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Bolivia has some of the most magical landscapes I’ve ever seen! From the Uyuni Salt Flats, which sit at the site of a prehistoric lake, to deserts, lagoons, and geysers, there was so much natural beauty to behold. And, seeing the Milky Way for nights on end was definitely a highlight! ✨✨

I’d been following @windcollective for years, and something about the Bolivia trip called to me. I booked it last minute without doing any research (if you know me, you know I NEVER do that), and I’m so glad I did!

📸/🎥: @theboliviantraveler

Bolivia has some of the most magical landscapes I’ve ever seen! From the Uyuni Salt Flats, which sit at the site of a prehistoric lake, to deserts, lagoons, and geysers, there was so much natural beauty to behold. And, seeing the Milky Way for nights on end was definitely a highlight! ✨✨

I’d been following @windcollective for years, and something about the Bolivia trip called to me. I booked it last minute without doing any research (if you know me, you know I NEVER do that), and I’m so glad I did!

📸/🎥: @theboliviantraveler

Bolivia has some of the most magical landscapes I’ve ever seen! From the Uyuni Salt Flats, which sit at the site of a prehistoric lake, to deserts, lagoons, and geysers, there was so much natural beauty to behold. And, seeing the Milky Way for nights on end was definitely a highlight! ✨✨

I’d been following @windcollective for years, and something about the Bolivia trip called to me. I booked it last minute without doing any research (if you know me, you know I NEVER do that), and I’m so glad I did!

📸/🎥: @theboliviantraveler

Bolivia has some of the most magical landscapes I’ve ever seen! From the Uyuni Salt Flats, which sit at the site of a prehistoric lake, to deserts, lagoons, and geysers, there was so much natural beauty to behold. And, seeing the Milky Way for nights on end was definitely a highlight! ✨✨

I’d been following @windcollective for years, and something about the Bolivia trip called to me. I booked it last minute without doing any research (if you know me, you know I NEVER do that), and I’m so glad I did!

📸/🎥: @theboliviantraveler

Bolivia has some of the most magical landscapes I’ve ever seen! From the Uyuni Salt Flats, which sit at the site of a prehistoric lake, to deserts, lagoons, and geysers, there was so much natural beauty to behold. And, seeing the Milky Way for nights on end was definitely a highlight! ✨✨

I’d been following @windcollective for years, and something about the Bolivia trip called to me. I booked it last minute without doing any research (if you know me, you know I NEVER do that), and I’m so glad I did!

📸/🎥: @theboliviantraveler

Today’s the day! My first book, Those Who Saw The Sun, is officially out in the world! The reviews are in and they are amazing. Get your copy at Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Target, or Amazon. Link is also in my bio.

My recommendation is to buy at Bookshop so you can select a Black-owned bookstore to get it from! I will be posting a list of some of my favorite Black bookstores across the country if you need a suggestion. ✊🏾❤️

Today’s the day! My first book, Those Who Saw The Sun, is officially out in the world! The reviews are in and they are amazing. Get your copy at Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Target, or Amazon. Link is also in my bio.

My recommendation is to buy at Bookshop so you can select a Black-owned bookstore to get it from! I will be posting a list of some of my favorite Black bookstores across the country if you need a suggestion. ✊🏾❤️

Today’s the day! My first book, Those Who Saw The Sun, is officially out in the world! The reviews are in and they are amazing. Get your copy at Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Target, or Amazon. Link is also in my bio.

My recommendation is to buy at Bookshop so you can select a Black-owned bookstore to get it from! I will be posting a list of some of my favorite Black bookstores across the country if you need a suggestion. ✊🏾❤️

Today’s the day! My first book, Those Who Saw The Sun, is officially out in the world! The reviews are in and they are amazing. Get your copy at Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Target, or Amazon. Link is also in my bio.

My recommendation is to buy at Bookshop so you can select a Black-owned bookstore to get it from! I will be posting a list of some of my favorite Black bookstores across the country if you need a suggestion. ✊🏾❤️

Today’s the day! My first book, Those Who Saw The Sun, is officially out in the world! The reviews are in and they are amazing. Get your copy at Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Target, or Amazon. Link is also in my bio.

My recommendation is to buy at Bookshop so you can select a Black-owned bookstore to get it from! I will be posting a list of some of my favorite Black bookstores across the country if you need a suggestion. ✊🏾❤️

This past weekend was indescribable. I had my book launch party at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC, and it was nothing short of magical.

133 of my family members, friends, Sorors, and colleagues traveled to DC to celebrate my debut as an author, and I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the entire experience. The room was full of love, fellowship, and joy, and I just still can’t believe this is all happening!

On the first floor of the museum is an actual auction block, a piece of stone that our ancestors stood on to be “sold” as property to the highest bidder. I think of the tears shed and despair felt there, and the prayers prayed. I am a product of those prayers. On Saturday, the spirit of celebration in the air was unmatched, and I felt God and the ancestors there in the museum with us. What it meant to have my party at @nmaahc is truly beyond words. I’ll remember it always.

✨Those Who Saw The Sun, July 11, 2023. ✨

Alaska owes me absolutely nothing!! Beautiful place, amazing food, and incredible wildlife. I enjoyed every second ❄️

Alaska owes me absolutely nothing!! Beautiful place, amazing food, and incredible wildlife. I enjoyed every second ❄️

Alaska owes me absolutely nothing!! Beautiful place, amazing food, and incredible wildlife. I enjoyed every second ❄️

Alaska owes me absolutely nothing!! Beautiful place, amazing food, and incredible wildlife. I enjoyed every second ❄️

Alaska owes me absolutely nothing!! Beautiful place, amazing food, and incredible wildlife. I enjoyed every second ❄️

For the past 2.5 years, I have been in production for a season of an investigative podcast on the making of “Cancer Alley,” an 85 mile stretch of land outside New Orleans that has over 150 petrochemical plants. I am so excited to finally be able to announce that we got into @tribeca and will premiere the season there!

When I first read about Cancer Alley, my first thought was that something like that isn’t built overnight. But in doing more research, I couldn’t find anything that deep dived into how we got here. So…. I decided to create it, alongside the team at @thresholdpodcast

Here’s the main thing you need to know about “Cancer Alley”: 200 years ago, that same stretch of land was called “Plantation Country.” It was home to over a hundred sugarcane plantations. For centuries, Black people have been exploited and abused on this stretch of land, first by the plantations, now by the plants. But Black people have also created families there, built Free Towns, and lived lives. For them, it’s not “Cancer Alley.” It’s home. I spent so much time there while reporting, and seeing the fight to preserve their communities unfold firsthand. The Corridor drops in June!

For the past 2.5 years, I have been in production for a season of an investigative podcast on the making of “Cancer Alley,” an 85 mile stretch of land outside New Orleans that has over 150 petrochemical plants. I am so excited to finally be able to announce that we got into @tribeca and will premiere the season there!

When I first read about Cancer Alley, my first thought was that something like that isn’t built overnight. But in doing more research, I couldn’t find anything that deep dived into how we got here. So…. I decided to create it, alongside the team at @thresholdpodcast

Here’s the main thing you need to know about “Cancer Alley”: 200 years ago, that same stretch of land was called “Plantation Country.” It was home to over a hundred sugarcane plantations. For centuries, Black people have been exploited and abused on this stretch of land, first by the plantations, now by the plants. But Black people have also created families there, built Free Towns, and lived lives. For them, it’s not “Cancer Alley.” It’s home. I spent so much time there while reporting, and seeing the fight to preserve their communities unfold firsthand. The Corridor drops in June!

For the past 2.5 years, I have been in production for a season of an investigative podcast on the making of “Cancer Alley,” an 85 mile stretch of land outside New Orleans that has over 150 petrochemical plants. I am so excited to finally be able to announce that we got into @tribeca and will premiere the season there!

When I first read about Cancer Alley, my first thought was that something like that isn’t built overnight. But in doing more research, I couldn’t find anything that deep dived into how we got here. So…. I decided to create it, alongside the team at @thresholdpodcast

Here’s the main thing you need to know about “Cancer Alley”: 200 years ago, that same stretch of land was called “Plantation Country.” It was home to over a hundred sugarcane plantations. For centuries, Black people have been exploited and abused on this stretch of land, first by the plantations, now by the plants. But Black people have also created families there, built Free Towns, and lived lives. For them, it’s not “Cancer Alley.” It’s home. I spent so much time there while reporting, and seeing the fight to preserve their communities unfold firsthand. The Corridor drops in June!

For the past 2.5 years, I have been in production for a season of an investigative podcast on the making of “Cancer Alley,” an 85 mile stretch of land outside New Orleans that has over 150 petrochemical plants. I am so excited to finally be able to announce that we got into @tribeca and will premiere the season there!

When I first read about Cancer Alley, my first thought was that something like that isn’t built overnight. But in doing more research, I couldn’t find anything that deep dived into how we got here. So…. I decided to create it, alongside the team at @thresholdpodcast

Here’s the main thing you need to know about “Cancer Alley”: 200 years ago, that same stretch of land was called “Plantation Country.” It was home to over a hundred sugarcane plantations. For centuries, Black people have been exploited and abused on this stretch of land, first by the plantations, now by the plants. But Black people have also created families there, built Free Towns, and lived lives. For them, it’s not “Cancer Alley.” It’s home. I spent so much time there while reporting, and seeing the fight to preserve their communities unfold firsthand. The Corridor drops in June!

Got to write about some of my favorite brands for @essence all of which are founded, or cofounded, and led by Black women! For them, fashion is a form of wellness, activism, and community care. Y’all know I’m very intentional about how I spend my money, meaning that “Support Black Businesses” isn’t a catchphrase to me, but a lifestyle. Check them out, link in bio! ✊🏾💅🏾❤️

@black.n.ugly
@activelyblack
@hgcapparel

Got to write about some of my favorite brands for @essence all of which are founded, or cofounded, and led by Black women! For them, fashion is a form of wellness, activism, and community care. Y’all know I’m very intentional about how I spend my money, meaning that “Support Black Businesses” isn’t a catchphrase to me, but a lifestyle. Check them out, link in bio! ✊🏾💅🏾❤️

@black.n.ugly
@activelyblack
@hgcapparel

Got to write about some of my favorite brands for @essence all of which are founded, or cofounded, and led by Black women! For them, fashion is a form of wellness, activism, and community care. Y’all know I’m very intentional about how I spend my money, meaning that “Support Black Businesses” isn’t a catchphrase to me, but a lifestyle. Check them out, link in bio! ✊🏾💅🏾❤️

@black.n.ugly
@activelyblack
@hgcapparel

Got to write about some of my favorite brands for @essence all of which are founded, or cofounded, and led by Black women! For them, fashion is a form of wellness, activism, and community care. Y’all know I’m very intentional about how I spend my money, meaning that “Support Black Businesses” isn’t a catchphrase to me, but a lifestyle. Check them out, link in bio! ✊🏾💅🏾❤️

@black.n.ugly
@activelyblack
@hgcapparel

Got to write about some of my favorite brands for @essence all of which are founded, or cofounded, and led by Black women! For them, fashion is a form of wellness, activism, and community care. Y’all know I’m very intentional about how I spend my money, meaning that “Support Black Businesses” isn’t a catchphrase to me, but a lifestyle. Check them out, link in bio! ✊🏾💅🏾❤️

@black.n.ugly
@activelyblack
@hgcapparel

Almost two weeks ago now, my grandmother Gloria (we called her Grandma Shug) joined the cloud of witnesses. As we prepare to lay her to rest tomorrow, I reflect on her kindness, her spunk, her confidence, her remarkable sense of style, and her strong sense of self. As far as grandmothers go, I couldn’t have asked for better. She was the first one who believed I could be a writer for real. Since childhood, she’s invested in my creativity, encouraged and supported me, and introduced me to new worlds through music and film. Glamorous and poised, she commanded attention in every room she entered. Most importantly, she was a true woman of God.

Rest, Grandma Shug. We love you, and we miss you already. But we know you are up there dancing ❤️

First article of the year! AI already plays a major role in your healthcare, raising issues around informed consent, historical data, and health equity. In my latest @essence piece, I dug into patient’s rights in relation to AI in healthcare. Here’s what you need to know. 🔗 in bio.

Did you know that the harp originated in Africa?

Imagine the sound: the ancient, resonant notes of a 100-year-old harp cutting through the silent rows of a Black-owned cotton farm. This moment is not just music; it’s a powerful conversation between history, resilience, and beauty.

The harp is one of the oldest known string instruments, with origins tracing back to ancient civilizations. To witness the incredibly talented harpist Jaha Nailah Avery @Jay_Nailah play this century-old instrument, on the land of the 5th-generation Tillery family farm @BlackCotton.US, created a powerful juxtaposition of art and labor, history and hope.

@Jay_Nailah, who is trained by the famous, classically-trained harpist @MadisonCalley (known for arranging and playing contemporary music for the harp!), brought this beautiful contrast to life in a song she composed entitled, “Black Cotton”. Watching Jaha weave ethereal melodies into the fabric of this historic cotton field was absolutely unforgettable.

This collaboration is a testament to the fact that Black artistry and legacy continue to define and enrich the American landscape. Follow @Jay_Nailah for more!

Fun Fact: The harp is one of the oldest known musical instruments in the world! Its earliest origins can be traced back to approximately 3000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. It is believed that the very first harps were simply adaptations of the common hunting bow, where the bowstring was plucked to create sound, making the harp a direct descendant of a simple weapon!

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I do not own the rights to this music.

It’s my birthdayyyy!!! Thanking God for another year, for every blessing and every challenge. I can’t wait to see what He has in store next! 🙌🏾🙏🏾

It’s my birthdayyyy!!! Thanking God for another year, for every blessing and every challenge. I can’t wait to see what He has in store next! 🙌🏾🙏🏾

It’s my birthdayyyy!!! Thanking God for another year, for every blessing and every challenge. I can’t wait to see what He has in store next! 🙌🏾🙏🏾

It’s my birthdayyyy!!! Thanking God for another year, for every blessing and every challenge. I can’t wait to see what He has in store next! 🙌🏾🙏🏾

Three years ago, I was driving by a cotton field and realized I had never seen raw cotton up close, in the ground. I wanted to see it, feel it, and pick it. I wanted to see what it was that my ancestors did, forcibly, for generations, when King Cotton ruled much of the South.

I reached out to my friend Julius, a 5th generation cotton farmer, and owner of @blackcotton.us farm. I traveled to his farm, and he taught me about cotton. He showed me how to pick it by hand, and I was even more in awe of the ancestors after that experience. It was hard, tore up my hands, and had my back sore from bending, and I only did it for 30 minutes. But I also learned more about the deeper history of cotton, the history that was shaped in pre-colonial West Africa.

On November 8th, Julius is hosting a community day on his farm, with food, art, cotton demonstrations, and beautiful cultural offerings. This event will demystify cotton, bringing us up close and personal with this special crop.

I have composed a song for the event called “Black Cotton,” and I will be performing it live on my harp that day. Now, how we’re gonna get my concert baby grand harp into the middle of the cotton field, I don’t know! 😄

Join us for what promises to be an incredible event, full of culture and community. Link in bio.

Three years ago, I was driving by a cotton field and realized I had never seen raw cotton up close, in the ground. I wanted to see it, feel it, and pick it. I wanted to see what it was that my ancestors did, forcibly, for generations, when King Cotton ruled much of the South.

I reached out to my friend Julius, a 5th generation cotton farmer, and owner of @blackcotton.us farm. I traveled to his farm, and he taught me about cotton. He showed me how to pick it by hand, and I was even more in awe of the ancestors after that experience. It was hard, tore up my hands, and had my back sore from bending, and I only did it for 30 minutes. But I also learned more about the deeper history of cotton, the history that was shaped in pre-colonial West Africa.

On November 8th, Julius is hosting a community day on his farm, with food, art, cotton demonstrations, and beautiful cultural offerings. This event will demystify cotton, bringing us up close and personal with this special crop.

I have composed a song for the event called “Black Cotton,” and I will be performing it live on my harp that day. Now, how we’re gonna get my concert baby grand harp into the middle of the cotton field, I don’t know! 😄

Join us for what promises to be an incredible event, full of culture and community. Link in bio.

Three years ago, I was driving by a cotton field and realized I had never seen raw cotton up close, in the ground. I wanted to see it, feel it, and pick it. I wanted to see what it was that my ancestors did, forcibly, for generations, when King Cotton ruled much of the South.

I reached out to my friend Julius, a 5th generation cotton farmer, and owner of @blackcotton.us farm. I traveled to his farm, and he taught me about cotton. He showed me how to pick it by hand, and I was even more in awe of the ancestors after that experience. It was hard, tore up my hands, and had my back sore from bending, and I only did it for 30 minutes. But I also learned more about the deeper history of cotton, the history that was shaped in pre-colonial West Africa.

On November 8th, Julius is hosting a community day on his farm, with food, art, cotton demonstrations, and beautiful cultural offerings. This event will demystify cotton, bringing us up close and personal with this special crop.

I have composed a song for the event called “Black Cotton,” and I will be performing it live on my harp that day. Now, how we’re gonna get my concert baby grand harp into the middle of the cotton field, I don’t know! 😄

Join us for what promises to be an incredible event, full of culture and community. Link in bio.

Three years ago, I was driving by a cotton field and realized I had never seen raw cotton up close, in the ground. I wanted to see it, feel it, and pick it. I wanted to see what it was that my ancestors did, forcibly, for generations, when King Cotton ruled much of the South.

I reached out to my friend Julius, a 5th generation cotton farmer, and owner of @blackcotton.us farm. I traveled to his farm, and he taught me about cotton. He showed me how to pick it by hand, and I was even more in awe of the ancestors after that experience. It was hard, tore up my hands, and had my back sore from bending, and I only did it for 30 minutes. But I also learned more about the deeper history of cotton, the history that was shaped in pre-colonial West Africa.

On November 8th, Julius is hosting a community day on his farm, with food, art, cotton demonstrations, and beautiful cultural offerings. This event will demystify cotton, bringing us up close and personal with this special crop.

I have composed a song for the event called “Black Cotton,” and I will be performing it live on my harp that day. Now, how we’re gonna get my concert baby grand harp into the middle of the cotton field, I don’t know! 😄

Join us for what promises to be an incredible event, full of culture and community. Link in bio.

I am still on a high from my Dear Addy Dinner last weekend at @historicstagville !! It was a beautiful evening of fellowship, and the meal prepared by @chefrickymoore was one of the best I’ve had all year. It was perfectly complimented by the bourbon cocktails from @oldhillsidebourbonco 🥃

I chose that weekend, the weekend of the full moon, because Addy and her mother escaped from slavery under the full moon. Under the same moon two centuries later, we broke bread, shared ideas, and uplifted the ancestors in a lovely evening of community and culture.

Aside from the historical significance, this dinner was personally significant for me. I learn, research, and write about so many things that are interesting and rich, things that I want to engage with like-minded people about beyond the article being published. This dinner was my first time creating an IRL experience informed by one of my articles or my research, and I definitely plan to do this again! And of course I picked the most challenging venue possible for the first time: A historic site with no plumbing or electricity 😂

I’m so grateful to everyone who came, and I really enjoyed hosting y’all. I’m already researching for my next dinner in the spring!