Socially Savant

I posted on my WhatsApp status: “Why do black women hate other black women”? The responses from this close group of people who constantly watch my status updates around the clock, were interesting. This then probed my mind; firstly most of the responses came from men. So I sat down to pen down what I thought about these issues, which for me are both spiritual and mental. I’ve always had a theory about this very topic. I believe that for the longest of time, deep down within us is the need for the little girl (you and me) to prove a point, either right or wrong, to their mom, aunt and/or grandmother regarding all the things they said were not right or good about the little girl (you and me). For the most part, most black mothers were single mothers; for the most part they were assisted by their mothers to raise their children. Essentially because of how you came into the world and how rough it was, we tend to want to make life easier for the families who had to carry the burd...

We are ushering in Spring and with it comes a great opportunity to clean up your home, your mind, your soul, your spirit and do some Spring cleaning all round. I was talking to two friends about the season I’m in and how I felt there were certain things happening on the physiological level and on the spiritual level. I then felt I should share these with all of you as they might help someone understand what role they can play in enjoying even the valley season of their life, or maybe let’s call it the cleanup season. Unclipping your wings I’ve found myself saying, “No more” often this year. Contrary to what most people in my position, as an entrepreneur and as a freelancer would do, I am expected to say yes to everything out of desperation and need. I said no because I felt it’s time I agreed with what works best for me. It was time I said no to the things I no longer felt were working, knowing that what was meant for me would come. I said no in church, no to my family, no t...

For a number of months here is in South Africa we have seen Social Media light up with rage over racial campaigns run by well-known institutions. We have seen Dove International headquarters deliver on the most distasteful adverts regarding skin tone and early in 2018 we woke up to an advert by H&M International that had people rioting and looting stores across our beloved country. We also still have adverts where black women are dancing as if that’s all we do all day. But let’s take a step back a little bit. What is advertising? The way I see it, it’s a tool to reach far and wide and sell the product or services you have to offer. So from really dry and dead advertising that looks like it was done by a 5-year-old on a word document to aesthetically pleasing adverts with all the correct language and well-researched adverts. Advertising had been a form of reaching us anytime as long as the setting or platform is right ie: TV and radio. On the brink of political turmoil...

So I have always had the best experiences in my life. At random I have this exchange of words with people I love, and I realise that life is not really lived in vain. I have a purpose to serve, and my latest experience happened with none other than my dearest mother. I am welcoming you into one of my random moments with my mother and best friend.  I was minding my own business; working from home, because I need my family to know what it is that I do even though they are not interested. I was fiddling with my laptop finding myself in a messy maze that is my life when my mother brings me tea and starts chatting to me about my character flaws. Much to my disappointment and annoyance, I wanted to say to her; ‘Lady I no longer care, I am 30 years old and set in my ways’. However I allowed her to get all that she needed off her chest, even though I wanted to scream and shout at her. In all that she was saying, she had picked up the big and small things that made her feel conce...