Black Minimalists: Sadiya Marie
Black Minimalists is an interview series featuring people of color on their simple living journeys.
When and why did you start your minimalist journey?
About two years ago when I had my son. I was looking for ways to save money and cut my spending knowing that I wouldn’t be back to work for a few months. I randomly found the blog Zen Habits, and from there I was hooked. It was a whole new world.
What lessons have you learned since going minimalist?
I’ve learned that things don’t matter. To me, it's all about experiences. Friends, family, food and new adventures, beats a trip to the mall any day!
What are you goals in living simply?
I honestly would love to build a tiny house! Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I really love them! That just may have to wait until my son has grown up and moved out lol. For now I just hope to maintain this lifestyle. To be able to enjoy life, travel, and give back as best as I can.
Has minimalism impacted other areas of your life?
Yes, it has. It's changing me over all as a person. It's forced me to look at the bigger picture in life. And definitely to care so much more about others and what I do and how it impacts the world. Things I’ve never even considered.
What if any surprises or challenges have you encountered?
What's challenging right now is shopping for clothing. This is only difficult because I also want to shop with ethical brands. So finding really nice high quality basics that aren’t so expensive has been a challenge. Especially for my sons clothing. Im seriously considering purchasing a sewing machine and getting to work lol.
What mindset changes have you experienced?
I'm practicing non-attachment, to all things. It's a tough one, but it's something I'm becoming more mindful of.
What advice do you have for someone interested in simplifying her life?
Ask yourself why you want to do it, then make a list of all the things that are most important to you. Start with purging some old clothes…and then take it from there. I have a video about where to start on my youtube channel.
Where can we learn more about you?
You can find me on all social sites by simply searching Sadiya Marie. Youtube is the one space that I share my minimalist experiences the most.
Anything you would like to add?
Make it your goal to live a full life, not a life full of things.
Check out other Black Minimalists interviews and more Black Minimalists around the Web.
Black Liberation Movements
Source: CreaterHer Stock
This is Part 3 of the Minimalism for Black Liberation series.
African resistance and the fight for liberation began many centuries ago in response to Arab and European encroachment. Early liberation movements were conducted via warfare and clandestine actions, but as time progresses the movements have adopted various tactics.
Before we can know where we're going, we must understand where we've been. In part three of the series, we're looking at the historical movements for black liberation. This list is not exhaustive and I've included two great resources at the end for you to further your knowledge.
Here are some of the major black liberation movements of the past 500 years.
Maroonage (1500s-1800s): Africans escaped to remote and uninhabited areas forming free communities in the Caribbean and the Americas.
Haitian Revolution (1791-1804): Armed revolt on the Caribbean island of Haiti which resulted in the first black independent country in that area.
Underground Railroad/Abolition (1700s-1800s): Clandestine network in the U.S. designed to guide escaping Africans to freedom in Northern U.S., Canada, and to a lesser extent, the Western U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. 1700s-1800s
Back to Africa/Repatriation (1800s): Thousands of Africans chose to return to the continent. Liberia and Freetown, Sierra Leone were established for those who willingly returned and were deported.
Pan-Africanism (1800s-1970s): Promoted unity among the continent and diaspora. Eight Pan-African Congresses have been held since 1900.
Civil Rights (1880s-1960s): Anti-lynching, desegregation and equal protection under the law.
Black Power (1960s-1980s): Right to self determination, self defense, and self respect. Black nationalism and unity were promoted.
African Independence (1847-1977): End American and European colonization of the continent.
Anti-Apartheid/Black Consciousness (1960-1994): End segregation in South Africa, recognize of civil rights including freedom of speech, and the promotion of black pride.
Black Lives Matter (2013- ): Combat police brutality and anti-black racism.
Additionally, there were a number of cultural and literary movements addressing the same ideals.
Freedom Narratives (1760-1909): Africans wrote autobiographical narratives of their lives and experiences in bondage.
Harlem Renaissance/New Negro (1917-1940s): Literary and artistic movement that asserted black creativity and identity.
Negritude (1930s-1940s): Literary movement influenced by the Harlem Renaissance. French Caribbean and African writes, also extended to Anglophone Caribbean artists.
Black Arts Movement (1965-1975): Focused on cultural nationalism and sister movement to Black Power. Art was created to encourage black consciousness and liberation.
It’s important to view the historical movements objectively. The pros include well-organized networks, clear objectives and agendas, direct action, and mass appeal. The cons include male-dominated leadership, class, gender and ethnic divisions, corruption and infiltration.
The Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates the pros of previous liberation movements while avoiding some of the cons. It was started by three women, is highly intersectional, utilizes the power of social media in conjunction with street protests and calculated disruption, and it is gaining international appeal in the diaspora.
What will the black minimalist movement look like?
That’s still to be determined. Minimalism for black liberation has already begun as an individual liberation movement. Minimalism is personal. It’s about our values, intentions, goals for our lives, and our willingness to focus on the essential. As we simplify and find clarity, we become examples to others in our families, communities, and other networks. Collective action can occur through education, community building, boycotts, and calculated political engagement.
Regardless of how we fight, we all have a part to play and there is space for multiple movements to occur simultaneously. In reviewing the approximate dates of the movements listed above, you can see many of them overlapped. Freedom fighters on the African continent and in the diaspora were influenced and inspired by each other to further the cause in their own communities and countries. A multi-front approach is a viable option for affecting change on a grander scale which transcends time and geography and can confront multiple issues.
In his book, Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates makes an insightful point worth noting. Our ancestors who fought for liberation did so knowing it would probably not be realized in their lifetimes. In the conclusion, he entreats his son to struggle for the memory of his ancestors and for wisdom. Indeed, we do not fight for only ourselves. The work we do today is paid forward to our descendants and to those who struggle with us in spirit.
We must all do what we can for the struggle during our lifetimes, even if we only manage to achieve our own personal liberations. Each individual represents an aspect of the collective movement and if you inspire only one other person to pursue liberation, we have been successful.
The revolution starts with you and with me.
How do you envision the black minimalist movement?
Resources I used for historical synopses. They are great sources for an overview of the black experience.
http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage
Ta-Nehisi Coates book:
Previous parts of the series:
Black Minimalists: Maggi
Black Minimalists is an interview series highlighting people of color on their simple living journeys.
When and why did you start your minimalist journey?
It started around the time I decided to go green.
What lessons have you learned since going minimalist?
Oh boy! Where do I start? I learned that the saying is true, I can do more with less. We live in a society that tells us we need bigger, more, shinier things/stuff to keep us happy. That wasn't the case for me. Like... Where am I going to put that bigger object? Who's going to give me money for more stuff? Why is that shiny object not attracting the kind of people I want in my life?
What are you goals in living simply?
My goal is to save and not be so consumed with people/things that don't add any real value to my life. Experience taught me that...you live and you learn.
Has minimalism impacted other areas of your life?
Yes! It sure has. Eating-in more, making my own skincare (and other DIY) products, and more, has brought out my creative side and I'm less stressed.
What if any surprises or challenges have you encountered?
Hmmm... This is a journey and there will be ups and downs. Some of the info out there can be overwhelming with certain rules you have to follow which can be discouraging. But, I'm a professional at "take what you can and leave the rest". I work with what I have and go from there.
What mindset changes have you experienced?
Just being open minded with trying and doing new things. Getting out of my comfort zone was not an easy task. It can be scary at first but I've gotten this far and I'm liking the results.
What advice do you have for someone interested in simplifying her life?
Find what areas are most important to you and research how to simplify it to your liking. Start small, don't overwhelm yourself, ask questions, and connect with like-minded people.
Where we can learn more about you?
I can be found blogging for the underdogs at cluelesscurl.com. I blog about my ups and downs to an eco-friendly lifestyle and everything in between. I have a recurring Green Light Feature where women of color share their journey as well. I can also be found on Twitter by the same name.
Anything you would like to add?
Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this series. It is so needed. Wishing you much success with it.
Read more about black minimalists. Also, read Maggi's tips for an eco-friendly minimalist journey.
6 Minimalist Principles for Black Liberation
This is part two of the Minimalism for Black Liberation series.
Read: Minimalism for Black Liberation: Intro
The major aim of the black liberation movement is for black people to have the right to self-determination. Self-determination is the right to control your own life. By extension, black liberation seeks the right for black people to control our communities, economically, politically, and culturally. Several principles of minimalism illustrate the effectiveness of a minimalist approach when applied to the liberation struggle.
1. We are enough.
We have to acknowledge that we are enough. We don’t have to be perceived as equal to other groups of people to affirm ourselves. The self-esteem of black folks needs to be considered as well as the role of mental health care in our communities. How we feel about ourselves individually and collectively is central to our liberation.
The emotional scars of racism, prejudice, internalized oppression and violence, mass incarceration, poverty, and police brutality, cannot be minimized. Our healing has to be a priority.
Healing also facilitates a mindset change. Liberation begins in the mind and education affects this change. We can not depend on the public education system to accurately teach our culture and history. Learning begins with each individual and we have unprecedented access to information in this time.
We also have to tell our stories. Whether we tell them to someone we trust, via art or performance, blogs or other formats, we have to share our experiences to heal and to learn from others.
2. Exist on our own terms.
This principle speaks to our need for self-sufficiency. The reality is that we don’t control our communities economically, politically, and in some cases, culturally. Gentrification has also taken its toll on urban communities.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hundreds of black-owned communities were formed. Why did these communities disappear? Some were eroded by terrorism and racist zoning policies, while others were abandoned. Migration waves and integration also changed the face of many communities. but it doesn’t explain why we haven’t re-established our communities. Ironically, census data shows many young black americans are moving back to the south and residential segregation is still a reality all over America. Let's take advantage of the segregation to return to and build up our communities.
Increased political involvement at all levels is necessary with an understanding that it is only one part of process. To be counted and assert our priorities, we must show up and participate particularly at the local and state levels where we can see the efforts of our participation more immediately, but we will not rely solely on any government body to affect social change.
Entrepreneurship is on the rise among black folks, particularly in the digital world. Still, many communities lack black-owned businesses that cater to the basic needs of a community such as its food sources, health care, transportation, education, employment, and adequate housing. There is definitely a link between entrepreneurship and community-building. If we supply the needs and wants of our communities then wealth will remain in those communities longer.
3. Let go of what does not serve us.
There is no room for misogyny, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ethnocentrism, or any other oppression we heap on each other within our communities.
Divisiveness is not serving us. It’s ok to be critical of one another, but what are we doing to bridge the gaps of understanding? Can we accept constructive criticism as an attempt to uplift rather than attack?
Unhealthy habits need to be shed. We have to address the major health issues that disproportionately impact the black population. Additionally, we must deal with environmental impact of our habits and surroundings.
We can also let go of our savior complex. Expecting black leaders to live up to an idealized version of past leaders keeps us stuck. We do need to hold our leaders accountable, but recognize they are humans and fallible. We each have to accept responsibility of being leaders in our homes, families, and communities.
4. Make space for what matters.
We have to make space for each other. There's no such thing as being “too black” or “not black enough”. All black people don’t do this or do that. We are culturally diverse and highlighting our diversity is necessary for advancing our liberation.
It’s also important to welcome people who have been previously incarcerated back into our communities. They should have access to needed resources to become full participants in our communities and not relegated to the periphery or shamed for their past.
Let’s continue with our festivals, conferences, and traditions while creating new spaces for black folks to inhabit. We must continue to innovate, celebrate, and own our cultural and historical legacy.
The cultivation of safe spaces while protecting our communities from internal and external threats is integral to our ability to positively express ourselves culturally, economically, and politically.
5. Value things money cannot buy.
With integration and other national trends of the last 50 years, a large focus has been placed on financial and material gains. Black people proved they could be as valuable of consumers as the majority, but our quest for stuff has not led to social, economic, or political equality. Our focus on material gain has become a form of slavery itself.
Our relationships, dreams, experiences, and cultural legacies deserve prioritization over material things. We are not defined by what we have, but rather what we do to affect change at all levels.
6. Using resources responsibly.
Environmental, financial, and material resources must be managed properly in our communities.
This includes embracing green living including ways to reduce waste and preserve our natural resources. Also, improving our health and the environment by employing personal gardening, communal gardening, and supporting black farmers.
Additionally, promoting financial literacy, creating more thrift businesses and organizations to recycle and purchase affordable goods, and establishing more of our own banks, as well as benevolent and savings societies, will increase investment in our communities. Creating a financial culture of scholarship, charitable action, micro-loan networks, and venture capitalism will allow us to use our collective buying power of over one trillion dollars to redirect funds into our communities instead of into the hands of profiteering corporations.
If we are to leave a legacy for future generations we have to create diverse wealth generating systems that can be sustained and easily passed along.
"You don't need more time, you just need to decide." -Seth Godin
We must start where we are with what we have. If you've noticed, I haven't mentioned any idea that hasn't been proposed before. We already have the answers and the resources to secure our liberation for our selves and our communities. We just have to decide this is our mission.
Share your thoughts. Do you agree with the principles listed?
Carefree Black Girl as Minimalist
I identify strongly with the Carefree Black Girl lifestyle. The concept was created to bring light to the diverse and expressive nature of black women and counter negative and stereotypical portrayals of black women in the media.
What is a carefree black girl?
A Carefree Black Girl (CBG) is someone who seizes the freedom to be and create herself. CBGs are free, happy, and doing their own thing.
Search the hashtag #carefreeblackgirl and you will find a plethora of melanated goddesses flaunting their beauty, quirks, afros, midriffs, smiles, and slammin’ style.
It’s important to clarify though, how one looks does not define the CBG, it is the spirit and intention behind the exteriors. There is a space for every kind of black woman and girl in the CBG movement.
The carefree black girl spirit spoke to something within me.
When I first started learning about the CBG via blogs and other social media, I was immediately drawn to the concept and felt it spoke to something I was experiencing: evolution and freedom.
These changes in my life were pronounced by the adoption of a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism, simply put, is about living with less, whatever that means for you.
For me, it meant decluttering physical stuff, giving up a “normal” life, releasing doubts and fears, not “doing the most” but being my best, and pursuing my passions.
We are taught having it all means we’ve acquired certain things: a degree, a respectable career, certain material possessions, a spouse, and children, but what of those that reject this definition of “all”.
It’s not to say minimalists don’t aspire to have some or all of these things, but we’ve discovered that having it “all” as defined by society can be a great burden emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. We’ve learned having less and living more simply allows us to do and be more and define our own versions of “all”.
Carefree black girl as minimalist.
When I stopped trying to be who I thought I should be, I began to understand true happiness. Being carefree is minimalist and being minimalist invokes my inner CBG.
Carefree minimalism is about taking risks, exploring, non-attachment to material things and negativity, leading from within versus following from without. It’s about defining myself for myself and charting the trajectory of my own life.
Ultimately, it’s about understanding that I am enough as I am and that is true liberation.