look at the damn sunset instead of to Shuri, but later that was put into perspective for me (read below).
  • T’Challa: Maybe we can still save you…” Killmonger: “Why? So ya’ll could just lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships. They knew death was better than bondage.” CHILLS. That line right there spoke volumes. VOLUMES!
  • T’Challa buying the block. Just. Yes.
  • The kids wanting to break apart Shuri’s ship to sell for parts. So real, lol. We need that community bridge building though.

Black Panther movieThere has been lots of debate about seeing a white studio production and where our dollars could have gone and even about the characters parallels to sections of society, but I personally feel like it’s all chest-inflated poppycock. 99.9% of movies that we love and hold as staples in our society are produced by white studios simply because, well, WE DON’T OWN ANY YET. Keyword, yet. So Malcolm X, Selma, Hidden Figures, Thurgood Marshall, Coming to America, and the likes that are so near and dear also fall under that umbrella, but we still went to see them in droves. Could we have collectively used that money and built a small town with our roughly 37% contribution to the $218 million? Most likely, but we already know we’re still combating centuries of conditioning and teaching ourselves to love ourselves and each other. So chill. It’s a process, and this movie is a major part of that process because representation matters. Seeing ourselves and what could be matters. Sometimes people need to see it to even know it’s possible.

Black Panther movie

Yes, this is in Africa.

The visuals and quotables definitely woke up some of the sleeping and even smacked a few people into loving themselves and reframing their thoughts on Africa. Yes, Wakanda is fake, but Africa’s beauty has never been a lie. It’s just been retold and intentionally hidden from the masses, especially Africans born in america, in attempts to continuously divide and conquer. This is touched on via Killmonger’s story. His story simultaneously parallels the american Hood King and the Revolutionary. He grew up without his parents, more specifically finding the dead body of his father. He had to learn and grow on his own which resulted in his genius-level intellect and thirst to avenge his father via combat and claim his spot on the throne. Via his research, he learned of the advancements of Wakanda and grew resentment because they had the capacity to liberate Black people globally, but never bothered to. He wanted to ‘stick it to the man,’ and rightfully so.

Black Panther movieKillmonger’s passion was in the right place, but his methods wouldn’t have fully resulted in the outcome suitable for most, mostly due to his dictator ways. T’challa had to come to learn that peace and hiding weren’t the way either. With their collective intellect, Shuri’s technological advancements, and Wakanda’s wealth and resources, they could have liberated Africans globally, but pride was a key factor in Killmonger having to die. (And also, as my bro Jashua Sa’Ra pointed out, “the movie studio couldn’t show us what it would’ve looked like if the forces joined in this already powerful Black Panther movie.” AKA the reason why the FBI killed Malcolm & Martin when their speeches started to mirror each other and they were on the verge of working together instead of fighting each other. Someone call up an independent Black production company to bring that story to life. “If Malcolm & Martin Lived to See Their 40s.”)

Leave your thoughts on the Black Panther movie in the comments. What rating do you give it?

24May/17

May Maven: Elle’s Elations

For today’s #WCW we’re featuring the lovely + talented Tarrin Davis, creator of Elle’s Elations. As many Black women entrepreneurs before her, Tarrin showed love for and respect to her ancestors by naming her company after her great-grandmother (Elease). Tarrin is a scientist by trade and an artist at heart. She makes her soaps entirely from scratch using cold and hot press. 98% of her products are vegan too!

Join us for a review of Elle’s Elations and use the coupon code TAJIMAG for a great discount this week!

FEATURED PRODUCT: Luxury Coffee Scrub 

First of all, when this coffee scrub was first described to us as a “luxury” product, we rolled our eyes. In this age of artisan paper clips and $300 romphims, there’s no telling what the next click on the internet will bring. When we actually tried it though? We agreed wholeheartedly. This caffeinated coffee scrub has the perfect thickness, created by its unique blend of organic, fair trade, dark roast Arabica beans and essential oils. After just one use, you can feel your skin getting firmer.

Coffee can do more than just wake you up for your daily grind. It has properties that significantly reduce under-eye puffiness,, battle cellulite, and prevent premature aging of your beautiful melanin-rich skin. This coffee scrub is also great for anyone who has to work around smoke or other smells that kind seep into your skin. As a natural odor defense, this coffee scrub from Elle’s Elations will work wonders. As an added benefit, this unique body scrub is packed with antioxidants to help ward off wrinkles.

If you’re worried about oily skin, this creation by Elle’s Elations is perfect because its emulsified. That means you don’t have the burden of dealing with stirring some messy concoction.

Use the Coupon Code: TAJIMAG to get a discount on your Elle’s Elations coffee scrub purchase

OTHER PRODUCTS WE TRIED (AND LOVED)

Strawberries & Bubbly

The lovely & elegant gold dusted Strawberry soap is worth gushing over. The bubbly champagne adds a touch of elegance to the already decadent beauty product. This soap is gentle and effective. The only down side is that over time, the gorgeous hand-crafted shape/design will shift. Maybe we should stock up before it sells out!

Pearberry Everything

Listen, if there is a product with the word “pearberry” in the name at the Elle’s Elation store, do yourself a favor and buy it. This has to be one of the most natural smelling and intoxicated scents. It puts Bath & Bodyworks to shame. We spent 10 minutes just smelling it. It goes on smooth and feels light on your skin. This is a great gift for someone on the go who love tElle's Elation Cremeo feel their best when they step out.

In addition to having a wonderful, high quality product line, Elle’s Elations also offers free advice, skin care solutions, and other beauty resources for free. Most notably, subscribers can access the blog and special discounts so you always look + feel your best.


This month only, use the Coupon Code: TAJIMAG to get a discount on your next Elle’s Elations purchase!

You can catch Elle’s Elations on Social Media to learn more and stay updated on new products!
Facebook: facebook.com/elleselations
Instgram: @elles_elations
Pinterest: @elleselations
Twitter: @EllesElations
Email:
info@elleselations.com

 

06Apr/17
Black Land Matters

Duende Naturál & Black Land Matters Finds Egypt in Washington, DC

Black Land MattersDuende Naturál & Black Land Matters Finds Egypt in Washington, DC

 Sharpen your eyes and tune your ear so you’ll know what you see, understand what you hear.” — Listervelt Middleton

As part of Duende Naturál and Black Land Matters 2017 tours we will be returning to Washington, DC May 20 for our 2nd annual Egypt On the Potomac Field Trip with Historian, Anthony Browder.

One of the most stunning symbols we learned on our inaugural trip last year was the presence of two *Tekhenw (pronounced ‘Tek-en-nu’) which symbolizes a timeline: the Tekhen on the left stands for the past, on the right the Tekhen stands for the future, and the space in between the present.

(*Tekhenw is plural for Tekhen, also erroneously called an Obelisk and Cleopatra’s Needle)

It is very clear Browder’s keen knowledge on the design and makeup of the Nations’ Capitol bear clairvoyance to the fact the trans-generational leaders of the world aim to maintain their position as vanguards of Afrikan cryptic knowledge and history having to only acknowledge its truth to another Afrikan if he is “on the level” — which in most cases means you’re male and a 32nd degree Mason — alarminlgy a reason as to why of the many original stolen Tekhenw placed around sacred places in the world, few — if any — are in pairs.

Black Land Matters

Anthony Browner

Browder quoted Listervelt throughout the field trip as we were introduced, better put, re-initiated into the mysteries of our Ancestors as creators of geometrics, math and symbolism using the constellations to bring the heavens to earth as masterfully done by Washington, DC planner, Benjamin Banneker — a free Afrikan by the way.

 

Through Browder’s easy to digest teaching style, in a few short hours we were equipped to exercise the significant power of recalling our past through observation of the alignment of building structures and numbered streets, and connecting it to the present to chart a promising future.

Thanks to Baba Browder, our eyes have been sharpened and ears tuned as we look to counter the next wave of Transition 13.

TRANSITION 13

Whenever dealing with the topic of history — particularly the role of its effect on the Afrikan Diaspora pre- and post colonialism, Browder’s poem, our plight is best described in poem, ’Transition 13’:

We knew not
We studied
We learned all there was to know
We taught others
Then we forgot what we had learned
And then we forgot that we had forgotten
Now we are taught
(By those who where once taught by us)
Knowledge
(That we already had)
So…
We study
We learn all there is to know
We teach others
Will we forget…AGAIN?

Taking the Egypt On the Potomac Field Trip reveals this hidden truth; our forgetting we forgot and then having been taught by the very ones responsible for this collective cultural amnesia.

It got me to thinking, Browder’s poem shows at the root of it all this memory loss is the driving point behind the loss of ourselves, our communities and our land.

Although at the core of issues we face as a community defensively are at the hands of racism, socio-economic displacement, and police brutality, there are offensive methods we’ve forgotten was in use before the days of integration when we were all that we had and realized through cooperative means we took care of ourselves. We did this through community, where we invested in each other.

Recognize, we are in the Information Age… a cultural reclamation is at hand.

Our intent through Duende Naturál and Black Land Matters is to serve as the metaphoric space between the Tekhenw (the present) to bridge a self-determining future for ourselves.

We’ve implemented a tangible resolution for those in search. At a bare-bones level we’re enrolling folks interested in committing to saving up to a minimum of $5,000 each to acquire Costa Rican and domestic land projects we’ve scouted to build intentional diasporic communities through membership in our Black Land Matters Real Estate Investment Trust (BLM-REIT) through what’s called an ASCA or Accumualting Savings & Credit Association.

This will enable us to participate in the (re)building and sustainability of our communities together instead of facing the virtually tedious task of doing it alone.

In alignment with the tenants of Sankofa (to go back and fetch our history), we of Duende Naturál and Black Land Matters understand the importance of “going back” to the historical makeup of this Nations’ Capitol to see the very real Afrikan presence that sits as the cornerstone of America — hidden in plain sight! This is what makes Anthony Browder’s work indispensably   invaluable! And the reason we are returning for his Field Trip this year.

From this reclamation we are able to shift from in between the Tekhenw (the present) to the Tekhen on the right which depicts our future — for we are rebuilding that future starting on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica.

So. With our eyes sharpened and ears tuned, we can now affirm to Ances-Star Listervelt Middleton we know what we see and understand what we hear: Wherever Blackfolk Are, Black Land Matters!

If you’re in the NYC/DC area we invite you to come with us May 20th to Browder’s Egypt On the Potomac Field Trip. For details and registration:

 Cooperatively.

Black Land Matters

 NEXT STEPS

  • Those interested in these “next level” talks email us at yesland@duendenatural.com
  • Come with us to Costa Rica August 12-20, 2017: Join our annual August Family Caribbean Excursion on the Caribbean Coast and get a taste of ‘Pura Vida’ or ‘the Pure Life’! For details, goto: http://www.duendenatural.com/tour/

 ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES:

Books

  • Egypt On the Potomac, by Anthony Browder
  • Finding Karakhamun – The Collaborative Rediscovery of a Lost Tomb, by Anthony Browder
  • Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization (Exploding the Myths), by Anthony Browder
  • Afrikan Burial Ground – Urban Unrest – Remnants of Slavery in New York, by M’Bwebe Ishangi (eBook and Digital Print)

Articles

  • Sankofa Kemetamorphosis: Ancestral Calling…

http://daghettotymz.com/current/kemetamorphosis/kemetamorphosis.html

  • The Significance of Historical Consciousness

http://daghettotymz.com/current/significance/significance.html

  • The Unapologetic Quest to G.E.N.T.R.I.F.Y.: Ethnic Cleansing Through Economics

http://daghettotymz.com/current/gentrify/gentrify.html

  • KMT vs NYC & DC

http://daghettotymz.com/current/kmtny/kmtny.html

  • Her Em Akhet vs Sphinx

http://daghettotymz.com/current/heremakhetsphinx/heremakhetsphinx.html

Video

  • The Classified Origin of D.C.

When speaking of the origin of Washington, D.C., the founding “fathers” of this country showed their enormous affinity toward ancient Kemet. Master Historian, Anthony Browder reveals this Afrikan influence with his field trips of D.C. This Video Article both honorz and serves as a complimentary visual of his works.
> Watch here: http://duendenatural.com/may2017.html#classifieddcvid

  • ‘The Future of Our Past – Using Cooperatives to Survive and Compete in the Next Twenty Years’. Take a look at the core issues stemming from Emancipation as well as Integration that’s led to the rise and fall of our collective loss of landeconomics and opportunity and how resuscitating the use of the Cooperatives can be a key factor in the next two decades.
    > Watch here: http://duendenatural.com/media.html#mediavideo-1
  • Black Land Matters featured on the Laura Flanders show

Black Land Matters’ co-founder, Mark Scott joined Weeksville Heritage Center’s Tia Powell Harris on the Laura Flanders show on the historic relevance of using cooperatives as a tangible solution to addressing the disparities of POADUS’ (People of African Descent in the Untied States) socio-economic opportunities.
> Watch here: http://duendenatural.com/media.html#mediavideo-2

 ———

M’Bwebe Ishangi

Where Eco & Culture Meet.
DCEG, LLC
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Black Land Matters
Wherever Black folk are, Black Land Matters!
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