Dear Pennies & Pens,
First off, my apologies for disappearing! Honestly, Pennies & Pens, I meant to make an official announcement but then I decided not to because I just didn’t want to deal with the responses. I have needed/wanted this break for so long like before Covid but I would always keep going because I didn’t want to seem like I was quitting.
Plus, people would always be so encouraging and I wanted to continue to be there inspiring and empowering you, Pennies & Pens. But right now, I absolutely must disconnect. So I am taking a long term extended break from my businesses, blog and social media.
But since, I do miss creating on occasion, I will be publishing new posts here on de la Pen…All Pen Everything. Please note, I will not be promoting those posts on social media. I am absolutely, positively done with social media during this season of my life. It has become so daunting and has turned into more of a distraction than a business or marketing tool.
In the video below, I go into detail about my journey over the past 12 years. I talk about growing up in Cincinnati, going to Hampton University for college, moving to New York then moving to Houston and now living in Dallas. That’s a major part of the reason for this break, I’ve been moving too fast for too long. So it’s time for me to fall back and chill.
On top of that, as a Black female creative, I am honestly done with everything. The racism and discrimination in America is at an all time high. I am beyond done with this country. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those who are protesting and using their voices and platforms to fight for change. I think that is absolutely beautiful and beyond commendable.
However, I’m not participating in protests because I don’t believe in this country. Additionally, I’ve been fighting for change since before it was trending and before we were ever in quarantine. I was raised by parents who taught me to be proud to be Black. They taught my siblings and I to always support Black owned businesses wherever possible, to buy, support and appreciate Black art, to learn Black history and to always make my voice heard.
Like me, they also attended an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), Fort Valley State College. Growing up, I always heard their stories and saw how close they remained to their college friends. So I knew an HBCU was absolutely where I wanted to be. Check out my InkOde to Hampton post to read about why I chose Hampton for college.
So back to my point, from childhood to now, Blackness has always been a major part of my identity. Once I met Cacha and we started our agency, 8515, we always made it a priority to cast and book Black and Latino/Latina models. Additionally, most of our former clients were Black and Latino/Latina owned businesses.
We also worked with several women owned businesses. Yes, we’re a multicultural agency but what I mean is over the past 10 years, we stuck with it. For years, we’ve been ignored and now all of sudden everyone wants to unite around and support Black owned businesses.
If you’re a cynic like me, you can’t help but think…if these white people hadn’t been in quarantine for the last three months, would they still care? I mean American history clearly shows that injustice against Black Americans is nothing new. So why in 2020, am I getting 20 emails a day from companies telling me their anti-racist? Lol, little baby, what?!
America was created by slave owners, rapists and murders. George Washington makes Trump look like a boy scout. And when Michelle Obama said, the White House was built by slaves white people got mad. It’s TRUE. The White House was built by slaves for free. And most Black Americans have never received any reparations from the 400 years of free labor that our ancestors gave to this country. But I’m supposed to be proud to American. GTFOH.
I’m also supposed to be on social media and my blog everyday reminding white people and other ethnic groups that the lives of my people matter. Well to be petty, I got into it with the founder of the movement and hashtag years ago on Twitter. I’ve never met her in person but I certainly didn’t like the online vibes I got from her. There are some interactions whether they are online or offline that you just don’t forget.
Anyway, she took offense to something I said and it just escalated from there. Personally, I think she took what I said out of context which is why I get why she got upset but at the same time, the way she handled it was just…eh. Like to me, if you were down for the movement that you started why are you arguing with a fellow Black female creative on social media? Have you ever seen a video of Betty and Coretta arguing? Or Martin and Malcolm? Me neither.
But we millennials are a different breed of petty. And distraction is our middle name. We can’t decide if we’re fighting racism, equal rights for LBGT, or if we want equal pay for women. We’ve got more issues than a magazine and most of us don’t even read magazines. The Gen Zers are worse. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of them with an actual book. We forget about Gen X because they’re the middle child generation. Boomers are cool, they’re getting older so at this point, they are ready to pass the torch.
Well, Pennies & Pens, it’s time to put my pen down and close this book. Check out the video below, pray, wash your hands and stay safe!
And there it is. de la Pen…All Pen Everything. With us, keeping real never goes wrong.
