IMAGE HER SELF-CARE ISSUE Vol 1 Issue 3
Slaying in HER Sickness
SEPTEMBER 2018 VISIT HERIMAGE.ORG
KEEPIN' UP W/ HER
... self-love isn’t inherit to humans after we are born. We are conditioned, in fact, to dislike ourselves. After all, capitalism thrives off insecurity. - Patriana Jones
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F
ROM ORGASM TO SELFEMPLOYMENT
We Keep It Candid was birthed as a result of a orgasm, truth be told. I was about to be turning 23 years old and for the first time in my life, I had a fulfilling and rich sex life. I wasn’t faking orgasms, I wasn’t crying myself to sleep off some cheating dude, I wasn’t avoiding mirrors because I couldn’t face the depression in the eyes that stared back at me. No, I was happy. I was healthy, happy, and humping my nights away with a partner who worshipped the sounds of my moans. My skin was glowing, blessings flowing, and inner peace showing. Prior to reaching that point in life, however, I had seen some pretty dark days. From overcoming a physically abusive relationship to hating the very skin I lived in, there was a point in life I cried to the skies, asking to be born again as someone else. But through a lot of self care, unpacking, and learning the art of transparency and vulnerability, I slowly acquired the tool of self love. I say acquire because self-love isn’t inherit to humans after we are born. We are conditioned, in fact, to dislike ourselves. After all, capitalism thrives off insecurity. Where would our top industries of beauty and ‘‘wellness’’ be without insecurities? So alas, after a lot of years spent in turmoil and disdain for myself, and of allowing others to treat me the way I felt about myself I discovered a beautiful novel called "The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron. Essentially this book acts as a three month program that gives its readers tools, exercises, and encouragement to face the demons of their past and heal their inner child in order to create from a place of love and acceptance. So that was the turning point for me in my personal life and We Keep It candid was birthed shortly thereafter. We Keep It Candid is a social platform which promotes progressive interactions between people of color by cultivating innovative spaces where healthy dialogue can occur. We are most known for our forums on taboo topics that explore sex, sexuality, dating, and relationships. We curate game based interactive forums that encourage people to explore the deepest parts of themselves, tell their story, and learn to define themselves on their own terms, without the influence of societal expectations. It is healing grounds for the black woman being told she is the least desired and least protected. For the black woman too afraid to masturbate. For the black woman seeking outwardly for answers that are already within her. I didn’t mean for We Keep It Candid to become what it is. We started off in my living room just talking about double standards and our narratives. And then boom, it became this hot forum that was bringing out people in large numbers and packing out spaces. It has been quite interesting watching the platform evolve, shape, and brand itself over the months. Constantly changing and bringing in such diverse narratives and people. It has ultimately just helped me so much to grow as a person and as a woman. I learn the art of communication more and more with every forum that passes. It never fails to amaze me just how much of a monolith we are NOT as humans. Ultimately I hope that We Keep It Candid can continue to grow and be a safe space for people to unpack the deepest parts of themselves. I want for it to be a ‘‘self care’’ practice for others. Like, ‘‘oh I need some self care in my life, let me go to this keeping it candid form’’. Haha, but seriously self care is so important. Whether it’s a bubble bath, a business plan you’ve been sitting on, masturbation, or leaving your toxic ass partner alone...practice it always!
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
A
Are You An
IT'S OKAY TO OWN YOUR ANGER, AS LONG AS YOUR ANGER ISN'T A RESULT OF SELFINFLICTED WOUNDS. THOSE WOUNDS YOU HAVE CONTROL OF.
- EDISHIA ROUNDTREE
ngry Mad
BLACK
Woman
... a study published by the Center for Disease Control states depression can affect between 17-20 million people in the United States, with African American women significantly reporting major depression than whites. The most staggering number is that only 8% of African Americans actually seek treatment for mental health versus the 13.6 percent of the overall population.
FAITH SAXTON
MEET
Faith Saxton, born in Washington D.C and raised in the home of the best blue crabs around, Maryland. Her background in mental health consists of internships at children’s Psychiatric wards, in- home services for children with extreme behavior issues, to currently working as a case worker for the state of Maryland’s Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene. She attended Liberty University in 2010 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Counseling Psychology. She also received a Master’s of Arts in Human Services Counseling: Crises Response and Trauma. Currently, she is attending Penn State for a Master level Behavior analyst certificate program to fulfill her long-term goal of becoming an Applied Behavior Analysist. @SAXTONICOLE
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