ordinary thoughts: the bad hair narrative
Yerrr, familía! Before we get too deep into the grind of the new week ahead, we want to share some important reminders.
First, beautiful words from one of our community members, poet Massiel Alfonso, in addition to an event she has coming up. Then, some current events that should be on your radar, given the times.
If you haven’t already, please visit our Ordinary Thoughts podcast available on all platforms. You'll find heartfelt, intellectual and captivating conversations between immaculate artists, entrepreneurs, creators and thinkers about artistry, starting a business, politics, familial ancestry and so much more. Season 2 is on the way! And if you don’t follow us already, please check out our Instagram page for more information and some really dope storytelling content.
PS - Have y’all been keeping up with the Olympics? Simone Biles is the GOAT, if you didn’t know.
– Cybele & Isaiah
artist of the week
Massiel Alfonso
Poet, Author, Educator
upcoming event
Poetic Reflection by Massiel Alfonso
Sunday, August 11th
6pm-10pm
Jersey City, NJ
Join Massiel for an unforgettable evening of Reflection & Self-Love.
In collaboration with Baonanas and Book Haven Books, Poetic Reflection will deliver an evening filled with celebrating community and art in all forms. Poetic Reflection is an event dedicated to supporting and highlighting upcoming artists, fostering a sense of comm(unity), and celebrating the power of storytelling.
Register for this event here.
did somebody say new merch?
limited stock available
it’s perfect for bringing your laptop to a café, doing a haul at your local bookstore, or a trip to the market. every purchase supports paid storytelling opportunities for creatives in our community.
stories that have our attention
Famine declared in Sudan’s Darfur region after months of civil war
Famine has officially been declared in at least one refugee camp sheltering hundreds of thousands of people in the Darfur region of Sudan, food security organizations announced, a stark warning of the cost being paid by the population after 15 months of civil war.Famine has been ongoing in the Zanzam camp near the city of El Fasher since June, according to the United Nations-backed Famine Review Committee (FRC). The camp’s population has swollen to around half a million people since the onset of the current conflict. Official declarations of famine are exceedingly rare. The FRC’s conclusion is only its third since the monitoring system was set up 20 years ago, and its first in more than 7 years. Declarations are often issued as a clarion call to unlock more money from the international community to prevent further deaths.
Dozens killed and thousands flee as Israel shrinks ‘humanitarian zone’ in Gaza
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and thousands more forced to flee after Israel launched a fresh ground assault against what it said were Hamas targets in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Monday that it was reducing the size of its so-called “humanitarian zone,” ordering Palestinians to evacuate from eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis due to intelligence that Hamas had embedded in the area. CNN witnessed exhausted and angry Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis, once Gaza’s second-biggest city. As they left, they expressed anger not only at Israel but at Hamas and even other Arab states.
Maduro warns he’ll call for a ‘new revolution’ if forced by ‘North American imperialism’
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro warned Wednesday that he will not hesitate to call on the population for a “new revolution” if forced by what he calls “North American imperialism and fascist criminals.”
Maduro’s comments come amid deadly protests across the country following its disputed presidential election victory, which the US and several other countries have refused to recognize. “I would not like to go to other ways of making revolution, I say it solemnly from political power, we want to continue the path that [Hugo] Chavez outlined,” Maduro said in Caracas during a press conference with international media.
pa' la cultura
cultural trivia
Question: Though domestic slavery throughout the United States wasn’t completely abolished until the end of the Civil War in 1865 following a Union victory, the U.S. had banned the importation of enslaved people from Africa over fifty years prior in 1808.
In what year did the last recorded slave ship import African slaves to America?
1812
1831
1860
1871
Scroll further down to see if you’ve got it.
song of the week
We’re paying close attention to the latest exceptional music output from artists who deserve more flowers. This week, you should listen to:
outside - Shanae. Her debut ep ‘reset’ is out now on all platforms follow her on Instagram.
words of wisdom
Cultural Trivia Answer
The answer, ladies and gentlemen, is… *Drum roll please*
3. 1860
Under the cover of night in the summer of 1860, a ship carrying 110 African captives slipped into Mobile Bay. The Clotilda, the last known American slave ship, made its illegal voyage 52 years after the international slave trade was outlawed. In the years to come, the displaced Africans survived enslavement and established a community as free Americans. They maintained their African identities, creating the tight-knit, independent community known as Africatown (just north of downtown Mobile).