• Law

    Intellectual Property: Trademarks

    I took a poll on my Instagram requesting that people choose which area of intellectual property (“IP”) they would be most interested in reading about in my next blog post. Before I get into the Instagram poll results and discussion of the chosen area of intellectual property, it is important to first understand what intellectual property is.

    Generally, and broadly speaking, intellectual property is an area of law that protects intangible assets that are the product of someone’s intellectual creation. IP is widely regarded as the creations such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, images used in commerce. The areas of IP are wide but for my blog post I wanted to focus on the three major categories: copyright, patents and trademarks.

    I will illustrate IP by way of a few simple examples. Your favourite hit song on the radio; that is likely protected by intellectual property, specifically copyright. Your favourite book; copyright again. Your favourite sculpture, (one of my favourite sculptures for example is the beautiful naked man and woman in Emancipation Park in New Kingston) copyright again. The genius invention of the female bra; was once a patent. Generally, patents are granted to the inventor of innovative technology and are granted for subject matter ranging from software to biotechnology to drugs to mechanical inventions to processes

    You will notice that all these things share the commonality of a spark of the mind, some degree of imagination, genius, or laborious thought. Trademarks are a bit of an anomaly from this definition of IP as trademarks have largely nothing to do with any of these things. Trademarks have very little to do with actual creativity and more to do with identifying and distinguishing between brands so that consumers will not get confused or deceived in some manner. Trademarks are also about protecting the reputation and goodwill established by the owner of the mark. This brings me to the surprising results of my Instagram poll. The response of the poll was a resounding interest in trademarks!

    I expected that people would be more interested in copyright as perhaps the purest form of IP in that copyright emphasizes at least a minimal amount of creativity and is concerned with the protection of these creative intellectual creations. You will notice that copyright covers many of the popular forms of creative pursuits which I guess is why I was half expecting copyright to be the victor in the poll battle. However, this was not the case, trademark arose the victor!

    So, here are some basic things to know about trademarks.

    What are trademarks?

    As I mentioned a bit previously, very generally speaking, trademarks are concerned with the right to adopt and use a symbol to distinguish the goods or property made or sold by the person whose mark it is, to the exclusion of use by all other persons. Trademark issues generally arise in the competitive marketplace. Trademark is perhaps King in the United States, some writers equating brands as having almost religious significance[1] There are so many brands in the US, brands that have developed international recognition. Coca-Cola, Apple, Disney, Nike, Adidas, all of which are governed by trademark law.

    In the US, trademarks rights are a both common law and statutory. A person who owns a mark and sells goods or property under this mark, to the exclusion of use by all other persons, has been long recognized by the common law. It is regarded as a property right for the violation of which damages may be recovered in an action at law. For those who may not know common law generally refers to law made over time by the judiciary, ie, judge made law.  Put in another way it is the body of law made from judicial decisions of courts. When the judiciary makes law, it creates precedents that then become binding and legally enforceable. The common law was named this way because it was “common” to all the king’s courts across England. The British Empire later spread the English legal system to its colonies, many of which retain the common law system today. These “common law systems” are legal systems that give great weight to judicial precedent, and to the style of reasoning inherited from the English legal system. The United States and Jamaica are two countries that have inherited elements or variants of the common law system from England.

    When I say the trademarks are a common law right then I am saying that, in the US, “this exclusive right was not created by the act of Congress and does not now depend upon it for its enforcement”. Trademark registration (covered in statute) is an important part of trademark law, but trademark rights may exist without registration. Statutes are created by Parliament or Congress. (As a little aside: both the Judiciary and the Legislative are two of the three separate branches of government: Judiciary, Legislative and Executive.)

    The trademark statute in the US is called the Lanham Act, codified into the US Code.

    In Jamaica, trademark registration is very important. An application to register a Trademark must be filed at the Trade Marks, Designs and Geographical Indications Directorate of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (“JIPO”). Jamaica focuses primarily on statute and not common law when it comes to trademark rights. Trademark rights derive from registration of the mark following the statutory requirements.

    The final thing I will say about trademark law in the US is its interesting categorization of the types of marks. An important factor in trademark law is the idea of distinctiveness, ie, a trademark may be eligible for registration, if it performs the essential trademark function, (like identifying the source of the product) and has distinctive character.

    The U.S. case Abercrombie and Fitch v Hunting World created different classes with varying degrees of trademark protection, referred to as the spectrum of distinctiveness. I do not usually cite Wikipedia but most of these definitions I got from Wikipedia and they are decent.

    The spectrum goes as follows:

    1. Generic: A generic term is a common name for the products or services in connection with which it is used, Wikipedia provides the example of “salt” when used in connection with sodium chloride. Generic terms may generally be used by anyone—including other manufacturers—to refer to a product. Generic marks have no distinctive character and can never be afforded legal protection.  There are also marks that were once registered trademarks but have been genericized and have lost their legal status due to becoming generic terms, for example Aspirin (in the US) or Escalator. Both the terms Aspirin and Escalator were once registered trademarks however have become generic.  In everyday common usage, people may refer to escalators as moving stairs despite who may have actually manufactured the moving stairs.  

    • Descriptiveness:  Descriptive is a term with a dictionary meaning which is used in connection with products or services directly related to that meaning. Merely descriptive does not function as a mark, however descriptive marks can be protected if they have a secondary meaning. Secondary meaning is acquired distinctiveness which is evaluated by how strongly people associate the mark with a specific brand name in the marketplace. An example of a merely descriptive mark would be COLD AND CREAMY for ice cream. Such a mark is very unlikely to be granted registration, as the phrase merely describes an attribute of the product (the attributes of ice cream is to be cold and creamy).

    • Suggestive; suggestive marks tend to indicate the nature, quality, or a characteristic of the products or services in relation to which it is used, but does not describe this characteristic, and requires imagination on the part of the consumer to identify the characteristic. Suggestive marks invoke the consumer’s perceptive imagination. For example, “Mustang” creates a suggestion of speed and tries to convey a meaning like speed however it may take some time for the consumer to make the connection.

    • Arbitrary; an arbitrary trademark is usually a common word which is used in a meaningless context. Such marks consist of words or images which have some dictionary meaning before being adopted as trademarks, but which are used in connection with products or services unrelated to that dictionary meaning. Arbitrary marks are also immediately eligible for registration and the scope of protection is broad. Perhaps the most popular or well-known arbitrary trademark is the trademark “APPLE” for computers.

    • Fanciful; A fanciful trademark is on the face of it registrable and comprises an entirely invented or “fanciful” sign. For example, “KODAK” had no meaning before it was adopted and used as a trademark in relation to goods, whether photographic goods or otherwise. Other examples of invented words are GOOGLE for online services, ROLEX for watches, and XEROX for copiers. A fanciful mark is a coined term and is therefore inherently distinctive, making it the mark the most guaranteed to be approved for trademark registration. It also enjoys the widest scope of protection.

    There is much more that can be said about trademarks! I will end it here for now with a little conclusion of what was said:

    • Trademarks, unlike copyrights and patents, are not concerned with creativity. The general focus is on using symbols, words images, colours etc, to identify the manufacturer of a good. Who is behind the product? Who is the source of this product?
    • TM protection exists to protect consumers from confusion with other products in the marketplace. It also protects the reputation and goodwill developed by the owner of the mark from infringing third party users.
    • In the U.S, TM rights are both common law and statutory. You therefore have unregistered ‘common law’ trademarks and registered trademarks. Having a registered trademark confers many advantages to the mark owner.
    • The types of marks in the US are generic, descriptive, suggestive, arbitrary and fanciful. Generic terms have no protection under the law, whereas fanciful terms are on the face of it registrable and give the widest scope of protection. If you are creating a brand then, it may be best to create an entirely new word for your goods or services OR go the arbitrary route and use a dictionary word in such a way that is entirely unrelated to the dictionary meaning of that word. What about, for example, HIBISCUS for piano services? That is my stab at a arbitrary mark lol.

    I hope this post was not too long and boring, 😊 I hope someone out there gleaned at least one thing useful and informative from this post. What are your thoughts on trademarks, what are some of your favourite brands? What is your favourite trademark in the entire world? Follow me on social media to participate in my next poll as to what we will discuss next! 

    Thank you for reading!


    [1] “You can break 6 of the 10 commandments in America, but please, Thou Shalt not Violate the Brand.” — David Brooks, No Sex Magazines Please, We’re Wal- Mart Shoppers, N.Y. TIMES, May 11, 2003, at WK 14. Mart Shoppers, N.Y. TIMES, May 11, 2003, at WK 14.

  • Travel

    Summer Sunflower Stroll

    Sunflower viewing is a very peaceful activity.  Being outside in the sunflower fields after many months trapped inside was a refreshing change. We went to Argos Farm for our sunflower stroll.

    Argos Farm allows picking the flowers at a separate price. I would personally prefer if the flowers had not been picked because the picking of the flowers created large bald patches in the field however the flowers themselves are very beautiful so I understand why they are allowed to be picked.

    Argos Farm also offers produce, zucchini, squash, red potatoes and cucumbers and much more! We did not go there to scope out seasonal produce although the farm does offer organic, GMO free produce. 

    I forgot how much I loved sunflowers. My mother used to grow them by our home when I was young and they would stretch taller than any other flowers in our yard. Argos Farm has revived my love of sunflowers. I think my summer project will be to revive them back in Jamaica 🙂 I’m now trying to decide if I prefer them over orchids. 

     

  • Hair,  Law,  Social Commentary

    Unapologetic; The Reasons We Should Advocate for Natural Hair

    I am an unapologetic advocate for natural black hair and I believe all of us should be too. When I say, “natural black hair,” I am referring to hair of women or men of African descent in its natural state, ie, without chemical relaxers or perms. I am also referring to protective styling such as dreadlocks, braids, canerows/cornrows, etc. I am talking about natural black hair without wigs, weaves or any type of hair that mimics, or actually is, the texture of another race.

    In the grand scheme of everything happening in the world right now concerning the oppression and harming of black people, natural black hair discrimination may not seem relevant or important, however it is – and the reasons why we may deem natural black hair unimportant or irrelevant, are exactly why I advocate for black hair. Black hair is not just hair. Black hair has been a sensitive topic in the black community and has been a contentious civil rights issue for decades, with courts having largely failed to interpret the nuances of racial discrimination and black hair. There have been Law Review articles on this topic, one in particular that I will be citing heavily regarding American law titled “Black Women’s Hair: Another Way Forward” by Crystal Powell. 

    Natural black hair discrimination has been pervasive socially and legally and so it is important to advocate for natural black hair the way we advocate for any other type of discrimination. I believe the problem is that we don’t recognize  biases towards natural black hair for what it is; a form of discrimination. What I hope to do in this post is to shed some light on the history of natural black hair, how and why it has changed over the years and why I believe discrimination of natural black hair exists.

    If you are a black woman who has a chemical relaxer or loves her weaves/wigs, please do not feel attacked or alienated by this post. It is not my intention to attack you. Also, I am not personally offended by the sight of relaxers, weaves, or wigs. I would just like to share some of my thoughts and research on natural black hair and hopefully have a meaningful discussion about it. I truly feel we do not explore this topic enough in the black community. Ultimately, we should question the origins of black hair practices and why we have the hair practices we have in the present day.

    If we understand the origins, it can create knowledge and acceptance of ourselves in the present. 

    I want to say that I do not advocate for natural black hair simply because it is natural. This is not a “fake vs natural” debate for me. Nor am I saying that black women and men who wear their hair naturally are better, more conscious or more “woke,” than those who do not (although I do believe it takes a great degree of awareness and self-acceptance to wear one’s natural hair in a world that has socially and legally taught black people that our natural hair is less professional or attractive, and must be changed as a result) I’m not trying to create division within our community; I only seek to speak about this issue. There are many excellent sources on this topic: papers, books, and articles that I have mentioned previously and that I will be linking below that I have used as sources. I have cited these sources heavily to reinforce my points. I will be speaking about black hair as it relates to the United States. Although I will be citing U.S. case law, negative sentiments and biases towards natural black hair is universal.   

    History of Black Hair and Social Conditioning 

    According to bbc.com, “In early African civilizations, hairstyles could indicate a person’s family background, tribe and social status.” “Just about everything about a person’s identity could be learned by looking at the hair,” says journalist Lori Tharps, who co-wrote the book Hair Story about the history of black hair. For example, “when men from the Wolof tribe (in modern Senegal and The Gambia) went to war they wore a braided style,” Tharps explains. A woman in mourning would either not “do” her hair or instead adopt a subdued style. Tharps also states in Hair Story that in ancient African traditions, hair played a vital role in a woman’s beauty, wealth, marital status, religion, and rank. “Even deeper, the way the hair was worn foretold the geographical origin of the woman. In some cultures, a person’s surname could be ascertained simply by examining the hair because each clan had its own unique hairstyle.”

    Traditional African hair practices changed with the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Some may ask what slavery has to do with negative stigmas towards black hair in the present. “Everything,” Tharp states, because it was “under slavery that the stereotypes regarding Black hair were created and reinforced.” Tharp argues that:

    “The hair was considered the most telling feature of negro status, more than the color of the skin. The “negro status” was that of a sub-human with the very hair being characterized with non-human qualities such as wool or bush or cotton. By their hair you could know them, because distinguishing a free Black from a slave was almost immediate by looking at their hair. Once the feminine beauty ideal was characterized as requiring ‘long straight hair, with fine features,’ White slave owners sought to pathologize African features like dark skin and kinky hair to further demoralize the slaves, especially the women. Blacks of lighter complexion were generally biracial (mixed with Whites), and with that came a texture of hair more closely aligned and more easily shaped to the hairstyles worn by White women and considered acceptable in White society… For these reasons, Black women sought to straighten and contort their hair to approximate White women’s hair.”

    The adoption of white hairstyles by black people was a means of accessing opportunities not only under slavery, but especially after it was abolished. Powell states that “…the simple truth is that Black women have been straightening their hair for the last 150 years because it was and has continued to be a necessity for survival in the American economy.” 

    Just how pervasive is implicit bias towards black people and their hair? Powell in her paper notes that in 2016, the Perception Institute undertook a study to specifically examine implicit and explicit attitudes toward Black women’s hair. One in five Black women noted they felt social pressure to straighten their hair for work. On average, the study found, white women deemed black hair to be unprofessional and demonstrated an explicit bias against it, rating it as “less beautiful, less sexy/attractive, and less professional than smooth” (or straight) hair. The Perception Institute noted that generally white attitudes toward black hair were penalizing and negative, with the strongest stigmas held by white women. Other contemporary studies documented similar bias against naturally textured black hair and styles, with results showing an aversion to textured black hair across all groups, and black women experiencing deep anxiety because of the stigma about their hair.

    Powell notes that the quest for “good hair” has been so visceral that today it is a multi-billion dollar industry. Madam CJ Walker, the first female millionaire in the United States, made her fortune from the Black hair industry in products designed to straighten the texture of black hair.

    Another Hair Piece: Exploring New Strands of Analysis Under Title VII author Angela Onwuachi-Willig states that “In a society where straight, long, fine hair (compared to Black hair) is viewed not only as the norm but as the ideal for women, tightly coiled black hair easily becomes categorized as unacceptable, unprofessional, deviant, and too political.”

    The rejection of black textured hairstyles can be seen in widespread grooming policies that explicitly ban braids, locks, and unusual hairstyles. This grooming policy issue made headlines when Texas teen DeAndre Arnold (link CNN) was presented with an ultimatum: cut his dreadlocks or be barred from his graduation ceremony. Tehia Glass, director of diversity and inclusion for UNCC’s Cato College of Education, condemned such school policies, categorizing them as “…this emphasis [for] black people to conform to whiteness and to assimilate.”

    Many people, black and white alike, dismiss black hair discrimination. I personally have seen comments from black colleagues that shrug off implicit bias and discrimination against black hair, dismissing it largely as an aesthetic concern. Black hair discrimination, and the decades-old desire to assimilate white hairstyles as a result, is a subtler discrimination – but discrimination nonetheless. As Powell cites in her paper based on the findings of the film, American Denial  “denial helps to maintain the stability of the society rather than root out all injustices… Many societies tend to leave the most subtle and insidious harms just outside of change’s reach… Powell argues that “perhaps it is the subtlety of certain types of discrimination that precludes meaningful change. So, it is with Black hair. The societal discrimination against black hair is one of those insidious harms.”

    I believe the onus is on us as people, regardless of race, to understand the following:

    • the true origin and purpose of natural black hair practices
    • how black hair practices evolved into assimilations of white hairstyles, largely out necessity
    • how implicit biases, both within the black community and the workforce, still permeate today
    • how all these factors affect a black person’s ability to choose how we wear our hair.

    The Law and Black Hair Discrimination

    How does the law treat black hair discrimination? As Powell argues, “while society may have incorporated its longstanding bias against Black hair as almost normal, it is the law that is expected to act as a check against societal bias and make opportunities, particularly in employment, equal.

    Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Black women or men seeking relief for hair discrimination often claim discrimination under Title VII, which provides that:

    “…it is unlawful for an employer (1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his….employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin….”

    Powell notes in her article that in 2006, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) put out a Compliance Manual that gives guidance on charges of race and color discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The EEOC’s Compliance Manual states that Title VII’s prohibition of race discrimination generally encompasses, among other things, “(1) a person’s physical characteristics…and (2)…employment discrimination because of cultural characteristics related to race or ethnicity.”

    This guidance advises that Title VII permits employers to impose neutral hairstyle rules, but those rules must respect racial differences in hair texture and should be applied in such a way that they do not disparately impact black women from wearing hairstyles that are natural to their hair textures.

    Unfortunately, federal courts are not bound by the EEOC Compliance Manual. Powell argues that federal courts have routinely disagreed with the EEOC and have consistently denied that Black women have a claim for racial discrimination when they have been terminated or lost out on a job opportunity because of wearing their hair in a hairstyle suitable to their natural texture.

    According to Griggs v. Duke Power Co, cited by Powell, “plaintiffs can either bring a claim based on a disparate treatment analysis or a disparate impact analysis. This essentially means that the employer either deliberately treated members of the protected class differently compared to others and that this difference in treatment was because of an intent to discriminate…or policies that seem facially neutral but have a discriminatory impact on a protected group.

    How has caselaw treated hair discrimination?

    In her paper, Powell cites Rogers v. American Airlines (1981), as one of the most prominent hair discrimination cases.  In this case, Renee Rogers, an airport operations agent for American Airlines, sued her employer, claiming that their policy, which prohibited women from wearing all-braided hairstyles, was discriminatory. Powell notes that previously in Jenkins v. Blue Cross Mutual Hospital Insurance, Inc. it had been inferred that a woman fired for changing her hairstyle to an afro might have a valid Title VII claim.

    Powell argues that, in the Rogers case, the court steered clear of pronouncing that the afro was, in fact, a protected hairstyle.

    The implicit bias towards natural black hair is evident in the language of the court decision. The Afro is referred to as the “Afro/bush” style. The court provided that:

    Plaintiff may be correct that an employer’s policy prohibiting “Afro/bush” style might offend Title VII… But…an all braided hairstyle is a different matter. It is not the product of natural hair growth but of artifice. An all-braided hairstyle is an “easily changed characteristic”, and…is not an impermissible basis for distinctions in the application of employment practices by an employer. Furthermore, Powell states, “the court callously noted that even if it were racial discrimination, it was not so big a deal.” (page 232-233 of the decision).

    Powell notes in her paper the many scholars who have heavily criticized the court’s opinion. Onwuachi-Willig argues that the court’s decision is because of a lack of thought and consideration for the nature of black women’s hair. Powell suggest that if judges thought carefully of the historical and contemporary bias and oppression against women because of the texture of their hair, “they would view employer bans on natural hairstyles to be just as discriminatory as employer bans on brown skin.”

    Powell notes that another scholar, Paulette Caldwell, asserted that the court, by drawing a strict immutability line—between biology (the afro) and cultural artifice (braids, etc.)— allowed the court to avoid the “basic elements of anti discrimination analysis” such as group history, the oppressed position of the group over time, and if employment practices are perpetuating the subordination.

    Powell notes another scholar Michelle Turner wrote that Black women would not be able to reach successful verdicts until society in general, and judges in particular, discontinue holding “unenlightened views on cultural issues.” Turner argued that discriminatory hair policies seem neutral because those policies expect all to assimilate to the dominant hair culture and hairstyles of White individuals. She further argued that judges in turn have seen these claims as trivial because they too have approached the issue with an assimilationist perspective.

    Powell also points out that federal anti discrimination statutes were not drafted on the basis of mutable (changeable) and immutable (unchangeable) characteristics of a group, but rather because of the historical oppression of certain groups based on characteristics unique to those groups. Powell provides the example that religion is a protected class under the Civil Rights Act and is in no way immutable. In fact, individuals are not born as any religion, though parents may raise them in one that they may come to adopt. Nevertheless, she states, people convert and change religions. Ultimately, the court has been persistent in its denial to recognize hair-based discrimination targeting black people.

    The most recent decision is EEOC v. Catastrophe Management Solutions (CMS) in 2014 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which serves Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. In the case, Chastity Jones had applied for a job at a call center and, after she passed the initial interview and was offered a job, one of the human resource officers asked her if she was wearing dreadlocks. When she confirmed she was, the officer stated that locks had a tendency to look untidy. The company had a grooming policy which provided that “[a]ll personnel are expected to be dressed and groomed in a manner that projects a professional and businesslike image. The company interpreted this as a ban on dreadlocks. The EEOC sued under Title VII.  The court remained steadfast in its denial of a more nuanced perspective relating to hair discrimination, opining that

    Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of immutable characteristics, such as race, sex, color, or national origin. A hairstyle, even one more closely associated with a particular ethnic group, is a mutable characteristic. Therefore, the complaint fails to state a plausible claims for relief.”

    Powell points out that the court conveniently left out religion in its opinion from the list of protected classes for which Title VII offers protection against discrimination.

    The court ultimately concluded that “[n]o amount of expert testimony can change the fact that dreadlocks is a hairstyle” even if it “is a reasonable result of hair texture.” Powell argues that with this complete dismissal, the court essentially pronounced that the only solution a Black woman could hope for was if she wore her natural hair without it being combed or styled, or if she styled it in an afro. Only the afro is protected. Powell argues that “the decision that the afro is not a hairstyle but the only immutable, and therefore protected, way to wear Black hair further showed the blindness of the federal courts to the nature of black hair.”

    Ironically, black hair is more prone to lock than it is to become an afro when left without grooming and yet still the court has declared locks as a mutable characteristic and therefore not protectable under Title VII.

    The Legal Defense Fund (“LFD”), argued that the Eleventh Circuit incorrectly dismissed Ms. Jones’s lawsuit and erred in ruling that claims under Title VII are limited to discrimination based on “immutable” physical characteristics. LDF argues that under this misguided standard, even though CMS denied Jones employment based on a racial stereotype about her natural hair, the court suggests that Title VII provides no relief for this form of discrimination. LDF argues that if allowed to stand, the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling means that Title VII is powerless to counter employment discrimination based on racial stereotypes, and effectively permits employers to ban natural Black hairstyles in the workplace. Furthermore, LDF argues, this analysis contradicts Supreme Court precedent established in its 1989 decision Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, which ruled that Title VII prohibits discrimination based on stereotypes, regardless of whether the stereotype focuses on mutable or immutable traits.

    LDF petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to review the case of Chastity Jones. LDF’s petition urged the Supreme Court to consider Jones’s case to correct the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling that departs from established Supreme Court precedent. CMS’s notion that locks will become messy, and are therefore unprofessional, is a false racial stereotype that denied an employment opportunity for Ms. Jones. Anti-discrimination laws, like Title VII, were enacted to root out such discriminatory employment practices. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court declined to review.

    All hope is not to be lost yet for black men and women facing hair discrimination. States, without clear judicial precedents, have enacted legislation to combat black hair discrimination. The Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act went into effect in California on January 1, 2020 to make it “clear that discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles associated with people of African descent, including hair that is tightly coiled or tightly curled, locks, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots and Afros is a prohibited form of racial or national origin discrimination.” According to www.thecrownact.com, the Crown Act now exist as law in 7 states; Washington, California, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.The Crown Act is led by the Crown Coalition and is an amazing initiative. You can sign their petition at https://www.thecrownact.com/ and become a part of the movement to end natural hair discrimination.

    With the disappointing results of federal judicial precedent, it seems then that enacting state legislation will ultimately be the best means to protect against and seek relief for black hair discrimination.

    Final Thoughts

    Self-awareness is one of the first steps to understanding. What if every black woman and man, today, decided to wear their natural hair? The history of black hair is a traumatic one steeped in dehumanization and assimilation. It is a history every person, regardless of their race, should be aware of. White people should be aware of this history so that if, for example, a white employer is creating grooming polices for their workforce, they are aware of the implicit biases towards black hair that exist. Black people should be self-aware to recognize the subtler form of discrimination. The way the courts have regarded black hair deserves to be noted as well. If the courts are so quick to dismiss black hair discrimination, the onus is on us as people to agitate for protection against the subtler forms of discrimination.

     According to Judicial Learning Center. Org, the United States Supreme Court receives about 10,000 petitions a year. The Justices use the “Rule of Four” to decide if they will take the case. If four of the nine Justices feel the case has value, they will issue a writ of certiorari. By refusing to hear EECO v CMS, the value, presumably, was not seen by the Supreme Court in rendering a judgement on black hair discrimination.  Oftentimes, the law evolves with society. We as people, regardless of colour, must see the value in protecting against black hair discrimination. It is beyond merely an aesthetic trait or a matter of choice, natural black hair is a part of our identity that has systemically been denied or prohibited to such an extent that we as black people go so far as to risk injury (chemical burns from relaxers, alopecia from straight wigs/weaves) to conform to a straight-textured, white standard of beauty.

    As Marcus Garvey said, “do not remove the kinks from your hair – remove them from your brain.”

    Please let me know any thoughts or comments you may have below! Have you ever personally faced black hair discrimination? Do you believe the court’s views on the topic is the correct approach? I would love to know your thoughts on natural black hair discrimination!

    If you enjoyed the article, please consider connecting with me on Instagram @nadianhowe or Facebook. The links to both of my social media are in the social media icons on the page! 

  • Fashion

    A Memorable Shoot

    When I left Jamaica to spend some time in the US, I was not anticipating remaining very long and so I did not pack a lot of clothing. This created quite the predicament and so I headed the Orlando Millenia Mall  to do some much needed shopping.

    I wanted to try some unconventional looks for myself, I wanted to sport things that I have never really worn before. I headed to Forever 21 and did some looking around and assembled all the looks you will see from this post from what I picked up at Forever 21. Shopping at Forever 21 in a pandemic was interesting. All the dressing rooms have been closed and so no try ons are permitted. It was busier that I expected. Several young women were there looking for their fits. I am still getting accustomed to the largeness of American stores and the fast pace of American culture.

    After assembling the clothes I did a little shoot around my neighboring community. I was going for a vintage, distressed rock and roll sort of feel. Hopefully that was accomplished! It was super fun to do and very different from my usual attire. Everything was bought from the physical store of Forever 21 at the Millenia Mall!

    Here’s a breakdown of the fit! All clothes are linked to the Forever 21 website!

    Fedora Hat (the hat linked is not the same exact Fedora Hat)

    “The Offspring” White Tee (again the website does not have the actual shirt from the physical store and so I linked an alternative cost and design wise) 

    The Offspring, I discovered, is an actual band. I never knew of them before purchasing this shirt. Not that I am not a rock/punk fan. I have listened to Green Day and Avril Lavigne. As the design of the shirt suggested and as I have alluded to it is a rock and roll band. If you are unaccustomed to that type of music, maybe check it out! You may find some songs you like! I thought the Kids Aren’t Alright by the Offspring was pretty poignant lyric wise.

    Denim Mom Jeans 

    These jeans are very comfortable with it’s baggy-ness. Mine are slightly large but I actually like the look of it baggy. The jeans are also very flattering for the waistline as well. 

    Converse sneakers (bought at another store elsewhere) 

    Well, that’s it! What do you think about this look? Would you wear something that you usually do not wear? Let me know in the comments below

  • Travel

    A King’s Landing

    I grew up on an island. Water was never far from me and I have always found solace by the sea or in front of the fresh waters of a river.

    Real bush gyal, as we would say dung a yad! English translation; I’m a real earthy girl raised in a rural area surrounded by nature. “Bushness” has a bit of a negative connotation in Jamaica but I want to remove the negative connotation from rural living. There is something incredibly peaceful about being connected to the Earth in it’s natural state as humankind did before all of these largely unnecessary and needless inventions and distractions.

    Anyhow, I digress.

    While visiting Florida I became antsy being constantly surrounded by cement and concrete. I was therefore elated to visit King’s Landing.

    King’s Landing is described on the website as one of the tributaries that feeds the Wekiva River Basin. It is a designated National Wild and Scenic River. It truly is a gorgeous site, with pristine, crystal clear waters and wildlife. These waters were truly stunning because it is almost glass like in clarity; you can make out the bottom, your feet walking on the bed, the animals, leaves and critters in the water. King’s Landing has one of the clearest waters I have seen.

    King’s Landing also offers several types of tours. I did the kayak tour with Martin @spybreak47 who was gracious enough to introduce me to the site. Many people, when they think of Florida associate the state with Disney World or Universal Studios however Florida is also home to some truly incredible nature spots such as springs and parks. King’s Landing brought me back to the clear waters of Portland Jamaica for a few hours. Actually, several people mistakenly thought the destination was Jamaica!

    For any nature lover I would  recommend checking it out!

    Special thanks to Martin @spybreak47  for introducing me to this great spot and for being so gracious and patient with taking photographs! Be sure to check him out for more great nature photography!

    What are some of your favorite nature spots? Let me know in the comments below!





  • Music

    IAMDJRD REVIVES CLASSIC HIP HOP WITH A MODERN TWIST

    I am an unapologetic lover of hip hop or rap music. It is just one other of many creative art forms developed by people of colour that has changed the world by contributing to social consciousness. As a Jamaican woman I take great pride in Jamaica’s contribution to the creation of Hip Hop. Any true lover of hip hop knows that it is credited to have originated from DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican DJ through his “Back to School Jam”, hosted 1973, in the Bronx of New York City. 

    As a little bragging aside, Jamaica is such a special little island. We are a little dot on the world map yet have contributed so incredibly to the world through art form with the development of music genre like  hip hop, reggae and now, the first female and woman of African descent vice president., Kamala Harris.

    I have said it once and I will say it again, Jamaica, we likkle but we tallawah! For anyone who may be unfamiliar with the phrase, it is a popular patois proverb that translates to “we are a small nation but we are strong-willed and determined.” 

    Anyhow, I digress.

    Musical elements anticipating hip hop music have been identified in blues jazz and rhythm and blues recordings from the 1950s and earlier. Historically, Hip hop as music and culture formed during the 1970s in New York City from the multicultural exchange between African-American youth from the United States and young from other countries, specifically countries in the Caribbean.  

    Crossly Scott described hip hop music in its infancy was an outlet and a voice for the disenfranchised youth of marginalized backgrounds and low-income areas, as the hip hop culture reflected the social, economic and political realities of their lives. Many of the people who helped establish hip hop culture, including DJ Kool Herc, DJ Disco Wiz were of Latin American or Caribbean origin.

    It is important for us to remember the true origins of hip hop. It was a genre providing a voice to the voiceless. Specifically, rap music was a voice to disempowered people of colour who were suffering from the economic, social and racial inequalities built into the system, stemming ultimately from slavery. Classic hip hop contains all the traits of advocacy against injustice, overcoming the adversity of incredible hardships and inequalities. This is indicated in classic hip hop songs like Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth, Tupac’s Changes. Classic rap music has been a source of upliftment for the disenfranchised, a warning of what can befall you if you hang with the wrong crowd. This is indicated in songs like  Nas’s I Can. I Can, is probably one of the most inspirational hip hop anthems developed in modern times and even samples traditional classical music with the use of Beethoven’s Fur Elise throughout the track. 

    Classic Hip Hop also indicated the brilliance of just plain old clever wordplay, poetry,  impactful and profound storytelling. Personally speaking, one of the greatest songs, hip hip or otherwise for me is Slick Rick’s Children’s Story. Children’s Story is a musical novel, with a protagonist, pace, tension, conflict. Any and every literary device you can think of is in Children’s Story

    In Nas’s record, Nas is Like, he showcases the brilliance of his lyrical versatility. The production of Nas Is Like also features heavily classic hip hop with the use of scratching.  

    Nowadays critics of hip hop dismiss the genre for its sexist or misogynistic lyrics. Many argue that hip hop has evolved from its true origin of advocacy for social justice and upliftment of the disenfranchised into a genre that is overly occupied with objectifying women and lavish lifestyles. 

    As you can see from the history of hip hop, DJs have played an instrumental role in the creation of the genre. United Kingdom DJ, IAMDJRD, seeks to revive the genre with productions that embody hip hop in its classic form while adding his own personal modern twist.

    IAMDJRD has worked with hip hop legends such as Nas, Run DMC, Slick Rick, Talib Kweli, Redman & Method Man, DJ Yella of N.W.A, Busta Rhymes as well as Caribbean greats like Damien “Jr Gong” Marley and Gyptian.

    In his new records Possessed  (linked in the tile here) and Living and Dying (above) he teams of with artist Larynx to incorporate classic hip hop sound and lyricism. He agreed to speak with www.howeoneearth.blog on his background, production process and what is missing in today’s hip hop.

                                            HOWEONEARTH.BLOG Q & A

    Q: How is it you got into music, what is your background regarding music?

    IAMDJRD “I always had a thing for music from a very young age. Then when I turned 16, I start DJ-ing for house parties etc. As soon as I turned 16, I started working as a radio DJ. Then, I decided to chase the dream [of becoming a DJ] and do it professionally. My DJ/producing work got known around the UK university student scene. [The university scene] got me the access to showcase my talent to students around the world. After a while I got offered to spin for record companies to break new records to clubs. [I began touring] with American artists [on their] tours as [an] opening act. [I] work[ed] my way up to opening for rap legends and my favourite artist Nas for his Life is Good Tour. [I was the] DJ for Nas & Damian Marley’s Distant Relatives Concert after parties. Then I became a member of WU Tang Clans “WU DJ Coalition.” [I] continued to support artists such as Redman & Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Tyga and Talib Kweli. Now with the relationship I have in the industry I work as A&R for many labels/artists. Working with many great artists I learned a lot. I have received especially great advice from Raekwon and Talib Kweli. Now we are putting our energy in our art.”

    Q: Could you describe the production/instrumentation of some of your music like “Possessed” and “Living and Dying?”

    IAMDJRD: “Yes, I produce all my tracks. Living & Dying is a 5 year old song that we recorded while on tour with Talib Kweli. I used a MPC to make the beat. One beat I played to Niko and Larynx on tour, they liked the beat and ended up recording the song in the hotel room with Talib Kweli engineer. I have to shout out to Talib Kweli for always supporting 100%”

    Q: The beat on “Possessed” is quite somber and thoughtful. Could you describe why you sought to create this kind of sound?

    IAMDJRD: “[For Possessed] I want[ed] [the] beat to be very thought provoking and bring a little bit of a jazz vibe to it. I always try to create art without what’s popping right now. Especially artist like Larynx who can do better on beats like this I thought.

    I laid the drums and started working on the rest of the production on “Possessed.” I had Larynx in the studio and my session piano player Zoe Alexandria to try some sounds and after the session, doing vocals. We did the final arrangements in LA with my engineer “Csik.”

    Q: There is a lyric in your new song Possessed feat Larynx that says “…just the beginning, our story’s not over…older wiser instinctive sharp…leaving a distinctive mark.”  Is it important for you to leave behind a distinctive legacy?

    IAMDJRD: “Me and the artist I [am] working closely [with] for us, we doing it to leave a distinctive legacy for sure.”

    Q: As a DJ who or what inspires you to create the instrumentals that you make?

    “I create art and do my part for hip-hop. We are trying to give messages and do meaningful music.”

    Q: Possessed seems to have an older hip-hop legend feel, do you intentionally go for that old school hip hop nostalgia in your productions?

    IAMDJRD: That is what missing out big time in the game. Right now, so much disrespect to females or [rappers] always lie about [their] lifestyle. [Hip-hop has become] about beef, cars and bling or about some stupid area codes.

    In our music we talk about all this but never say we live this life as we don’t. Obviously, we have our past in the streets however we grow and elevate from all that to do what we do now.

    Ultimately, yes that’s my sound, golden era [of hip-hop] style, boom bap with [a] modern twist I would say. Boom bap is a music production style that was prominent in the East Coast during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The term “boom bap” is an onomatopoeia that represents the sounds used for the bass (kick) drum and snare drum, respectively.

    Q: Yes, one thing I noticed with your music is the lack of non-misogynistic lyricism, which I and I believe many current day critics of rap music would appreciate. What do you think about what critics point out is a problem with Hip-Hop/rap music, ie, the often sexist and/or misogynistic lyrics towards women?

    IAMDJRD: “We don’t support that.  I don’t even work with artists if they are not on the same tip.”

    Q: Which era of hip hop would you say produced the best conscious music and what do you think about the use of hip hop in Broadway musicals like Hamilton for example?

    IAMDJRD:  “Well the best [hip hop music] was done in the 90s for me, even the early 2000s. Then shit went down the hill. I blame the record labels and radio stations for this. Both [the record labels and radio stations] lack on promoting the real art. They start[ed] chasing the money.

    It’s great, hip-hop being used on Broadway it’s major win for the hip-hop culture.”

    Q: What was it like working with rap legends like Nas (photographed with below) and Slick Rick?

    IAMDJRD: “Working with Nas and Slick Rick was {[a] blessing from [the] most high. As a DJ and fan of the culture it’s one of my favourite moments and it was a great experience.”

    Q: Where can people find your music and connect with you?

    IAMDJRD: “I am on all social media. Facebook: IAMDJRD, Instagram: @iamdjrd”

    Special thanks to IAMDJRD for participating in the howeoneearth.blog Q & A session!

    You can buy or stream his new single Possessed featuring Larynx on all platforms by following the link! Give a listen above to IAMDJRD’S single Living and Dying featuring Larynx and Niko Is.

    Connect with DJ RD on Instagram for more photographs! All photographs were taken from his Instagram page. You can also connect with me, Nadia, the author of this article @nadianhowe on Instagram. 

    What is your favourite single from IAMDJRD? Let us know in the comments below!

     

  • Fashion

    PAUL FEARON CONNECTS FASHION, FAITH AND FATE

    One thing I can recall that I have always admired is a well-dressed man.

    I am not sure why this is, but for some reason I have always admired men who take pride, thought and care in how they dress. Of course, what constitutes “well-dressed” can be argued as being entirely subjective. Every person is different and what may be considered fashionable to one person may not be to another. For me personally, I have always admired vivid colours on the male form, a blending of colours. I admire the man who will shed ideas of hyper-masculinity and sport pink proudly, the male who has no problem with experimenting with colours and looks.

     Imagine my delight then when I stumbled on an Instagram profile which showcased all these things! Paul Fearon is a male fashion lover who can be connected with on his incredible Instagram page @malefashiongeek! His bold, bright, vibrant style seems to be uniquely Caribbean with the use of colour and is totally daring and fun.

    Not only is Paul Fearon fashionable but he takes great pride in connecting fashion with his own personal creativity and unwavering faith. His new book is titled Tailored Faith/Fate (check it out on Amazon, linked in the title). Fearon describes the title as having a dual meaning; his love of fashion as well as his belief in God to help him persevere through life and his trust in God to make his dreams come to fruition.

    In fact, Tailored Faith/Fate divulges just as much about hope in the tribulations of Covid-19 as it does about fashion.

    Fearon describes that his inspiration for writing Tailored Faith/Fate was to bring hope to those who are experiencing hopelessness amid the pandemic. Fearon himself describes losing his job because of the pandemic, and the uncertainty he felt as to what he should do next.

    “There are times in our lives when we sense a period of hopelessness…it maybe that our experiences make us feel there is no hope…. if I can speak to [the jobless situation and mental situations men are experiencing during the pandemic] and bring hope to a seemingly hopeless period…it would lift the spirits of people.”

    Ultimately, Fearon describes that “Faith” is the tool that will bring us all to our “Fate.”

    Fearon maintains that without faith, we cannot embrace our true fate!

    Fearon has agreed to an interview with www.howeonearth.blog to shed light on all there is to know about his life, his incredible style and other fashion tips for the male fashion lover.

    Fearon has agreed also to answer a few questions for howeoneearth.blog on how he achieves his sleek, effervescent looks plus tips for all the males out there on how they can achieve a fashionable look and maintain faith in these difficult times.

    HOWEONEARTH Q & A

    Q:

    How did you get into fashion?

    PF:

    “Fashion has been a part of my life from I was younger. Growing up in Jamaica my dad was always neat and dressed up for church and my mom worked at a clothing store. She would purchase outfits for me and that’s where it started for me.”

    Q

    “Where are you from?”

    “I’m from Jamaica, Spanish Town, Saint Catherine.”

    Q:

    What inspires your amazing use and blend of colours in your looks?

    PF:

    “I love colours and I love the idea of combining them. It’s the creative side that I really love.”

    Q

    What is a must have item for any male to have in their closet to have an amazing look? What do you believe should be an absolute staple in any man’s closet regardless of their own personal style?

    PF:

    “To be honest a must have in a man’s closet is hard for me to say as I have so many different pieces, textures, fabric and colors. I would encourage a man to be flexible and versatile so as not to find himself wearing only dark colors or only one kind of style. Have fun and try to have unique vibrant colors and pieces.”

    Q:

    Who is a male fashion icon for you?

    PF:

    “To be honest – I Don’t have a Male Fashion Icon for myself. I tend to go with my intuition, and I try to create my own style while being diverse and versatile as I dress, be it in casual, formal or business casual, streetwear etc.”

    Q:

    What can people learn about male fashion from your new book Tailored Faith/Fate?

    PF:

    “People will learn from my book Tailored Faith/Fate that I am a spiritual man, one who seeks to encourage and uplift the disenfranchised at all times. They will learn that I am relatable and practical in my approach and I am crazy about others winning.”

    Q

    Which items do you think make for a great casual wear look?

    PF:

    “The items that I think that makes for a great casual wear are a nice pair of slim or skinny fitted jeans pants, polo shirts or short sleeves, a nicely fitted shirt with a pair of sneakers or loafer and a nice classic man watch with a couple nice bracelets or a nice man bangle.”

    Q

    What makes you a male fashion geek?

    PF:

    “I think what makes me a fashion geek is how unconventional and unpredictable, bold and dorky I believe I can get with my outfits for my age!”

    Q

    Which brand would you say in today’s time epitomizes the best style for men?

    “There are a few brands I wear for formal attire which are available online and they’re always having sales. Like Paisley & Gray, Suslo etc.”

    Q

    For a male fashion lover on a budget, what can he do and/or where can he shop to get great looks at an affordable price?

    “For a male Fashion lover on a budget a great place sometimes to go are places like Old Navy/Aero[postale] or even Ross for casual outfits and always look for online deals for stuff going out of season.”

    Q

    What do you think about black men specifically in fashion? Should there be more representation of black men in fashion? What do you think is important for black men to know about fashion?

    PF:

    “I believe more and more I’m seeing a lot of black men really stepping to the front with their fashion and I would encourage more black men to get more involved with looking good and being creative in their style while making a mark on the fashion industry. I think there needs to be more black men represented in fashion. I always want black men to know that being fashionable doesn’t not make them less of a man. I want black men to know that fashion is actually a reflection of how you feel inside. Fashion helps to express one’s persona. It speaks to creativity; it forces us to pay attention to details and I believe it is a great vehicle to assist with our self-confidence while causing us to make good impressions while feeling good about ourselves.”

    Q:

    Do you believe there are stigmas/ prejudices attached to men who like fashion? If so, what would you say to any male out there who battles with stigmas/prejudices because of his love of fashion. How may they overcome this?

    PF:

    “There is definitely stigma/prejudice attached to men who love fashion, but one should never be scared to express themselves fashionably regardless of the stigma that might be attached to fashion. Also, a man who loves fashion should not allow the stigma/prejudice to prevent them from fulfilling their love in fashion. At the end of the day we do should do what we do because we love it. Go for it!! Dress well and be fashionable nonetheless.”

    Q:

    Any other fashion tips or advice for someone seeking to improve their wardrobe?

    “My tip would be for men and women to be flexible. Try not to allow your wardrobe to be one dimensional with only dark colors but to incorporate multiple colors and different styles. That allows for your fashion sense to be broadened.”

    Q

    Why do you love fashion? Why is fashion important to you and why should it be for others?

    PF:

    “I love fashion because it’s expressive. It allows me to be creative and my love for clothes makes fashion more fun. The way we dress is usually a reflection of who are. So, I would encourage men and women to develop a love for fashion as it allows one to be creative and expressive and helps to enhance oneself.”

    Special thanks to Paul Fearon for speaking with www.howeonearth.blog! 

    Follow the link to his book provided above to purchase Tailored Faith/Fate on Amazon.com, connect with Paul Fearon on his Instagram @malefashiongeek for more looks! All photos belong to Paul Fearon and were taken from his Instagram page. 

    Which one of Paul Fearon’s looks are your favourite? Let us know in the comment section!





  • Uncategorized

    The Recurring Empress

    I wanted to share a card that I keep pulling from both of my decks.

    I was so marveled by the recurrence of this card every time I pull from my deck that I felt compelled to do a short little blog about it. I hope that anyone who may read this post can also derive a message from it, specifically, all of my Devine Feminines out there. 

    So which card have I constantly been pulling?

    None other than the Empress card or Fertility Card. 

    Biddy. com describes the Empress card as signifying a “strong connection with our femininity. Femininity translates in many ways – elegance, sensuality, fertility, creative expression, nurturing – and is necessary for creating balance in both men and women. The Empress calls on you to connect with your feminine energy. Create beauty in your life. Connect with your senses through taste, touch, sound, smell and sight. Draw on these senses to experience pleasure and deep fulfilment. You are in a period of growth, in which all you have dreamed of is now coming to fruition. When the Empress appears in your Tarot readings, take a moment to reflect on the bounty that surrounds you and offer gratitude for all you have created so you can continue to build on this energy and create even more abundance in your life.

    As the Mother Earth archetype, the Empress urges you to venture out into nature to ground your energy and be in flow with the earth. Take a trip to your favourite natural setting, be it a forest, beach, mountain or lake, and sit for a couple of minutes, hours or even days to breathe in the energy that surrounds you while marvelling in the beauty of your surroundings. Allow yourself the time and the space to enter a different frame of mind and receive the grounding spirit of nature into your heart and consciousness. The Empress can also suggest pregnancy or birth. This may be an actual pregnancy or childbirth, or a metaphorical ‘birth’ of a new idea or project. Bring your creative ideas into being by nurturing them and supporting their growth.”

    The Empress is a remainder that it is important for humankind to remain rooted in the Earth, our femininity  and creativity. Every one of us has a spark of creation within us. As you go about your day appreciate your surroundings; the trees and plants or flowers that may surround you. It is when we as humans disconnect from the Earth that chaos ensues. Connect to your creative aspects or whatever it is that makes you happy as this will create balance and purpose within you. The Empress has been a pleasant occurrence in my day to day and I am grateful for the message she brings.  

    I understand these are trying times but we can manifest whatever it is we want. The Empress reminds that this is a time to connect to the environment around us and our own divinity through creation.

    Keep faithful. 

  • Music

    Sza’s Hit Different, Hits Different

    I can safely say I am a lover of SZA.

    Sza’s debut album, “Ctrl,” was the soundtrack to my life on the Kingston university campus. I was struck by a female voice so startling in her honesty and vulnerability. Her airy vocals weaved a tale of heartbreak, insecurities, female sensuality, infidelities and struggling to find herself through her 20s.

    In Supermodel she assures her lover that “I could be your Supermodel if you believe.” The unhealthy codependency she has on her lover becomes apparent throughout the song when she ask herself “Why I can’t stay alone just by myself” “Wish I was comfortable just with myself, but I need you, but I need you, but I need you.”

    In my favourite song from the album Drew Barrymore, her insecurities about her attractiveness are again on full display. She asks her lover erotically, “Am I warm enough for you?” the question tying her worth in a relationship to the warmth of her body. And the next line, her heartbreaking admission that “I get so lonely I forget what I’m worth, we get so lonely we pretend that this works.” She admits the shame she feels within herself for her actions and dependency, “I’m so ashamed of myself think I need therapy.”

    The exposure of herself like this both shocked and resonated with 2017 me, in my little dorm on campus and many women and men. The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards, and SZA nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist (an award she was robbed of but I digress)

    I could go on and on about this masterpiece of female vulnerability but this is not a Ctrl album review.

    For the three years since Ctrl, we have been eagerly anticipating another drop from Sza. On September 4 she finally released her new single Hit Different featuring Ty Dolla Sign.

    The song is a vibe. The pace it steady, sultry, smooth and slow moving. Spin. com describes the song as kicking off “with Pharrell’s classic four-count start and works its way into a repeated line from the king of features himself in Ty [Dollar Sign]”

    Again Sza explores interpersonal relationships, the song exploring the actions of a distant lover. The imagery is rich; one scene she is dancing in denim in a junkyard, she is also featured in a barn filled with white animals; in an empty field; on top of a haystack wearing an oversized tie-dye shirt. Throughout the video, flashes of her covered in blood appear. She refers to the blooded images on her Instagram as “Rebirth Entropy. beauty. chaos. Devine feminine.” At one point she even incorporates karate in the choreography. Her dancers circle around her while they take the horse stance, punching as rhythmically as one could punch in a music video. 

    I do not know if this was intentional but I thought of menstruation when I first saw the blooded images and not in any negative way but in a way of reclaiming and appreciating all aspects of femininity.

    Towards the second half of the video, the song changes to a different, unreleased song where she laments in her husky vocals “…I’ve been on my empty mindset, I should have kept from loosing the best of me, it would be that I wasted the best of me on you baby you don’t care.” If this single is any indication of the album in store it appears she has not shied away from vulnerability in the least in the three years since Ctrl. A vulnerability we can all draw something from. 

    Sis SLAYED the look in this excerpt, her lids and lips glossy, sporting a swimsuit and beautiful braids with thick wooden beads.

    Hit Different is also Sza’s directorial debut. I hope she directs more of her videos because both the look and feel of it is of a refreshing summer ballad.

    What are your thoughts on Sza? Do you like her new single? What’s your favourite Sza song to date? Let me know in the comments below!

  • Travel

    Raspberries and Lavender

    Fruit picking and flower farming is a great activity to do by yourself or with friends and family. Happy Day Farm features blueberry and raspberry picking. The blueberry section of the farm was not available for picking and so when we went we picked raspberries.  The farm does provide clamshells at a price (plastic container to hold the berries you pick). The fields are beautiful and there is something peaceful in being in nature and picking berries. I will admit that most the berries I picked I ate 😀 because they are juicy and succulent and I could not resist! There is also flower viewing section of the farm. The one open at the time we visited was the lavender garden. Initially, I was a bit underwhelmed by the lavender farm.  The plot devoted to lavenders seemed smaller than how it looked in pictures. You also are not allowed to pick the lavender flowers (although they do sell them at the entrance of the farm). Despite its size it makes for beautiful photographs! And there is peace in walking through fields with the sun on your face.
    Speaking of sun, the sun can be very hot and so I would recommend carrying and wearing sunscreen, sunglasses or a large hat that can shield your face from the sun’s rays. Also, it is important to wear your mask and maintain social distancing. All in all raspberry picking and lavender viewing a great summer activity!

  • Poetry

    Steel Wool

    there was a young girl down the road
    sweeter than julie
    hair as thick as clouds, coarse like steel wool
    sweet child
    drowned in a well one summer day
    i did know ’nuff things bout her
    what i dont know
    is if she fall in that well
    or jump in

    © Noelle Bird