Good Morning, it's Wednesday, February 12. Welcome to our Special Edition for Black History Month (BHM). NFL history was made as Autumn Lockwood was the first Black woman coach to win the Super Bowl, there is an Owambe Festival in Alabama and Gabrielle Union has curated a beauty box for BHM. Keep scrolling for our interview with Dana Evans, pro basketball player and guard for the Las Vegas Aces on why she has invested in Mela Vitamins and how she gets ready for game day 🏀💊 🏈💄☀️
Interior Design Icons: Prolific African American designers and creatives talk inspiration & heritage.
The Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala: The pledge donated $50,000 to Little Red Hen Coffee Shop and a $100,000 grant to Issa Rae & Hannah Diop’s Sienna Naturals.
Afro-Latina Documentaries to Watch: Learn the stories and histories of the Afro-Latina with these documentaries, including the 2023 film “Negrita”.
🏈 Super Bowl History: Autumn Lockwood, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, made NFL History as the first Black woman coach to win the Super Bowl.
🇳🇬 Owambe Festival in Alabama: All Things Africatown is hosting its first Owambe Black History Festival from February 13 to 16 with live music and spoken word sessions.
Family Book Expo in Detroit: The ninth family book expo on February 22 will have book signings by Black authors and meet-and-greets.
👩🏽🍳 Black-owned Restaurant Week in Phoenix: A Taste of Melanin’s second annual restaurant week featuring dishes from Black-owned restaurants is till February 16.
🖼️ Art Gallery in Orlando: The Terrace Gallery is showcasing artwork from 33 African American artists till March 30.
Why February? Carter Woodson chose Feb based on the birthdays of pivotal Black figures in post-civil war US.
First Black American in Opera: Edmond Dédé was the first Black American man to compose a full opera that never got heard for over 130 years, until now.
US Museums with Black History: From The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum to the Baton Rouge African American Museum, these museums are rich in Black history.
IPSY’s Black History Month Box: Gabrielle Union has teamed up with IPSY to curate a beauty icon box for February, including Black beauty brands like Topicals, BeautyStat, and her Flawless haircare line.
Black Radiance x Cross Colours: The two African American heritage brands have launched a collab makeup collection, with colourful eyeshadows, mascara, and glosses.
Rich, Complex Scent Blends: Octavia Morgan is the first Black and woman-owned fragrance brand to enter Ulta Beauty with scents like Dark Rose, Summer Fluer and Our Noir.
Equity in Dermatology: Black dermatologists are just 3% of US dermatologists creating a gap for patients whose skin conditions present differently.
Stress is no one’s friend, especially for Black women. And with the current political climate, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with every news cycle so relax and take charge of your wellness with these reccs.
Wellness Spaces Made for You: Wellness studios like Ama Wellness and Black Women’s Yoga Co. are taking the stress and replacing it with a space to relax and make friends.
Black Women's Yoga History: In her latest book, Dr. Stephanie Evans delves into how Black women have used meditation and yoga to manage stress.
Soak Yourself: Take several relaxing baths with Black-owned brands, like the Botanical Detox Soak from Reisfields or this Shea Bubble Bath from Alaffia.
Safe & Welcoming Countries: Black Creators are sharing the countries they felt safest in, including gems like Honduras, Portugal, Croatia and South Korea.
Smart Ways to Save Money: Black women love solo travel, but it can get expensive. Save money by using public transport while in the country and staying with locals.
From community-focused works to multimedia sheets, here are some incredible Black artists who are bringing joy into our lives.
Osaze Akil
Black women play an indispensable part in Akil’s work, as they are the focus in several of his paintings. His work explores Black women as royalty or divine muses, and we love to see it.
Uzo Njoku
Uzo Njoku merges her love for Black people and communities with her unique art style. She also loves the business side of art, recreating her paintings into puffy jackets and wallpapers.
Kayla Mahaffey
With an eye for textures and colours, Kayla Mahaffey’s work details the Black child, showing them in joyous, mundane scenarios.
Patrick Alston
Alston’s work is simply explosive: a mix of bright colours making textured abstract pieces. He particularly thrives with chaotic mixes that somehow just work.
Part of getting ready for life professionally or personally is rest & recovery. The day before your big game and how you take care of yourself and your body truly shows up in your life.
Our community is also part of this self-care and so is investing in each other and products that serve our wellbeing. Dana Evans, guard for the Las Vegas Aces and investor, has invested in Mela Vitamins, a brand that creates supplements for melanated gals. Ashley Harmon, the founder of the brand, says, “More than 80% of Black women are vitamin D deficient, a condition linked to double the rates of heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and type 2 diabetes. This partnership is about creating impactful solutions to address these health disparities while empowering our communities to prioritize their health and wellness.”
Dana talks to us about why she chose to invest in this fast-growing vitamin brand and shares her process before game day.
On Investing in Mela Vitamins
Investing in Mela Vitamins is personal for me. As a Black woman, I know firsthand how our health concerns are often dismissed or overlooked, and the disparities in healthcare are alarming.
When I learned about Mela and the work they’re doing to create real solutions for our community, it just made sense. This isn’t just about supplements - it’s about changing the way we think about wellness, making sure we have access to what we need, and creating a future where Black women’s health is actually prioritized. I want to be a part of that change.
Why Supplements Change the Game
Supplements are a game-changer for women looking to improve their fitness and overall health. A lot of people don’t realize how common vitamin D deficiency is in Black women, and how much that impacts everything from energy levels and muscle recovery to long-term health risks like heart disease and bone fragility.
Fitness isn’t just about workouts, it’s about what you’re putting into your body to support that process. Taking the right supplements, like Mela’s Daily Essentials, helps fill those gaps so you’re not just working out, but actually seeing results, feeling better, and preventing health issues down the line.
How I Prep for A Big Game
The day before a game is all about recovery and fueling up. I try to stay off my feet as much as possible, letting my body rest so I can be at my best on the court. Ice baths, massages – anything that helps with muscle recovery and keeps me feeling fresh.
Nutrition is just as important, so I make sure I’m eating the right foods to sustain my energy. Pasta is my go-to pre-game meal because it gives me the carbs I need to stay strong and keep my endurance up. The key is to go into the game feeling rested, fueled, and mentally locked in.
