Something is better than nothing, half a loaf is better than none.
VOL. 72 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3
It’s Friday Eve, #NoteddTribe, and we’re so happy to be close to another weekend.
Do you know what’s been the most refreshing for us as of late? Sleeping on the wrong side of the bed. Well, not so much the wrong side, but the left side of the bed, and it’s been transformative. Since making this change at the beginning of the new year, we’ve felt less anxious and stressed (although it’s not entirely foolproof because we had some tense moments with releasing our biggest initiative this year) while also feeling well-rested and renewed.
Apparently, we may be onto something. A recent study conducted by Premier Inn found that “those who sleep on the left side of the bed wake up happier and better equipped for dealing with the stresses and pressures of daily life.” Those sleeping on the right “are likely to be grumpier and have a far more negative outlook.” Now it’s not so bad to be a right-side sleeper, as studies also show that these folks “tend to earn more money and are more likely to be prepared for worst-case scenarios.”
We also understand that there may be specific reasons why people commit to their side, from better access to the bed and view of the tv to your partner’s preferences, but why not give it a try and see what happens? It’s only February; it’s never too late to shake things up — even if it’s temporary.
Also, don’t forget to tell us! We want to know what side of the bed you sleep on now and what happened when you made the switch? Was it life-changing for you, too, or just some mumbo jumbo?
#StayNotedd
#NoteddNews
Black Women In Media Initiative
This week was a big week for us, as we launched our Black Women In Media initiative. We’re challenging mainstream media companies to pledge and prioritize Black women voices through increased pay, full-time roles, and authentic storytelling beyond tentpole holidays.
We officially kicked off the initiative by sharing it with this community earlier this week, resulting in our most viewed newsletter (650 views 😱). We captured the insights of the incredible journalists, media producers, freelancers, and communications executives who participated in our survey and shared their experience navigating the media industry as a Black woman in this blog. They notedd the challenges they face within this industry, from navigating upward mobility and microaggressions to seeking mentorship and earning proper compensation.
Whether you are an individual, business, media organization/outlet, or corporation, we encourage everyone to take our pledge and share it with your networks. These respondents are making it their personal priority to fill a void in the media and produce representative, authentic, accessible, and relatable content for our communities.
You can take the pledge here and remember to encourage your networks to do the same by using our social kit (linked here), filled with pre-made content to share on your channels easily. Also, if you’re interested in becoming more involved with this initiative, feel free to reach out to our founder Lauren directly to learn more.
Black Women’s History Month Nominations
We are rooting for everybody that is Black this month, particularly our notable Black women pioneers, changemakers, and superstars who are making history in their own way. Please complete our nomination form today if you know anyone who fits the above — whether it’s yourself or a family member, friend, colleague, manager, a mentor from afar, or the boss Black woman you idol.
There is no one too big or too small, as we are all killing it every day and defying odds. Once selected, we will feature you on our blog and share your story via our social media channels!
We honor and cherish the life of Cheslie Kryst. Rest Peacefully🕊
It's official! Taraji P. Henson will star as Shug Avery and H.E.R. as Squeak in the new film adaption of "The Color Purple"! The movie is set to be released in December 2023. The beloved characters Celie and Sofia will be announced by Oprah Winfrey during ABC's Soul of A Nation tonight. We have a few thoughts on who will play these characters. Who do you think will play Celie and Sofia?
In last week's newsletter, we shared that the family of Lauren Smith-Fields is seeking justice for the mishandling of her case, which resulted in a new investigation with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This week, the Bridgeport Police Department placed two detectives on administrative leave after facing criticism for mishandling Smith-Fields's case and the case of Brenda Lee Rawls. Similar to Smith-Fields, Rawls was also found unresponsive at a residence in Bridgeport on December 12th. Her family was also not notified of her death, which remains unknown, as reported by CNN.
It seems like the Angry Black Woman stereotype is brought up and analyzed only around this time of year. However, the writers of this Harvard Business Review article argued that "companies could miss out on the full contribution of Black women" in their organizations because of this negative perception.
Soul of Nation returns this week, exploring the history and progress of Black actresses with Halle Berry and Tessa Thompson tonight at 8 pm EST on ABC.
It would not be a newsletter if we didn't mention the latest with COVID. The UK and Denmark are lifting their COVID restrictions, and CNN reports that this map will be vital in determining when the US might start easing restrictions. Also, there is more to learn about the subvariant BA.2.
Late last month, sculptor Dan Medina presented a 160-pound bronze statue of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year old daughter Gianna Bryant at the site of their 2020 fatal crash. Medina sculpted the figure of the father and daughter wearing basketball uniforms with Bryant's hand on Gianna's shoulder as she holds a basketball, and engraved all of the names of the other victims who died in the crash on a plaque at the base of the statue. The plaque also includes the quote, "Heroes come and go, but legends are forever." Learn more here.
Speaking of Celie, "The View" host Whoopi Goldberg was placed on a two-week suspension for "falsely declaring on the daytime program that the Holocaust was 'not about race.'" She apologized twice before the suspension announcement, but ABC News president Kim Godwin described Goldberg's comments as "wrong and hurtful" in an internal memo and shared that "words matter and we must be cognizant of the impact our words have." We agree; consequences should be in place, especially when people are hurt or affected by the words someone says. However, we also hope that the organization agrees to keep this policy for all of their television hosts and hold all accountable from all backgrounds should a situation like this happen again.
Lunar New Year and Black History Month have just begun! Many brands and organizations are off to a great start with their recognition and monetary efforts to support Black-owned businesses. Social media companies are finally giving our Black trailblazers the flowers they deserve, but not everyone is doing well. Companies like Bath & Body Works are catching some heat for their recent collections. Despite Bath & Body Works donating $500K to the National Urban League and Columbus Urban League, many on Twitter felt their branded collection in African printed packaging fell flat. As mentioned on their website, each item was renamed to reflect self-acceptance, using words such as unity, confident, strong, and empowered. However, instead of creating a new line, they added these words to their existing line of products. Many on Black Twitter suggested that the organization should have partnered with existing candle brands and made an effort to spotlight these businesses than profiting off of their own with new names and African colors. What are your thoughts?
As we learn more about the potential contenders who could replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Bryer, we celebrate Constance Baker Motley. She was the first Black woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court and the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge in 1966. In a newly released biography, Harvard legal historian Tomiko Brown-Nagin details Motley's story in "Civil Rights Queen." The book showcases Motley's pivotal role in the fight to end racial segregation. She led the litigation that integrated the Universities of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, among many other universities in the south. Motley was the woman behind multiple schools and park openings for African Americans and championed the rights of minorities to protest peacefully. We honor and celebrate this dynamic figure in our history!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Did anyone in the community commit to Dry January? If so, what was your experience like? If you are a bit wary of jumping back into the wine scene entirely or interested in trying brands within the clean alcohol industry, consider Navina: a herbal wine that is low in calories and sugar. Nana Meriwether created her line of herbal wines when she needed to embark on putting her health and wellness first after finding out that she was on the verge of a chronic illness.
Meriwether's Marigold Flower Wine and Hibiscus Wine (Pinot Noir) are made with organic herbs, non-GMO yeast, and premium non-GMO wine grapes locally sourced from a family in Northern California. They consider their wines to be "Weekday Wines," and chile that name alone is helping us add these wines to our cart as we speak.
Make sure to stock up while you can before the upcoming February holidays, and don't forget to check the list of states that Navina can ship you a bottle.
With a few holidays emerging, why not gift your loved one a gift box this year? Olive Gift Co. is a "gift-giving company that believes in honoring the people that make a difference in our lives."
Each of their products is hand-selected and includes many recognizable brands and selections from undiscovered small businesses. Each box has at least 3-4 items within them. They have curated packages for any celebration. You still have time; place your order and grab your curated gift box today!
Speaking of pledges, The Fifteen Percent Pledge influenced us to launch our Black Women In Media pledge. With a mission to challenge major retailers and corporations in creating sustainable and supportive ecosystems for Black-owned businesses to succeed, The Fifteen Percent Pledge works with companies "to comprehensively re-evaluate their org structures, ways of working, funding, and resourcing to implement meaningful change and create greater equity for Black businesses."
You can take their pledge as a consumer and see their incredible work over the last two years by visiting here, but check out their Black Brand Directory. It is filled with businesses within every category, from fashion and beauty to food, wellness, art, publishing, and more!
STAY INFORMED | STAY CONNECTED | STAY NOTEDD
Interested in being a Tribe Talk speaker? Have any content ideas? Are you launching a product or service? Have any major accomplishments to share with the group? Reach out to us and we'll add it to our next issue.
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