Wakanda DNA… Maybe?
Okay, so it has been a minute since I have taken hands to the keyboard. To be honest, these last few weeks had me royally all-up-in-my-feelings kind of a mood.
I have been pretty much house bound, with the exception of hanging out with Uber Nation to get me to my doctor appointments. Ralph, as you know my 24/7 oxygen machine companion, continues to nuzzle quite cozily under me. I look forward to the day we are singing a rendition of our own special “Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye”. But alas, this will not be until the end of October, providing my lungs continue on this trajectory diagnosis of healing.
So, what have I been up to you ask? Thinking! A lot! I have also been sewing Sugarfoots dolls on a measured schedule. I cannot work full time just yet out of the house. I’m still trying to secure financial disability benefits from social security. At this point you have to wonder who is going to blink first. Certainly not I? I am the tortoise in this race and I am holding on like a vice grip for survival.
My breathing is still very labored if I walk more than 10-feet. Most of the inflammation in my lungs is dissipating, but they still have to heal for the long haul. I am still sporting my sexy steroid induced chubby cheeks and midriff! All this time on my hands, sampling all kinds of teas to unwind me, lacks luster when you are rounding the corner on a year. Not to mention knowing ALL of my neighbors' walk the dog, push the stroller, go for a jog daily routines, bringing me to the colossal thoughts I have been thinking about.
It is about supporting Black businesses! We pledge to do it, but somehow fall short of purchasing. I am as guilty as O.J. Simpson on this one too, so I am not pointing fingers.
We support Black businesses like a New Year’s diet resolution which we always fall short in keeping! We are so enthusiastic when we hear a new Black owned business is on the horizon and we are all in – until we see the price, which ultimately stops us cold. Our intentions are honorable, but most of us struggle to consistently see it through and support these businesses.
Here is a thought. Remember I told you I have been thinking…
Maybe we are just looking at in the wrong way. I think perhaps we should look at Black businesses as an investment. If we all thrive to commit to support Black businesses just once a month, saturate the businesses on social media and go crazy by word of mouth, we might just be a part of a movement that finally got Pandora’s box opened for the greater good!
When there is extreme financial circulation throughout Black establishments, we are in better positions to give back and support HBCUs, invest in publishing houses where our stories are written, sold and placed on the market, which transcends the mediocre into trailblazing movies, actors, directors and writers. The investment potential is unlimited. We still have a sense of pride for the fictitious country Wakanda! Come on now!
I recently made a purchase from a Facebook platform word-of-mouth setting for shea butter. I was feeling all of Black Panther pride when I placed my order for the 12oz jar. In fact, I was feeling like Okoye, the leader of the all-female fighting force! After the price came to a whopping $60.00 for skin cream, I was near inaudible like one of the chiefs in the movie who looked like he had a saucer in his mouth!
I was at the crossroads. Do I tuck my tail between my legs and run? Or do I stand firm as if I just received information from Ancestry.com. I too am a descendent of the Royal family of Wakanda and next in line to inherit all of the country’s highly coveted, advanced technological Vibranium! Whew!
All jokes aside. It is tough to support Black business with understandably higher price tags. After all, we cannot mass produce in the thousands per minute - yet. We are not the salacious Wal-Mart, Target or Amazon who has the ability to seduce us as effortlessly as peeling a grape and smoothly inserting it down our throats. Where it lands in the gut of our strained wallet consciousness promising yet again, “I’ll buy another time from a Black owned business…”
I get it. I do. But independence, and freedom, has never been cheap. I am just asking us to all THINK about it. I am committed in making Sugarfoots™ a household word. I still have the discount government shutdown prices on my website. I am willing to take a small marginal hit for some time for you to get to know the wonderful world of Sugarfoots and purchase your dolls. I only ask that by word of mouth you spread the word CONSISTENTLY. Share my link below and go social media crazy.
Now listen, I am not expecting everyone to have a mega store credit card burning ceremony. Convenience is contagious and fits like a good pair of skinny jeans. But we HAVE to be the change. At the bottom of my Blog, I will leave you with a few sites to look into and patronize and there are tons more. One by one, we can make new oceans available to us with our financial mega drops of support.
On a final note. I did purchase my two jars of shea butter and the product is wonderfully divine. But when my son Parker was home for Spring break last month, he also fell in love with it. Needless to say, my two jars became one.
But with my impressionable Wakanda DNA and Vibranium backing, I will reorder. I will dare to dream and I will work to bring this long overdue concept into fruition. Will you…?
Warmest always,
Barbara Nyaliemaa Mosima
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