to black futures & black joy
on my mind
This month, I’m looking for ways to invest in joy and wellness for myself and for my community. With the wave of layoffs, more violence against Black folks and communities of color, and the ongoing pandemic, there are so many reasons to be fearful right now. As we think about Black history, futures, and possibilities, here are some ways to consider supporting joy in times of heaviness:
Donate and support groups like Muslim Wellness Foundation, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, Black Futures Lab, Sapelo Square
Read Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey (and go take a nap)
Watch What If You Get to Be Free? A Radical Permission conversation with ALOK, Sonya Renee Taylor, and adrienne maree brown
I’m also taking time to think about the direction and purpose of this newsletter as it enters its fourth year. Noted by Nesima went from weekly to biweekly to bimonthly and then… seasonal :) I would like to get back into a writing habit on a monthly basis (that’s what is most sustainable for me right now) and have this newsletter be an outlet to express myself, connect with others, and curate all the random, interesting things I’m into and want to uplift. But I would also love to know what draws you to read these emails and what you want to hear about from me to help inspire me this year.
And if there’s something else that I didn’t include that you’re curious about, please let me know that too!
what i’m noting
Recent reads:
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama | I enjoyed “Becoming” more, but this was still a feel-good, self-help read
Some middle grade and young adult books to heal your inner child: Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy and Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan
Current reads:
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
The Passion Planner | I first got one in 2021 after my friend Ghazala recommended it and I’m back for a second go to help me actualize some goals
Articles:
“Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding” by Juliana Kim | “I want him to be remembered as the kid smiling in the skate video and not the kid that was fighting for his life.”
“What Keeps Us Safe? We The People Do” by Lewis Raven Wallace | “We are responsible for not repeating police narratives or sensationalizing certain victims of violence over others, which often means diminishing the importance of Black life.”
“A Response to Conor Friedersdorf” by Sherilynn Ifill | “Given the overwhelming strength of this system, why would Friedersdorf describe Black-led movements that have been arrayed against police violence for decades as having failed, rather than reckon with the failure of whites who have looked to Black people to solve a problem fully in control of white political, economic, social, business and faith leaders?”
Podcast: Archetypes hosted by Meghan Markle - notable episodes on the “angry black woman” with Issa Rae and Ziwe, stigma of the singleton with Mindy Kaling, and “the B word” with Mellody Hobson and Victoria Jackson.
Watch: “When you picture Doctors Without Borders, what do you see?” | A global NGO taking responsibility for the racism and colonial framing in its storytelling and fundraising narratives? A positive step and good case study for my fellow social impact communicators
Thanks for reading! If you like this newsletter, you can click the “heart” at the top of this post on Substack, share it on social media or forward to a friend — they can subscribe at notedbynesima.substack.com.
Remember, you can always hit reply to this email if you want to share what you’re noting or just say hi.
— Nesima