While most of the country has embraced therapy and wellness culture, mental health within the Black community remains taboo. However, now, more than ever, Black mental health is the most important thing to be prioritized. According to the CDC, the death rate of Black Americans has declined about 25 percent over 17 years, primarily for those aged 65 years and older. However, younger Black Americans are living with or dying of many conditions typically found in white Americans at older ages. Social factors due to racism like...

Two weeks ago, just before the murder of George Floyd, the video of Amy Cooper, a white woman, calling the police on Black man, Christian Cooper (no relation) in Central Park, went viral. Christian Cooper, an avid birdwatcher, merely told Cooper to put her dog on a leash, in accordance with the park’s section rules. She became frantic and called the police, stating that there is “an African-American man threatening my life.” The viral video sparked many conversations about race--specifically focusing on white women's fear of...

Liz Klinger knew there was a problem. It was the beginning of March, and the Bay Area native was starting to hear reports about personal protective equipment (or PPE) shortages on the news as coronavirus started to spread in the United States. Klinger called her mom, a nurse in the Bay Area, to ask about how conditions were at her hospital. She didn’t have a mask. Realizing her mom’s situation was widespread, one Thursday night Klinger jumped on a Zoom call with Alper. After some...

What was once a platform that only seemed to consist of cringy lip-synching videos, TikTok has now turned into one of the most used apps in existence with over 800 million active users worldwide. Like many other social media platforms, communities for different interest groups have begun to form, making it easy to find your niche. I don’t claim to be a TikTok expert (although, I do--regrettably--spend most of my waking hours on the app) but one of the most entertaining and surprisingly, relaxing communities...

Founded by Joanne N. Smith in 2000, Girls for Gender Equity (ggenyc.org) is a Brooklyn-based outreach group that addresses the unique barriers faced by young Black women. With the 2020 election season in high gear, GGE is now sharing one of their signature projects, “The Black Girl Bill of Rights,” with various candidates through digital town halls held by young activists. Members of GGE’s pool of youth organizers established this list of nine proclamations in April 2016, and it details rights every Black girl is entitled...

Fried chicken sammies are having a moment. But you don’t have to wait in line at Popeyes or give your hard-earned cash to an establishment with an anti-LGBTQ philanthropy record (ahem, Chick-fil-A). You don’t even have to eat meat! You can make a finger-lickin’ good fried chicken (or meatless “chicken”) sandwich right at home.  Buttermilk Love  Buy a couple pounds of chicken (I like boneless, skinless chicken thighs because dark meat is delicious but if you prefer breast, knock yourself out). Cover in buttermilk seasoned to your...

No, we’re not here to tell you to put down the cake and hop on the treadmill, and we’re tired of the media, and social media, sending the message that fat is evil and we all must stay teeny-tiny during quarantine. Everyone has a different healthy journey, and we’re here to tell you there’s no wrong way to do it—unless you’re body-shaming yourself or others.  Almost everyone has some sort of struggle with food and body positivity, whether it is worrying that we eat too much,...

EVER WONDER WHY mermaids have the best hair? If the effects of this all-natural DIY mask for your locks (from my book, Wild Beauty, $18, captainblankenship.com) are any indication, my guess is it has to do with seaweed. I’m not gonna lie; this smells briny like the ocean. It makes me feel like I am on the beach smelling seaweed drying in the sun. This gently exfoliating and detoxifying blend with bentonite clay and kelp cleanses environmental elements, such as dirt and pollution, and rejuvenates...

The days blurred; I’m not positive, but I think my breaking point occurred while washing a sink full of rancid baby bottles, the stink sending me into a burst of rage and tears. Although, it could have also happened when I disassociated while reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear for the thousandth time, watching my son heave every toy he owned out of his play crate. Either way, it was clear: the time to leave the city had arrived.  I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to leave. After...

WHILE MANY OF US MILLENNIALS are opting out of having children, we’ve found another way to nurture life: becoming plant parents. This spring, why not take your green thumb to the next level by starting from scratch? Or, more literally, from seed? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 15 percent of farms and agriculture-related businesses are women-owned and operated, so when you’ve decided which vegetables, herbs, and flowers you want to grow, get your goods from these woman-owned companies. San Diego Seed Company Brijette Peña...