i believe in housing for all

Published: Wednesday, April 29th, 2026

By: Aya Black

I undeniably believe that housing is a basic human right. Recently on social media I saw that someone mentioned that no one should be without a home when we have billionaires in our society and I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment. The housing crisis and poverty are man made issues. However, there is hope. This month, a Black Baptist church in Virginia paid back rent for 300+ local residents. There is power in keeping people in their homes. Everybody deserves the stability that housing provides. 

We need more good news to balance out all the evil we are seeing in today’s government. Currently, in Louisiana they recently passed a bill that criminalizes tent cities and essentially making it illegal to be unhoused. However, Louisiana has not announced how it plans to tackle the root cause of the issues. No announcements of addressing the employment crisis. No plan to tackle addiction and mental health issues. What Louisiana is doing is a huge recession indicator.

Meanwhile in New York, the mayor who ran his campaign on rent stabilization is actually living up to his promises. He is encouraging over 2 million people to attend rent board meetings across New York this June and he is doing it by knocking on doors letting people know their rights and encouraging more people to do the same. This should be the model implemented across the country. 

I am optimistic because there are still a lot of people who believe in housing for all. New York is on the right path. We need more renters to have a say and power. Our communities do not need more financial literacy courses. We need more courses centered on humanity, deep care, and an economy that works for everyone, not just a select few. 

New York is not perfect but they are getting this part right and Virginia is a close second. A lot of addiction and mental health issues goes away and can be tackled more humanely when people’s basic needs are met. My wish is that everyone that is currently facing a barrier or obstacle to housing is to have that barrier be removed. Whether that is a debt being erased, access to a free shower, a section 8 voucher being approved or an on-the-spot hiring opportunity.

It is our moral obligation as a society to close the gap between the haves and the have nots.

celebrating Earth Day

Published: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026

By: Aya Black

Today I spent Earth Day getting one step closer to my yoga certification. Mostly in Savasana pose (laying down), on my yoga mat and covered in a blanket but I got it done and I am proud of my efforts. I love Earth Day. Next year, I hope to be celebrating Earth Day instructing a yoga class in nature and I will look back at these moments knowing all the sacrifices were worth it. I look forward to that. Last year, I spent a little bit of time picking up trash in my community. I hated when I would go on my walks and see all the trash discarded on the walking trail so I took matters into my own hands. 

I believe Earth Day is a great time to talk about the Green New Deal and boosting the workforce with careers and jobs that protect the climate. There is so much talk about things we don’t want like AI Data Centers and there is not enough conversation centered on the things we need. Why is that? A lot of these hot topics are starting to sound like buzz words to keep people in a daze and confused without really taking the time to discuss what would truly make our communities thrive. 

The last apartment community I was living in had compost bins and I absolutely loved it. I loved that a portion of money that I was paying in my monthly utility bills was going towards composting efforts. This Earth Day let’s recommit to pouring into things that uplift Mother Nature.

happy 4/20!

Published: Monday, April 20th, 2026 Edited: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026

By: Aya Black

Yesterday I was invited out to Cooper’s Hawk to drink some of my favorite wine and munch on super delicious food. I was sitting next to an old movement leader and was telling me she has her weed card in Florida. I was super impressed and I asked her if she had any edibles and she told me she only has a weed pen. 

Last year when living in Seattle, edibles were a lifeline for me and my insomnia. I purchased a pack of weed gummies in a well known dispensary Downtown. They were affordable and I was able to sleep like a baby and I didn’t have to break the bank in order to do so. I may not have a formal diagnosed sleep disorder but oftentimes I would have several tools in my toolbelt to get some sound sleep and the weed gummies did the trick every single time. 

I am going on this tangent to say that it’s not enough to say Happy 4/20. I want weed to not only be celebrated and legalized, more importantly I want weed to be decriminalized. I want every single person that has been arrested on a non-violent weed charge to be released from the shackles of prison and jail. 

I want there to be more dispensary owners that look like me and more importantly I want to be able to buy weed gummies whenever without having to worry about becoming a victim of mass incarceration.

Happy 4/20!

what the tax the rich conversation gets wrong

Published: Thursday, April 16th, 2026

By: Aya Black

Yesterday was the deadline to file taxes so quite naturally conversations around Taxing the Rich were shared all over social media. Threads was in an uproar when the Democratic Party posted “Tax The Rich” and the overwhelming response from the Threads community is that the Democratic Party IS the rich. The conversation reminded me of the viral Spider Man meme where there are four versions of Spidey all pointed at each other. 

The deeper theme is that all the finger pointing is not going to get to reasonable solutions. Once we can acknowledge that then I feel we can collectively brainstorm what Tax the Rich looks like in practice. Going back to the Spider Man reference, it reminded me of my time working in Policy while living in Seattle. It was the night of the mid term election. Stakes were high and it was my responsibility to run my organization’s monthly advocacy meeting. 

The meeting was like a United Nations gathering, so many organizations came together and we collectively decided to put our differences aside to carry out this space. There was a lot at stake. I had to recruit Indivisible volunteers to help me run the meeting. If you ever been a Black leader in the movement and having to work with Indivisible Leaders you feel the energy behind the Democratic reference. I needed the help so I put my pride aside, a lot of staff at my statewide organization were spread out at in person events and doing Policy work in a myriad of ways. It was all hands on deck. 

Before and during the meeting the white well meaning volunteers used weaponized incompetence in levels I haven’t seen before, they knew what needed to be done but chose not too. However, my volunteer from Habitat for Humanity made up for it. She was doing the work of 6 people in one. She wasn’t a Spider Man but definitely a Super Woman that night. We had over 250 people on this Zoom call, every little detail needed to be accounted for.

The energy mattered across Seattle and state. A lot of progressive leaders won that night and we celebrated with excitement with our progressive leaders in New York who led the charge to elect Mamdani for Mayor and mid-term wins across the country. That night was a win despite the weaponized incompetence of the upper middle class white women volunteers tasked to “help”. 

All the conversations around universal basic income, rent stabilization, health equity, universal childcare and passing a Progressive Revenue/ Wealth Tax in Washington State meant something. Over 250 local leaders showed up that night virtually to prove it. The work we were doing mattered. Good policy matters! 

However when talking about Taxing the Rich, Progressive Revenue and a Wealth Tax we have to be abundantly clear. Experts have been pointing out that almost 90 of the biggest companies in the country did not pay federal taxes in 2025 which is fair but they did pay billions in payroll taxes and more in 2025 and that is important to note. By paying those taxes it has allowed millions of people to be able to pay their federal taxes. 

I am not an ass kisser for big companies but if we do not acknowledge the good there is no way for us to come to positive outcomes where everyone wins which is what we all want. So yes Tax the Rich but it’s more than a catchy slogan or phrase. What does it mean for us to actualize this in tangible ways to get the resources to our communities? That is where the real work begins but we do have positive places to look to. The work is actively happening in New York being led by Black and Brown leaders. 

BLACK WOMEN ARE UNDER ATTACK

Published: Wednesday, April 15th, 2026

By: Aya Black

Recently, I was in the library which has been a place where I typically go to focus on my yoga studies since I am currently on a journey to become a registered yoga instructor. When I was leaving, I was checking out the community resource table. The only representation of Black women were the local Haitian paper announcing local leader Nancy Metayer’s death and another local paper announcing the alleged misconduct of Representative Sheila. 

Recently, I also shared that Nancy Metayer was murdered by her husband. Since then, thousands of people have been gathering in person and online to honor the life of Nancy. She was an earth angel and I think we can collectively agree on that but we failed Nancy and we failed her horribly. How did none of us know that her life was in grave danger? Or how are we collectively pretending, in good conscience, that we didn’t? 

Going back to the library, in my most recent visit I noticed that there are no Black women working although the overwhelming majority of women using the library services on this day and most days are Black women. My local library is mostly diverse but these are the little things I noticed. Black women are being erased even at public libraries in our own communities. 

Black Women are under attack and Nancy’s life being taken is a smoke signal, a warning sign and siren. Next on the chopping block is local leader, Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Rep Sheila is one of the few local politicians working on behalf of the people and she is accused of stealing $5 million dollars in FEMA funds. 

First of all, I haven’t seen FEMA funds dispersed in South Florida in almost a decade during the Hurricane season before Sheila has even taken office so being accused of this should raise red flags to anyone with common sense. Sheila is a scapegoat for a corrupt system. The system needs a fall guy and the local establishment has decided that this Black woman must pay the price. 

Post pandemic, you saw a lot of local people trying to fill the gaps of the government by providing covid relief and mutual aid funds. Several Black women, like Sheila, were expected to fill the role of the government without the core infrastructure that the government has. Honestly, this is one of the reasons she won her seat. She stepped up to the plate when a lot of elected officials were nowhere to be found in substantial ways. 

Were covid relief programs perfect? No. Could there have been better checks and balances across the board? Absolutely. Did folks incorporate feedback, made corrections and learn better practices along the way? Again, absolutely. However, that is a reflection of most covid relief programs running independently without substantial governmental help. I know the covid relief I was supporting was not getting any governmental support to run nor many of them in South Florida. Most of our relief was funded by individual donations, foundations and businesses. However, we also knew the limitations of the support being provided. We couldn’t fix something that was way bigger than us as small organizations.

Now, I cannot speak on the line by line details on what Sheila did but I do not need to in order to understand the gravity of what is going on. Black women are expected to save a system that does not collectively want to see us succeed. Over 700,000 Black Women have been pushed out of the workforce in the last year. 

We are being collectively sanctioned by a system that wants us to be martyrs. They are finding more value in having us dead like Nancy versus thriving and contributing members of society. We are saying Nancy was killed by her husband but it’s a cop out. Nancy was murdered by the state and her husband is just the one that pulled the trigger.

shelters shouldn’t exist

Published: Sunday, April 12th, 2026

By: Aya Black

When I think about places that shouldn’t exist, shelters often come to mind. I often reflect back to when I used to participate in Food Sharings in Downtown Fort Lauderdale and hearing the input from people who would go into these institutions. Sexual assault, loss of autonomy and theft would be a recurring theme. Honestly once you hear the stories you begin to understand why the houseless community would rather choose the streets over staying in a shelter. I believe that shelters are obsolete. The same way I feel about prisons, jails and detention centers. 

I believe that shelters should turn into resource centers where the community can get support with getting section 8 vouchers or a hotel stipend. Or places people can come to freshen up for a job interview or receive a meal. I think it is okay for us as a society to look at institutions that may have made sense in the past and come to terms that they may be obsolete. 

We do not need more financial literacy classes shoved in our faces. Our communities need more places where they can get their needs met while maintaining dignity. This is why I am a huge advocate of community fridges, they work wonders and shouldn’t be gate kept! 

We need more spaces where our community can have honest conversations about humanity, oppression, racism and classism because teaching financial literacy when we have millionaires and billionaires in our society is tone deaf and not reading the room. 

modern abolition

Published: Friday, April 10th, 2026

By: Aya Black

The anniversary of Black Mamas bailout is approaching and although the campaign to release mothers from jail & prison in time for Mother’s Day is not as active as it has been in the past, I still like to use this time to renew my commitment in being an abolitionist. That means I believe that jails, prisons and detention centers should cease to exist. Based on my own experience and research, they are obsolete. 

Recently, I was having a conversation with someone where I shared my unpopular belief that Diddy should be released from jail. I believe he should be accountable to the harm he has committed but I believe that his accountability is best served when he can use the gifts that God gave him through music to help with being an economic asset to the community and not behind bars literally. 

I also believe that there is so much hidden talent and genius that is locked up behind bars. So I think it is time we release people from jail who are only behind bars because they cannot pay their bonds. I think it is time we release everyone who is in prison on low level offenses and it is time to let everyone in a detention center who has not committed a crime go. 

I want to live in a society that invests more money into making sure everyone has a home, livable wages and universal healthcare. 

I think we need to spend more time figuring out how we fix our society that has created murderers, rapists and people who have done extreme harm. However, it starts by being honest that jails, prisons and detention centers are not the real solutions to our problems in the world. I think if we start there, we can head in the right direction of investing money, time and resources in the things that can help address the root causes of these crimes in the first place. 

Sources

• Are Prisons Obsolete by Angela Davis

• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

lil nas x is a victim of the criminal “justice” system

Published: Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

By Aya Black

I am not too knowledgeable of Lil Nas X’s personal life. All I know is that I like his music but as of lately I have been seeing a lot of conversation around his criminal life pop up recently so quite naturally I am trying to find the deeper meaning of why he is being centered so much in the news. Which is what led me to do some research on what happened to him last year. Apparently he was arrested in August after being outside in underwear and cowboy boots. 

This is where I am going to start to share my unpopular opinion. I do not believe that when people are displaying a mental health emergency in public that the police need to be called upon. This is why I say Lil Nas X is a victim. When I see people act out in public I do not immediately think to call 911. However, I am part of the problem myself because other than pray for the person’s well-being I do nothing to tangibly change this large issue we have in society. 

Doing nothing is not the solution but calling 911 isn’t either because Lil Nas X needed support and now he is here several months later being bullied by the system and what are we supposed to do? Clap for him having to pay a $75,000.00 bond? Clap that he was put in a diversion program for 2 years instead of receiving jail time? I am sorry, but he is a victim here and I do not find these alternatives heroic or worthy of praise. 

When I lived in Seattle last year there were so many people who would be leaning in public as a symptom of drug overuse. Drug overdoses are a huge problem in the city as it is with any major city across the country. I would always think we need more services for these people, not punitive discipline. 

The first thought of seeing him in that vulnerable position should have been to de-escalate immediately not call the cops. His reaction to the police in my opinion was warranted, especially with their long history of harming and killing innocent Black lives. 

I am glad he is alive to tell his story but I guess it’s okay he is being taken advantage of because he is a celebrity and has the resources to be exploited? Does this entire situation seem nonsensical to only me?

I hope he is able to overcome this and advocate for others in similar situations but don’t have the resources he does to recover at home.

Women NEED SUPPORT ALL YEAR LONG NOT JUST IN MARCH

Published: Sunday, April 5th, 2026

By Aya Black

Women need protection all year long and not just during Women’s History Month. This past Friday, I returned home after being off-grid for two days and the news that a local leader, Nancy Metayer was murdered by her husband on April 1st. This shook me to my core. I met Nancy a decade ago when I first got involved in the social justice movement in South Florida. She was a true leader. 

The news felt like a bad April Fools joke. It still doesn’t feel real. Her husband didn’t take me as the type that was violent whenever I saw him around Nancy. However, outside of being Nancy’s husband I actually did not know too much about him. 

I was reflecting with someone about the legacy and life of Nancy and sharing that the last time we connected in person was during the Harris Campaign for President in 2024. She was one of the major organizers for a local event at the African American Research Library in Fort Lauderdale right before the election. 

There was a glimmer of hope in South Florida that Harris was going to win and Nancy was at the center for getting the community together to envision what that win would look like. We live in a world where we have never had a woman in the presidential seat. A woman in a position of power like that is a threat to the patriarchal world order. Another local Black Woman elected leader, Sheila Cherflius-McCormick was just villainized in the news. I have never seen any local male elected officials face that type of backlash Sheila has been getting. 

Men have a long history of being violent and oppressive to women. Even to the men who father, marry or befriend us. There is a reason why the Me Too movement rocked the world. It resonated with women everywhere. Nancy didn’t sign up to be a martyr. She should still be alive. 

I am not sure what will happen to keep her legacy alive. Not just her path of being an elected official who was passionate about climate justice and on her way to becoming a Congresswoman but also her radical side that fought against police violence and brutality as well. I will start by adding You Are Your Best Thing by Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too Movement to my reading list. 

Support your Black Women leaders in your community. Give people their flowers while they can still smell them!

happy small business saturdays

Published: Saturday, March 28th, 2026

By Aya Black

Lizzo coined Women’s History Month as Happy Divas Month so Happy Divas Month it is. Lately I have been unpacking the findings from my mini independent research study on Black Women Owned Businesses which started by analyzing 20 Black Women Owned Businesses but has now expanded to almost 40. However, I have never been the one to only talk about problems and not also address potential solutions so that is where honoring Small Business Saturdays come in. Here is my third round of honoring small Black Women Owned Businesses in celebration of Women’s History Month. 

1. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes - ironically I was able to purchase this book at a big discount from my local library. I highly recommend supporting your local library if they have a gift shop or sales section. Reading Year of Yes was exactly what I needed last year and it came at the perfect time. Shonda Rhimes is the mastermind behind the series Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder and Bridgerton. Her brilliance doesn’t only shine on the big screen - it is very evident in her writing as well. If you need a book that inspires you, this is it. 

2. The Honey Pot Co. - I swear by the boric deposits. The Honey Pot Co is definitely worth it if you want to invest more deeply into your feminine health and the products are available at Target. 

3. Via Rae - if you love wine then Via Rae is definitely worth choosing. Created by the actress, director and producer Issa Rae. Via Rae is a perfect addition to a wine bar or wine night! Also available at Target. 

4. TPH by Taraji P. Henson - actress Taraji offers affordable haircare & skincare products at Walmart. Definitely worthy of support. Taraji is an artist that is big on supporting mental health and wellness so I am always happy to support her as a business owner.

5. Wyn Beauty - I came across this brand one day by stumbling in Ulta when I meant to go to Sephora, they were in the same plaza!  Needless to say, I made a purchase and I absolutely do not regret it. This beauty brand is from tennis player, Serena Williams and I highly recommend it if you are considering investing in your beauty routine. 

6. Happy Viking - Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, has a protein company that tastes pretty delicious. A great investment in health & wellness. This product is available directly on her site. 

7. TGIN - I am pretty consistent with washing my hair at least once a week and I love using TGIN to make my wash days a breeze. Honestly, the more consistent I wash my hair the less time I spend on detangling. 

8. Urban Hydration - I love that urban hydration uses a lot of clean ingredients in their products which I think is important to having a good skincare routine. Their face wash, body oils and body lotions are available at Walmart. They also have a haircare line but I have only used their skincare products exclusively. 

There are so many Small Black Women Owned Businesses all over the country. Hopefully these lists have encouraged you to support them.

How much would you need to earn to live comfortably?

Published: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

By: Aya Black

Recently, I read something on social media and it was a simple question but yet so profound. It stated, how much money would you need to make to live comfortably? I think these lines of thinking/questioning we need to head in as a society overall.  As I am currently on the job hunt and thinking about my financial status, I would at the very least like to make what I was making in my last role. My last role was not my dream salary but I was at the very least able to start paying down a tremendous amount of debt and rent out a studio apartment. 

In today’s world, that is a luxury. Right now, 61,000 TSA workers have not been paid in over a month but are still required to show up to work due to the partial government shutdown. Some of them are facing eviction and are missing meals as a result of not being paid. USPS says they are going to run out of funding by 2027. The USPS is a branch of the federal government but does not receive federal dollars. I believe most people would agree that we would prefer that tax dollars pay for USPS versus paying for war. Our president is bragging about how much money is being spent on the Iran war. Outside of what is going on with TSA and USPS we have so many other pressing issues that need our attention that going to war does not solve. 

We need to make sure people are earning livable wages and have access to affordable housing and universal childcare. Currently, there are a lot of politicians pointing fingers but not asking the important questions. I would love it if the question about how much money would you need to live comfortably came from an actual politician but it did not. I would love it if more resources were spent in doing research on how countries like Finland were able to put the majority of their houseless population in homes. 

As for me, I have been diving a little bit deeper into my mini research study around Black Woman Owned Businesses. I decided to tackle a different data set to prove my claim that Black Women do not have the infrastructure to handle the mass layoffs and firings that happened to us last year. After analyzing 35+ Black Women Owned Businesses, only 8.3% of the businesses identified have a physical location/storefront that you can purchase from. Although you can go into a Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Total Wine or CVS to pick up most of the products I have shared thus far this honestly continues to shed light on how under-resourced our Black business leaders are. 

happy small business saturdays

Published: Saturday, March 21st, 2026

By: Aya Black

Happy Small Business Saturday! Since it is still Women’s History Month I am going to continue to center Black Women Owned Businesses in installment #5 in Protection Spells for Black Women. I have continued my mini research project on Black Women Owned Business to back my claim that Black Women CEOs are underfunded. My research has expanded to focus on 30 Black Women Owned Businesses where the data shows that only 27% of these businesses are actively hiring, lower than the initial 30% when analyzing 20 businesses. 

I do not have all the answers to address the economic crisis that this presents but I do believe that we should still uplift these businesses without turning our society into further greed or over-consumption.

Here is another offering of some of my favorite small Black Woman Owned Brands. 

1. Me & The Bees - recently I went to Whole Foods to confirm that one of my favorite lemonade drinks is still in stock and it is. This is an Austin, Texas based business so double check if your Whole Foods carry this, sometimes I have not been able to find it. Okay, but back to the flavor profile, if you like Lemonade that is not too sweet this is the perfect selection. 

2. Yitty - when I moved to Seattle last year to start my last job one of the first things I did after finding my studio apartment was getting my gym membership. All bodies are gym bodies and I loved that I was able to get some Yitty Fitness apparel to help me be consistent on my health journey. I was able to order my apparel on Walmart.com although you can also get Yitty through Fabletics. 

3. Black Girl Sunscreen (BGS) - I am not the best at wearing sunscreen or choosing something more sophisticated than Shea butter but BGS is the truth. Sunscreen is essential to a good skincare routine, a lot there is a big misconception in the Black community when it comes down to this but it is also important for us to protect our skin in the sun. You can find BGS at Target and on Amazon. 

4. Kinlo - a more affordable sunscreen that also doubles as a skin moisturizer. This one is founded by Tennis player, Naomi Osaka. You can find this on Walmart.com

5. Pattern Beauty - this hair care line is founded by Actress Traci Ellis Ross and the perfect thing about it is that you can find travel size items which is perfect if you love to travel. Available in Target stores as well as Ulta and Sephora. 

6. Camille Rose - another hair care line that is based out of Atlanta but available across the country at Target, CVS and directly on their site. 

7. Cecred - founded by Beyonce, this hair care line is perfect for all curl patterns and has travel size items as well. Currently available at Ulta and directly on the site.

8. The Lip Bar - this is perfect for lipstick and makeup lovers that do not like breaking the bank. The Lip Bar is a beauty line that is budget friendly and available at Target and directly on the site.

PROTECTION SPELLS FOR BLACK WOMEN CONTINUED

Published: Friday, March 20th, 2026 Revised: Saturday, March 21st, 2026

By: Aya Black

Does calling these installments protection spells sound a little woo-woo? If so, do not worry the next one will have more of a universal appeal. This is my 4th installment of Protection Spells for Black Women as part of my Women’s History Month Series. Since my last installment, I decided to expand on my research study from 20 Black Woman Owned Businesses to 25. In the expansion of my research I found that only one more business offered a job/career section on their site but solely through their parent company. 

However, I did want to note one limitation of my study is that it did not include a lot of restaurants such as Slutty Vegan which is a Black Woman owned business that I reviewed in the 1st installment of this series which quite naturally offered a lot of jobs but I haven’t explored the careers side. I think for the next installment I will explore that side a little more because it is worth mentioning especially considering that Notorious B.I.G’s daughter, T’yanna Wallace is opening up a Caribbean Steakhouse in New York to honor her late father. More to come on that. 

Since my last installment another Black Woman owned business, Uncle Nearest, has been under fire in the news and on social media. I had the opportunity to try Uncle Nearest back in 2022 at an event being curated by a Black Woman and I have to say it had a very smooth taste. I am not a big drinker so I believe that is why I haven’t indulged in it since then but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t in the future. Mrs. Weaver, the founder of Uncle Nearest, tried to file bankruptcy for the business when the courts told her she no longer had ownership to do so. Without getting into the nitty gritty details of the case, I hope that Mrs. Weaver is able to gain back control of her company in the same ways that Pinky Cole was able to with Slutty Vegan. Considering the trends happening with Black Women owned businesses, I do not need to know all the details of the case to know that Black Women deserve more systematic and structural support for their sustainability, growth and economic success. The research and data patterns have been showing that so far. 

However, it is not all doom & gloom. Recently, the rapper Megan Thee Stallion has announced her new mini bottles in her alcohol line, Chicas Divertidas. I am definitely interested. Cardi B is dropping a hair care line. I personally won’t do too great in trying to do 75 hard for fitness but I think I can try remixing the challenge to take better care of my hair since I have a strong desire to grow back out my Afro so it is healthy, thick and strong. 

Stay tuned for my next installment releasing tomorrow where I dive into more Black Women Owned Businesses to support for Small Business Saturdays.

protection spells for black women

Published: Wednesday, March 18th, 2026

By Aya Black

This is my 3rd installment in Protection Spells for Black Women for Women’s History Month. Earlier, I expressed my frustrations about how when I tried to visit a Black Women Owned Coffee Shop & Cafe while traveling through Arizona that I learned it was closed down upon my arrival. Shortly after that, the well known fashion company Hanifa announced they may be pausing operations. This time I decided to do a little digging and research on the things plaguing Black Women right now to back up my claims that we are disenfranchised, underfunded and under-resourced. We deserve support without having to go bankrupt, back to school or get into massive debt. 

According to the Economic Policy Institute, Black Women suffered the largest employment losses in 2025 mainly among college graduates and public-sector workers. With that being said, now people are trying to usher Black Women into entrepreneurship but we have to be honest about the implications of that. I decided to do some research myself of 20 Black Women owned businesses to analyze some employment trends. 

Out of the 20 businesses researched only 30% of them had a jobs or careers section listed on their website. And only 2 businesses were hiring for more than one position. Now we do have to factor that companies such as Cecred and Pattern Beauty are active in hiring on LinkedIn and I am not sure if these companies are using Indeed or other platforms to do their hiring so that does need to be taken into consideration but overall there are trends here that need to be discussed. 

It’s not enough to tell Black women pushed out of the workforce to start their owned businesses when there is not considerable investments for us to create labor forces to eliminate the economic crisis at hand. What message are we sending to say we are only valuable when pushing out products and doing wholesale? 

For my next installment let me know if you want me to go deeper into the research or to focus on the good with discussing more Black Women Owned Companies that I love.

cuban solidarity

Published: Tuesday, March 17th, 2026

By Aya Black

Recently, on social media I saw that some notable activists such as Vic Mensa and Amanda Seales mentioning they are going to Cuba to help with the 60+ year blockade on the Island. Push back I have seen in response to this news from some Cubans is saying that Cuban has a dictatorship and that has caused a lot of turmoil on the Island outside of the Blockade which is what has led people to fleeing and coming to the United States. I am sitting with that statement especially as a Black Woman as a member of one oppressed group to another. 

Last month, when I was traveling in across the West Coast I couldn’t help but notice the grave conditions in Oakland when visiting a Black Owned Bookstore. Right around the corner, the houseless population was living in inhumane and deplorable conditions. Honestly, comparable to the conditions being described in Cuba. This is not only in Oakland, I have seen similar conditions when I was in Dallas, Texas and across the country. 

How can the United States put a blockade on Cuba for creating similar conditions that we have in our backyard? When I think of some of the best trips I have been on, Cuba is up there with Jamaica, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Mexico. So yes when I went to Cuba I was able to enjoy the excursions, cigars, food and drinks. Have you ever had a Cuba Libre? Life changing. However, I also did also notice the people waiting in line for their rations. Honestly, the best parts of the trip and that moment will stick to me for a lifetime but those same conditions are conditions that I see in our county all the time. 

Someone recently said that people can currently travel to Cuba from Miami and honestly I did not know that and I believe that information should be shared more widely. I highly recommend the island for travel, I would definitely suggest bringing books for entertainment because Cubans are not as plugged into social media and technology as we are here. So if you are looking to unplug this is the perfect travel destination. When I traveled, I felt very safe at my Airbnb as it had 24/7 security there! 

The United States really does not have a right to put a blockade on any country or demand regime changes anywhere, especially not in Iran. How does our country justify these blockades and wars when we do not have livable wages, universal healthcare, and affordable housing across the board? How are we able to afford these wars with all these issues we have at home?

The adventures of pluto nash movie review

Published: Sunday, March 15th, 2026

By Aya Black

The retro-futuristic vibe of The Adventures of Pluto Nash is just what I needed this weekend. This film is 20+ years old and stars Eddie Murphy, Pam Grier and Rosario Dawson. The year is 2087 and the world has managed to colonize the moon into what is called Little America. Eddie Murphy aka Pluto Nash takes over a failing moon business and turns it into one of the busiest nightclubs in Little America called Club Pluto. Heavy nostalgia of my young days dancing in Club Space in Downtown Miami comes rushing in, once a movie can connect to some of my favorite experiences and memories in life I become hooked. 

Outside of the fact that I genuinely believe in decolonization there is still a beautiful thing that these types of movies get right and that is having hope in a beautiful future filled with good times and technology that works for the people. Little America has flying cars and cryotherapy. I would love to drive a flying car in my lifetime. 

Pluto Nash is approached by Casino Bosses and offered a lump sum to sell his Nightclub to turn it into a Casino. Pluto Nash rejects this request and dismisses these men from his establishment. He lives above his nightclub and when one of his newly hired waitresses, Dina, brings up some refreshments at the end of her shift they are met with the club being bombed. 

Pluto Nash, Dina and Pluto’s robot who helps run the nightclub retreat to a local motel called The Paradise to escape and they are joined by Pluto’s mom and they only have a few moments of relief before they are met with violence there too. 

Long story short after Pluto does some of his own investigation in another secluded area on Little America he only has a few more moments of relief again before being led on a high speed chase from the Casino Bosses. He is able to shake the Casino Bosses briefly, get some help from a Latino homie and go undercover at casino himself where he is met with the mastermind to his surprise, his clone. This part of the movie is definitely giving They Cloned Tyrone vibes. 

That is it for the spoilers I am giving away, the great part about this movie is that it is streaming for free on YouTube Movies so this is perfect to if you do not have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu or Prime Videos. This is also good for teenagers and young adults on Spring Break or for anyone in general. In a world filled with chaos and endless wars we could definitely use more resources to be reallocated from that to creating more futuristic movies. That is my two cents!

BLACK WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THIS MONTH

Published: Friday, March 13th, 2026

By Aya Black

This is the second installment for Protection Spells for Black Women post in honor of Women’s History Month. Recently, when I was supporting a local Black Owned Business in my community I couldn’t help but notice that they didn’t make any post honoring Women’s History Month or International Women’s Day. That just highlighted for me that there is a lot of repair work that it is needed. I am committed to continue to show up for my community because I know it is part of my destiny to put that work in and I feel a sense of responsibility doing things I feel called to. I want to highlight Black women authors, creatives and small business owners because we deserve to support and uplift one another. Here is my 8 Black Women founders you should support, starting with shamelessly plugging myself. 

1. Ayas Little Book of Joy by Tifanny Burks. Last year I released an activity book inspired by my love of word searches, affirmations and astrology. Since that I have made 10 sales on Amazon and on my website. For Women’s History Month, my book is on sale for only $10.00 from now until the end of the month. You can secure your copy here! 

2. Finally a Piece of Peace by Jamara Washington. I am the queen of self-help books. This is one of the books that is on the top of my reading list. Support a Black Woman Author with this relevant book that was released this most recent International Women’s Day. You can purchase online using this link or in person in Oakland, CA at Marcus Books. 

3. Forvr Mood by Jackie Asamoah. If you like smell goods then look no further. I have only gifted her candles in the past but the I Am Here from her perfume line is my personal favorite. You can purchase directly on her site or at Sephora stores. 

4. Donna’s Recipe from Tabita Brown. Recently, I have been taking better care of my hair. I have been natural for over a decade with having an afro, a frohawk, locs for 3+ years and now I desire to have a big afro again. So that means I have been more consistent with washing and moisturizing my hair. I love how silky my hair feels after using the Sweet Potato Pie shampoo. My hair also loves the Sweet Potato Pie hair cream and whipped vanilla cream curl enhancing gel although I lost my gel through TSA because I accidentally threw it in my toiletry bag during my most recent DMV trip. You can purchase Donna’s Recipe online, at Target or Ulta. 

5. Topicals by Olamide Ayomikun Olowe. The world is currently chaotic but somehow the topicals brightening eye masks manages to make it better. Self-care doesn’t solve all the world’s problems but it does give you time to pour back into your own cup which is also important. If you need a good recommendation on keeping your lips hydrated I highly recommend the Slick Salve lip balm. The Mint and Papaya lip balms have been my favorite thus far and the Acai is next on my wishlist. Find Topicals online, Sephora or Amazon.

6. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. Anything Rihanna makes is worth having. My personal favorites are her lip liners, mascara and her universal lip luminizers. Fenty Beauty is one of the rare brands that is sold at both Ulta & Sephora.

7. Juvia’s Place by Chichi Eburu. This is a makeup line that is affordable, empowering and always has sales. I am not big on makeup but when I do decide to indulge, Juvia is typically my number one choice. You can find Juvia’s online or at Ulta.

8. Black Girl Vitamins. Vitamins are good to add to your health and wellness routine. I have been lucky to purchase and have been gifted these vitamins in the past and when I have the opportunity I will definitely purchase them again in the future. You can get them directly on their site or on Amazon.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Published: Sunday, March 8th, 2026

By Aya Black

Happy International Women’s Day. This is a protection spell for Black women, especially Black women creators, innovators, artists and business owners. I am reflecting recently on the news of a prominent Black business owner, Anifa, recently announcing that she is taking a pause from her business that has changed the culture for the better for the last 5+ years. Anifa is a prime example of when Black women need support they instead face public backlash and scrutiny. 

Black women CEOs deserve so much more but instead of under-resourced and expected to perform at the levels of business owners who have more investments and funding. Recently, when I was in Phoenix, Arizona and wanting to support a Black woman owned coffee shop I discovered upon arrival that the business was closed. I am looking at the surrounding businesses in the area that were still open and something was not adding up for me. Not to rain on anyone’s parade but none of the other businesses were more special than this cafe. I left Phoenix and continued my journey to Texas feeling very slighted as a Black woman. 

Let’s venture to Atlanta and talk about the Black Woman owned business Slutty Vegan. Many people have made humiliation rituals out of the founder, Pinky Cole, for filing bankruptcy. Not me though, I instead used my resources to support the Slutty Vegan the last time I was in Atlanta. These 3 examples are just a pattern to highlight the disparities with Black Women Owned Businesses. Hanifa, Chic Cafe and Slutty Vegan are all viable businesses but lack the material support needed to thrive. 

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month are reminders to support women, especially Black woman owned businesses, creators and artists. We can do better and we must. So when I go to Dunkin Donuts and order the Megan’s Mango drink or when I was in LA ordering the Jhene Aiko’s Westside Whimsy smoothie at Erewhon these decisions were very intentional. 

Women supporting women is essential to our collective success. How are you supporting women in intentional ways this month?

HONK FOR JESUS MOVIE REVIEW

Published: Saturday, March 7th, 2026

By Aya Black

I am not religious by any means but also I will watch any film Regina Hall is in because she is that great of an actress. Honk for Jesus is a few years old but will definitely go down in history as a classic as far as movies goes. Regina aka Trinitie and her husband Sterling K. Brown aka Lee Childs are trying to save their church located in Atlanta, Georgia after several sexual allegations amongst previous congregants. They decide to hire a film crew to document their journey to their grand reopening. 

You see them doing ordinary things like sitting down and eating breakfast while having honest discussions about the real struggles that lie ahead as they try to rebuild. You see the power of what sharing a good meal together can do! I fall in love with Regina’s character because you see a woman who is dedicated to her husband but is also very blunt and assertive in her marriage. 

She doesn’t feel the need to sugarcoat the gravity of what her husband has done and has been accused of but she also is still committed to him, her marriage and the sanctity of the church. Lee in practicing his sermons before the reopening infuses a lot of core messaging of hope which is what has historically brought a lot of people to places of worship but you also see him demonize homosexuality which has also had a lot of people stray away from being churchgoers. 

Themes around competition versus collaboration show up as well. The goal is for Greater Paths, the church, is to reopen on Easter Sunday which is a big revival day in the Christian community however Trinitie and Lee discover that former congregants turned pastor & wife are opening up a second location on Easter Sunday as well. The Childs decided to pay them a visit to discourage them from doing so which ends in a prayer session instead. I wonder why they didn’t offer to stagger service times to meet the needs of everyone involved but the Childs had tunnel vision. 

While Lee and Trinitie were relaxing in the pool in their backyard he has an idea to open up the Sunday before Easter weekend. Trinitie doesn’t think it’s the wisest idea but since she is a ride of die for her man and God she decides to support her husband’s vision. They take their poster boards to the church curb to promote the grand reopening, a week earlier, themselves. 

There is a lot more to unpack with the movie but the biggest takeaways for me is how instrumental church has been to a lot of Black people whether you consider yourself religious or not. A lot of my generation as well as our parents and grandparents were raised in the church. 

Honk for Jesus is setting the stage for some bigger questions. Do we believe there will be a bigger revival in the Black community to return to church? If so, what would those efforts look like? I give this movie an 8.5/10. I like movies that can make me laugh while also pondering big life questions. This movie has a great balance of humor and honesty.

HAPPY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Published: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026

By Aya Black

Happy Women’s History Month! Women are powerful and deserve to be appreciated every single day in March. This is a great time to honor women’s achievement in literature, film and science. Hopefully the accomplishments of all the powerful women in history can leave us a guiding compass during these current times of uncertainty. May we be inspired and called to take bold action. 

May we also see why a lot of powerful women such as Tracee Ellis Ross who have decided to decenter men and not view it as an attack on the male population but as guidance to other women on how to achieve big goals unapologetically. This month is for everyone who does not want our country to engage in forever wars and instead want resources to go to supporting education, affordable housing, livable wages and universal healthcare. I speak for all women in saying we do not want to engage in forever wars in Iran, Sudan, the Congo, Palestine, Lebanon or elsewhere. 

Women, especially Black Women and women of color I hope you get good news such as you’re hired, you’ve been promoted and you’re approved all month long. It is what we deserve. Women deserve more ease, opportunities, resources and support. Let Women’s History Month be a reminder of that. Last month, our country was an overall disgrace during Black History Month. Hopefully, we can do a little better for Women’s History Month.  

Beside the general celebration, this is a good time to support the women you know in your life. Recently, an old friend asked me to watch her child and I enthusiastically said yes. We have to support each other and honestly I won because that baby is full of personality, love and character. So I know I will be leaving our interaction feeling on cloud 9. How do you plan to support the women in your life this month and consistently after the month ends?

THE PLUS ONE MOVIE REVIEW

Published: Friday, February 27th, 2026

By Aya Black

Rom-coms continue to be my comfort and watching The Plus One filled my cup up yesterday. While catching up with an old friend before watching the film, I told her I was grieving being on the road as a nomad for 3 weeks. The reality of being on the job hunt and getting back into my routine is settling in and I have to be honest I miss being carefree on Venice Beach and playing arcade games at Santa Monica pier letting my inner child shine. 

If you love super corny movies this is perfect for you. This is my way to cope with the reality that I am not in LA anymore. When I saw that Ashanti is the main character, I was hooked on watching the film. If you like Cedric the Entertainer he plays her father. Ashanti, aka Lizzie is getting married in Clearwater Beach, Florida and her family & friends decide to join her in her destination wedding. The film is filled with love, drama, love, and friendship. 

Her father wanted her to elope to Las Vegas. I am on the same page as the dad because that is my future goal for my marriage however Lizzie was adamant about celebrating her big day the way she envisioned it. I love her confidence, conviction and support from her loved ones to celebrate her wedding the way she wanted to and not to settle to appease her father. 

The movie shows how the power of love can conquer drama, differences and right now that’s why I am passionate about watching rom-coms. Since I haven’t attended a wedding, which is one of my favorite things to do, in person in almost 3 years watching them on the big screen will suffice for me for the time being. I give the movie a 7/10!

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Published: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026

By Aya Black

I am finally back in the swing of posting more regularly since moving from Seattle and my 3 week experience being a nomad. Ideally, this Black History Month appreciation post would’ve came sooner but better late than never. Yesterday while having focus time at my local library I noticed the Black History Month appreciation table and in the current times we live in that small token of appreciation meant a lot to me. We are currently living in a time where Black History is actively being erased, DEI initiatives are being rolled back and a lot of overt racism is going unchecked. It means even more when I see Black people in leadership positions at the library as well. 

This month I celebrated Black History by supporting local and small owned businesses and purchasing a book from a Black author. Going back to our history being erased, when I was on the road I had the desire to support a Black Woman owned coffee shop just to realize when I showed up that her cafe was closed. 

Black lives, communities and businesses are being underresourced and underfunded yet that only lighted a deeper fire in me to support business owners that looked like me. However there are so many different ways to show appreciation this month such as visiting Black led museums and doing research on prominent Black History figures for example.  

Black Lives Matter. Black people will continue to celebrate all year long the achievements we have made in the past and the present is undeniable even if our major leaders do not formally recognize it. 

Hopefully we will see more Black History Month appreciations being shared between now and Saturday. It is what our communities deserve.

RELATIONSHIP GOALS MOVIE REVIEW

Published: Monday, February 23rd, 2026

By Aya Black

I love rom-coms and romantic movies overall. I am bad at love in real life so film is where I can escape and explore love in other ways and primarily through other people. That’s easier than the real thing for me. Before the movie Relationship Goals I fell in love with The Photograph starring Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield and more recently I rented out the movie Love Jones because I was in the mood to watch something centered in deep care. Renting the movie was worth it to me even though you can probably find it for free on YouTube. I like investing in things that bring me joy so it was a no-brainer for me to watch Relationship Goals especially because I love the two main characters Kelly Rowland and Method Man in real life. 

Relationship Goals follows Kelly who works in media and who puts her career before romantic love interests and her company decides to hire her old love interest, Method Man, to compete against each other for a higher position in the company. The company decides to follow a story based on a real life book called Relationship Goals written by a well renowned pastor Michael Todd. Kelly must get over her “hatred” of Method in order to work together. 

I will not give away anymore spoilers, you can check out the movie yourself on Amazon Prime Videos. However, if you also use romantic/rom-coms to escape from the chaos of the real world then I would definitely give Relationship Goals a shot. I would rate the movie a 7.5/10! 

Until the next lovey dovey movie comes out I will listen to my favorite lovey dovey music artists like Jill Scott and Ella Mai!

Crime 101 Movie Review

Published: Saturday, February 21st, 2026 Edited: Monday, February 23rd, 2026

By Aya Black

I have been perpetually single for a long time now but Valentine’s Day still happens to be one of my favorite holidays so I decided to celebrate through the power of self love this year while I was in Fort Worth, Texas. I did a core workout at LA Fitness and went to watch Crime 101 at the AMC Movie Theaters Downtown. I will watch any movie that Halle Berry is in. I would put her in the same category as Denzel Washington and Viola Davis when it comes down to acting skills. 

When I arrive at the theater I see many cute couples, I grab my pickup order at the concession stand and I head to my seat to munch on my budget friendly snacks I got from Dollar Tree as well. I thoroughly enjoyed that the movie took place in California, many of the scenes were locations I visited on my roadtrip journey before arriving in Texas. Halle Berry works at a firm that insures rich people property such as jewelry, weddings, etc. She has been at the firm for over a decade and desires to be a partner because she has been there for awhile and the men in the company seem to move up much faster. 

The movie touches on a deep moral dilemma, making money the “right” way or resorting to crime / fast money. I won’t give away too much more because I believe you should check it out for yourself but the movie was good to me, overall I would give it 7/10 stars. If I would’ve gotten to the movies earlier I would’ve snuck in to watch GOAT as well which is a cartoon that stars Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry and my make believe husband Aaron Pierre. 

2026 is definitely the year for movies and that makes me so happy. Boosters a film by Boots Riley comes out in May and a new Michael Jackson film comes out in April so there is a lot to look forward to in Black Film. I am glad I conquered my fear of going to watch movies alone! 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beyond Vietnam Book Review

Monday, January 19th, 2026

By Aya Black

Today I was feeling low energy. I do not typically celebrate MLK Day because I believe there are so many expressions of Blackhood, celebration of Black History is not a monolith and doesn’t have to look one particular way. However, moving to a new state / city and not having a community makes it very crucial for me to honor the people and things that have shaped me into the person I am today. I grew up loving my black skin and hair and having public figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the several reasons why. Getting to see widely respected change makers that looked like me at a young age had a very positive effect on my psyche. 

On MLK’s actual birthday on the 15th I was able to go to my local bookstore and purchase one of his pieces of work, Beyond Vietnam, which is actually a speech he made at a church in New York a year before he was murdered and adapted to a book. I am glad I was able to show my gratitude for an ancestor that fought for the civil rights I have the privilege to benefit from today. 

Some days are harder than others for me emotionally but grabbing this book to read was a low lift and I am glad I did. Although I was distracted it took me about an hour to finish. Beyond Vietnam showcases Dr. King’s antiwar stance, naming the war for what it is a war on the poor and vulnerable. Although I do not like the overuse of the word poor and peasant in the book, I do have to agree with Dr. King’s assessment. Telling men, especially Black men, to go fight in a war abroad when he doesn’t even have freedoms in his own backyard doesn’t make any sense and King called out the hypocrisy.  

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death,” King states in Beyond Vietnam. This assessment he is making is spot on. He could even make this speech today and what he is saying still holds true. Our country is at a critical moment right now, what we choose to spend our dollars on truly matters. Will we go down in history as a country that bombs and destabilizes other countries or as a nation that commits more deeply to social uplift? 

How are you honoring MLK? 

Endings Lead to New Beginnings

Wednesday, January 14th, 2026

By Aya Black

Today while in Dollar Tree I picked up some cleaning supplies and a large storage tote, the reality of my journey living in Seattle is coming to a close. The lease for my studio apartment is up at the end of the month and I start the journey of becoming a nomad next month, my plan is to travel across California, a state I fell in love with when I first visited LA now almost 12 years ago. After being in Cali for a week I will make my way back down to the south via Tucson, Houston, NOLA and Atlanta before going back home to Miami. The journey is not going to be easy as I am reworking my budget constantly to make sure that the bills still get paid, maintenance needs are happening for my car, my L.A. Fitness membership is renewed and I have wiggle room for some fun along the way.

This Seattle ending has been cut short and has me feeling bittersweet but I am at peace with this decision and to see where life takes me next. I have been applying to jobs, interviewing and this weekend I will be making a trip to Home Depot to get some moving boxes. I am ready for a new beginning! 

I look forward to all the new memories I am going to be making in some of my favorite places on earth such as Oakland, San Francisco and L.A. All the national parks I am going to visit for the first time and elevating my yoga practice to the next level. 

I think as we get older, letting things go that no longer serve us gets easier. I think this ending is going to make room for me to get deeper into finally writing my romcom novel, reading more, and getting serious about meditating.

Actually, now that I think about it…I am very grateful for endings and the little promises of fresh starts that they bring!

We need more wellness

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

By Aya Black

The chaos that has happened in Minneapolis is telling us that collectively as a society that we need more wellness and less ice agents terrorizing our communities. Last year I ran a 5k back in March. It was the best $45 I have invested in my health in a long time at that point. After the 5k the City that hosted the wellness event (my hometown) had a staff yoga professional on site and led a large group of people who opted into a free yoga flow that was healing, relaxing and helped tremendously with decompressing after running 3.1 miles. I believe the City of Miramar is a shining example for other governmental entities across the country.  

We desperately need more cities, government agencies and businesses investing in wellness and we need to defund ICE agents terrorizing our immigrant communities as well as the people who support these communities. 

As a Black woman who is a daughter of an immigrant I know all too well the tactics that ICE is doing is identical to what police departments have historically done with murdering innocent and oftentimes unarmed Black community members. 

What if instead of having ICE agents we deployed trained professionals that could help people on the spot with their immigrant process?  We need better, affordable and more humane pathways to citizenship instead of raids and throwing people in detention centers. Detention centers, raids and ICE agents demonizing innocent & peaceful protestors are not solutions to our immigrant and refugee issues in our country. 

How our government spends money matters. The woman who lost her life in Minneapolis should be alive. The amount of money going to ICE agencies is unacceptable. I want to hear more stories on affordable housing, livable wages and universal healthcare in addition to having more licensed mental health professionals and wellness practitioners.

Our communities need more healing resources and less cruelty!

Sending Love to All That Need It

Posted - Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 Updated - Thursday, January 8th, 2026

By Aya Black

I am sending love to everyone who has reached out to someone for comfort and instead got a cold shoulder. I feel like I have been in constant loops of one way friendships that when seeking comfort they were seeking to teach me a lesson and trying to bring back old, expired and toxic versions of myself back to the surface. Those old versions of me are dead in my current universe and I hope you seek to kill the version of yourself that you no longer identify with. 

You deserve positive validation even if you are the person that has to give it to yourself. Nobody should have to do life alone but I hope this serves as a source of compassion for you, you still deserve to clap for yourself even if nobody else does. 

At first I was against watching the show How to Die Alone because I hated the name but overall the series taught some very life important lessons. Sometimes you do have to learn to do life alone and the journey can still be filled with joy, humor, simple pleasures and connection along the way. Now me, I am no angel. I lost a lot of people I thought I was going to do life with when my mental health has taken dips in the past but I am on a healing journey and I deserve to honor my progress and opt out of experiences that seek to drag me back into toxic cycles. 

So I am dedicating this year to standing up for myself, clapping back, and being my own biggest cheerleader. I will acknowledge how far I have come in my journey even if nobody else does. This is a love letter to me but to everyone else who needs to hear this message. This is a note to everyone else who believes you cannot hold anyone accountable but you can support, love and uplift your loved ones through accountability. 

Accountability can only reach me this year through compassion, kindness and authenticity not through harsh lessons and tough love. I just hope to keep my peaceful warrior spirit strong through the process and find endless ways to be humble through the chaos and the journey along the way. 

So my assignment right now is to remain consistent with my wellness through journaling and doing my affirmations as well as to get more serious about doing my mantras, positive self talk and speaking life into myself. What does your wellness journey look like right now? 

Why I Believe in Rejection Therapy 

Monday, January 5th, 2026

By Aya Black

I love rejection therapy and I believe everyone should engage in this practice more. I recently saw a beautiful queen on Instagram that said one of her New Year resolutions is doing rejection therapy and I was immediately tuned in because this is something that I have done in the past and I want to be more intentional about going forward. Rejection therapy is when one intentionally makes themselves resilient to rejection by unapologetically asking for what you want. Rejection therapy seeks to desensitize hearing the word no and to build up confidence skills. 

I believe everyone should engage in rejection therapy. Chasing the life you desire in the year of 2026 takes a certain level of boldness and audacity. In society that loves to put people in their place it takes a lot of guts to tune out the naysayers, haters and negative energy coming at you constantly. Believing in yourself is a full time job. Going after the life you want requires you making a commitment to yourself daily to not settle, have a strong faith, and keeping an optimistic attitude despite the challenges you may face. 

Rejection therapy requires a high level of consistency and discipline. It’s to look at your current conditions, be grateful for what you have but to also be brave in admitting that you want more. Rejection therapy also requires you to be gentle with yourself, to honor your humanity and your flaws and know you are still deserving despite it all. 

Cheers to everyone on a journey to a better life. I will be outlandish with my requests. I cannot wait for anyone to save me, I have to prioritize saving myself. If you are doing rejection therapy this year feel free to connect with me. Let’s get free together!

The Universe Is On Our Side But We Must Still Apply Ourselves

Friday, January 2nd, 2026

By Aya Black

People who love justice, peace and freedom I am speaking to you. Back in November, right before Thanksgiving I lost my job that I moved across the country for. Recently, I have been stuck in a cycle of feeling resentment for the sacrifices I have been making in the continued pursuit of financial freedom and not losing progress of the gains I have made in 2025. With this most recent job, I was able to increase my credit score of over 100 points in less than six months, pay off thousands of dollars of debt all while doing what I loved but I couldn’t stop an organization that wasn’t ready to tackle their anti-Blackness and how it showed up every single damn day. I was the only Black person working in my department and at the organization and unfortunately speaking truth to power got me the ax. 

However, I wasn’t prepared to be back on the job market again so soon after only 5 months.Last year I was so ready to get out of the rut I was in that I applied to over 100 jobs in two months. Having to do that all over again less than a year has instilled a level of resentment and rage inside of me I am still trying to unpack and comprehend. This is the journey that 600,000 Black women have also had to face as we are being systematically pushed out of the job market at disproportionate rates that should be sounding off fire alarms across the country but unfortunately because it’s us it isn’t. 

The system wants the labor of Black women but doesn’t want to pay us for it. Even with all of this and knowing that the odds are not in my favor I am still fighting for my liberation. I took my time to update my resume for the second time since November and applied to a career job after making myself breakfast this morning. My resentment was replaced with gratitude that I was able to see and apply to this job posting 3 days before the application period closes and the skills that they were asking for is aligned with the skillset that I have. I am grateful that today alone I have been able to see more opportunities that I can apply for and if it takes me applying to 100 jobs again then so be it. That is my fate that gratitude has helped me accept. 

I still desire to have a soft life, to be a homeowner by age 40, to update my passport and travel the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Towards Justice.” I wholeheartedly believe that, after applying to this career opportunity I continued my studies in my journey to become a registered Yoga Teacher and after my yoga & chakra meditation class I felt even more gratitude. 

Every time I continue to commit myself to consistency and my goals, I am rewarded by the universe. Meditation is helping me replace my lingering resentment with gratitude as I am in this waiting period in my life but I still believe in financial freedom and I want to be the shining example for everyone who looks like me. 

The Universe is on our side but we must still do the work in fighting for what we deserve! Much love to you in your journey. May 2026 bring more peace, justice, light and freedom to the whole world! 

a long walk movie review

Monday, December 29th, 2025

By Aya Black

Spoilers Alert

If you need a good movie to rent on Amazon Prime, I would definitely recommend A Long Walk. It's in the thriller/horror category so you also have to have a strong stomach to watch it. Society is currently in economic turmoil and sends 50 teenage boys on a challenge to walk to victory, whoever walks the longest distance without stopping and maintaining a good pace wins. The theory is that the annual walk helps spark hope in a society where there is not much hope left! 

One of the main characters mentions to the group of boys that doing the Long Walk is really not optional, especially in a society that gives young men very few options for a successful future. He puts the competition in perspective especially because the challenge gives the young men an illusion of choice to sign up and make them feel special to be one in 50 chosen to participate. 

Whoever doesn't win is shot and killed on the spot. Walking too slow? 3 warnings and you are dead. Need to poop in the middle of the road? You better do it within the 3 warnings period or you are shot and killed. 3 warnings is all you get. 

During the walk, the young men share their wishes of what they want if they win. Having the Long Walk have two winners instead of one is thrown out by main character David aka Peter another wish is to be surrounded by 10 sex workers from one of the Asian walkers. However, nobody wishes for the Major (one of the walk organizers) or any of the generals to stop the killings overall. Why kill the losers? Every time someone is shot and killed it causes agony for the remaining walkers but not once is this a wish that is even considered for the remaining walkers. 

I wonder if the walk allowed teenage girls if the outcomes would be different. If you ever ponder about the economy and living in dystopian times then A Long Walk will help you put things in perspective. I won't ruin the rest of the plot for you but the ending is not completely horrible. 

BEING PRO-BLACK DOESN’T MAKE ONE ANTI-white

Thursday, December 11th, 2025

By Aya Black

I believe it's a gift to be a Black Woman in this world. Every day, I am grateful for this gift. I am Pro-Black as I believe in reparations and that every single person who is a descendant of enslavement should have access to jobs that pay a livable wage, affordable housing and to thrive not just survive. 

I currently live in King County in Seattle that is named after Martin Luther King Jr. I think it is completely warranted to be exhausted by things being whitewashed. I am grateful for the strides that the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movement have made while also acknowledging that our country has a long way to go to do right by Black people. The other day I decided to visit the MLK Jr Memorial Park which is nearby my apartment and there were a few bronze statues that was missing which quite naturally would make anyone upset. I know if this was an attack on historical white men in this country this situation would've been rectified already, something like this would not be happening at Stone Mountain Park in GA, and if so a resolution would've already happened. 

I met a white man who is an army & navy veteran at the memorial park that was alleged there when the stealing of the bronze statutes happened. Instead of what I thought was going to be fruitful conversation of solidarity and solutions, it turned into a conversation where he centered himself and said he doesn't see color. I want to live in a country that believes in giving veterans access to good quality mental health resources and more and not choose to emotional dump on Black women because we are perceived to be strong. 

Needless to say, what I thought was going to be a 40 - 60 minute walk was cut drastically short but that still doesn't change my overall beliefs which leads to my next point. I still believe that the current prison system, that disproportionately impacts Black people, needs to be abolished. The recent news story about the viral prison father / daughter dance (where the majority of fathers were Black by the way) was cute for like two seconds. Why are we not working harder to free these men so everyday can be a father / daughter dance? Prison Abolitionist scholar, Angela Davis, said "prisons do not disappear societal problems, they disappear human beings. Homelessness, unemployment, drug addiction, mental illness and illiteracy are only a few of the problems that disappear from public view when the human beings contending with them are relegated to cages." 

I believe that right now white people need to work harder at being anti-racist. We need to start asking more critical questions in the workplace, in our communities and in our homes. If Black leadership is missing at the table at work then you need to speak up and ask why especially if you have privilege. If your elected officials are not looking as diverse as the people that live in your city then it is your duty to help change and transform that. If you know Uncle Joe is racist and he is coming over for Christmas dinner you need to start challenging his beliefs. We got to do better and it shouldn’t take waiting for the next “No Kings” parade to do so.

automated intelligence versus artificial intelligence

Tuesday, December 9th, 2025

By Aya Black

I am not the biggest fan of Artificial Intelligence. I believe a heavy reliance on Artificial Intelligence leads to a society that is racist and recreates the environment of enslavement. Whereas, Automated Intelligence is more humane, supports workers rights, and sustainable. Automated Intelligence asks where are there opportunities for deeper equity, racial justice and fairness and looks to fill those gaps. Artificial Intelligence recreates red lining, erasure and a slew of other societal harms. 

Automated Intelligence seeks to repair and restore. For example, I love grocery shopping at Whole Foods but I cannot but help to notice that there is rarely any cashiers on the registers whereas when I go shopping at Trader Joes there is an ample amount of workers on the sales floor and on the registers. The workers are diverse and I see people who look like me which makes me happy to spend my coins there. 

My local grocery stores across the street is the same way. I wish more stores adopted the Trader Joes employment model. I will always prefer speaking to a live human when trying to resolve issues over the phone and chatting with an actual representative versus a bot. This website would've been finished a very long time ago if I went the Artificial Intelligence route but it was more aligned with my values to pay a website developer for their expertise in bring my site to life. Having access to a full time job gave me the resources to be able to afford to do so, so I am eternally grateful for that. 

Which AI side are you on, Automated or Artificial? 

never let go movie review

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025

By Aya Black

This is another movie that I definitely wanted to watch when it came out in the theaters last year but I am grateful I got the opportunity more recently to rent it for a really affordable price on Amazon Prime to help pass time after not being able to fall asleep. Halle Berry, the main character, lives in the woods with her two sons after a major apocalyptic event has turned most of society into homicidal monsters. Not too far of a stretch from our current state of affairs as a society right now but I digress. 

In attempt not to fall ill to the evils, every time Halle and the boys leave their home they have ropes that tethered themselves to house, the number #1 rule is to never let go. Letting go, according to Halle, is the difference between life & death. The trio only leave their home to find food. 

As time goes on, the food sources dwindle which causes a whole host of issues. Starvation causes things to take a turn for the worst. Trying to sleep is getting more difficult, falling sick is becoming more common and the family has to make difficult decisions. These decisions causes Halle's youngest child to doubt his mother and start to act out. 

First, he wants to untether the ropes when leaving the house. Second, he believes the world is back to normal. Third, he rebels against his mother when she makes the executive decision that they must kill & eat their dog in order to survive. 

This rebellion causes him to chase after his mother into the greenhouse that is adjacent to the main house &  where she decides that is where she is going to kill the dog (with a lot of tears and doubt in her heart btw). The youngest child chases after his mother and in a fit of rage untethers her from the main house, after being untethered she succumbs to the evil energy and kills herself in order not to turn & kill her children. 

I am going to stop the spoilers here and encourage you to watch the rest the movie unfold for yourself. However, the core theme is what I want to discuss. When I thought about the family starving it made me think of the most recent SNAP benefit cuts. When you are not able to have nutritious meals, it impacts the way you are able to show up in the world mentally, physically and emotionally. 

The family was suffering from psychological warfare. A lot of issues we are currently facing in society. I do not have all of answers to society's problems but I do appreciate media that directly or indirectly, addresses the issues that we are collectively facing in the world.

Tupac was definitely ahead of his time when he said "They got money for war but can't feed the poor." How as a society, do we turn away from killing each other en masse (wars, gun violence, etc.) and address some of our more pressing issues more head on such as food access, affordable housing, and mental health support for example? 

Those are the questions coming up for me after watching Never Let Go. If you watched the movie please reach out so we can discuss further. Let's get free together.