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editor's note
Dear <<First Name>>,
Happy Friday and Happy Black History Month! We’re marking this month at GNI by celebrating Black history, stories, accomplishments, and creators. It goes without saying (but I'm going to say it anyway) that we should all be doing this every single month, while also keeping in mind the ongoing work necessary to fight for racial justice and dismantle white supremacy.
In this week's newsletter, I’m excited to explore a multitude of Black stories — specifically via books, podcasts, music, and art. As a non-Black, Asian/Latinx woman of color, I certainly have work to do in making sure my reading and consumption reflects a wide array of Black stories and experiences, and this will be an ongoing process for me. It's important to acknowledge that there are structural systems in place that make our shelves and reading materials less diverse than they should be (for starters: the lack of diversity in publishing, covert racism, etc.). But I know that I, on a personal level, and we, as a community, can always make small changes to welcome more Black authors and stories onto our lives.
One way we can do that is to simply buy and support more books by Black authors. Another is by interrogating whether we have an array of Black stories represented on our shelves and in our shows that go beyond trauma and pain. Let’s celebrate Black joy, excellence, and livelihood too. I’m personally excited to play an active role in transforming the Little Free Library in front of my home into a Little Free Diverse Library, a movement started by an educator in NYC.
I'm curious: What Black stories about joy, imagination, creativity, livelihood, and more have you read lately? What authors, artists, and activists are you celebrating this month? What steps will you (especially our non-Black readers) take to support more Black stories — modern and historic, fiction AND nonfiction?
I’ll go first with a book rec that's helping me mark and celebrate the month, while measuring the work still left to do. And below are some great snippets from our team and members of our community platform, The Lounge, too...
🌎 Black Futures by Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew is one such tome (and I say tome in every sense of the word — it’s a hefty, beautiful 500-page work of art!!) that celebrates Blackness in its fullness and its many forms through a curation of essays, poems, photos, tweets, memes, and more. If you like this book, I also encourage you to listen to the entire back-catalog of the Still Processing podcast with Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris.
🎥 "I plan to observe Black History Month by watching films that are either produced by or at least have a Black person in a non slavery-centered main role. Examples: Sorry to Bother You, The Color Purple (a classic), ANYTHING produced by Spike Lee (Crooklyn is my personal favorite), Black Panther, Black is King, and The Color of Friendship (my mom and I love this film)." - Ashley G., Lounger
📝 "I'll be celebrating by participating in 28 Days of Black History's virtual exhibition (you can subscribe here). It's a daily evening email with an intro, discussion questions, and action items. Each day, I'm discussing it with a few friends over texts — our reflections and what we've learned — and I'm keeping a journal about it to reflect on throughout the year. This effort is led by the Anti-Racism Daily Newsletter which has been my biggest source of learning in more intentionally 'doing the work' over the last several months." - Liz A., Lounger
⭐️ "Planning a Black History Month program with my colleagues: Our program, titled Art & Activism in Appalachia, will consist of a virtual panel of two Affrilachian authors and one sociologist (and host of the podcast, Black in Appalachia) to discuss how the national anti-racism movement is playing out in the Appalachian Region and in their work." - China R., Lounger
📚 "This month, I'm thinking about Black stories in terms of parallel texts. In addition to The Office of Historical Corrections for GNI's book club, I think it's important to also read stories not written in this century. Since TOHC is a short story collection, I chose Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick, another short story collection curated in 2020 but written by Zora Neale Hurston in the 1920s, to read alongside it." - Tyler, GNI Team
How are you celebrating Black voices? Reply and let me know — I'd love to hear. Next up this month at GNI, we're celebrating Black-owned businesses and makers (so many good ones we can't wait to share), spotlighting Black experiences (specifically in the wellness space), and continuing our community conversation.
I can't stress enough how important it is to highlight more Black voices, stories, and experiences, not just this month but every day, and I'm looking forward to doing that personally and professionally through GNI, too. Representation matters. Happy Black History Month!
Until next week,
Alisha Ramos, CEO & Founder at GNI
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🤗 This month, our membership community, The Lounge, will be gathering virtually for book clubs and cookbook clubs for The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans and In Bibi's Kitchen by Hawa Hassan, respectively. Loungers (and current members of the waitlist) will have a chance to gather with both authors this month — sign up for the waitlist if you're not yet on it here.
📚 Knowing your worth — financially and beyond — is important. That's what the Ladies Get Paid book is all about. As you're digging in, we recommend keeping an eye on chapter one — you might see a familiar face featured. (It's Alisha!)
🐌 Need a great Valentine's gift idea for your S/O or loved one? Whiled, our sibling brand, is offering 15% off puzzles with code WHILEDLOVE. These puzzles are our go-to for a screen-free fun date night!
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weekly picks
what we're recommending this week...
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how gorgeous are these planters by Diana Adams? (via @sample.haus)
- Good morning to everyone, especially those willing to do the work this Black History Month... ☀️ Rachel Cargle is posting one thing each day in February that you can Google independently, reflect on in a journal, or discuss in a self-created group.
- One way to support Black livelihood alongside Black history... 🎨 Take time to source from Black businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs. Here's a roundup of books we love by Black authors and home products by Black makers, including this swoon-worthy art print and this custom note candle.
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If you're missing your LTFs (long-term friends) right now... 🍿 Firefly Lane is proof that sometimes the greatest love story is one between two best friends. Based on the bestselling novel by Kristin Hannah, this new Netflix show follows Tully (Katherine Heigl) and Kate’s (Sarah Chalke) inseparable friendship through 30 years of ups and downs. Think This Is Us meets Now and Then vibes. Make plans to watch at the same time as friends and text, cry, laugh, and snack your way through it together, even if you're apart. #SPONSORSTHING
- A tip for anyone whose desktop makes their head spin... 👩💻 just trust us, this will make your brain feel good. And right now, helping your brain is helping yourself.
- Because mini things spark joy... 🧇 Does anyone else feel comforted by leaning into small holiday traditions right now? This mini heart-shaped waffle maker might be very on the nose this time of year, but that's okay. Tip: Make a batch on weekends with this recipe and freeze them for the week for DIY Eggos. (Need more Val/Gal/Palentine's Day gift Ideas? We've rounded some up here.)
- Dip of the week... 🦀 (should we make that a thing around here? more dips?) This very delicious crab rangoon dip by Alyse Whitney will elevate your spread if you're, say, watching a big game this weekend.
❄️ Bonus rec: And just for fun... a snowflake generator in case you didn't get any snow of your own this week.
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Sponsor Spotlight: Firefly Lane | Now Streaming on Netflix
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Just in time for Galentine's Day... 👯♀️
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Firefly Lane is out and ready to make you miss your friends. 😭 Kate (Sarah Chalke) and Tully (Katherine Heigl) meet as young girls and quickly become inseparable through 30 years of ups and downs and difficult transitions into adulthood. When an unthinkable betrayal breaks them apart, the two women go their separate ways and it’s unclear whether they'll ever be able to reconcile.
Grab a box of tissues for this bittersweet and relatable portrayal of friendships, family, and throwback styles — watch Firefly Lane, only on Netflix.
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read/watch/listen
what we're engaging with this week
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giving back
For the month of February, we’re donating 5% of our company’s profits as part of a larger initiative to give back. This week, GNI is donating to The Black Schoolhouse’s $300k fundraiser to build an experimental, community-minded art school teaching art and radical Black history. You can donate directly to their cause here.
More about our impact efforts: As a BIPOC-owned business, the No Plans, Inc. family of brands (GNI, The Lounge, and Whiled) aims to give back in intentional ways. We support organizations aligned with our core values of taking care, mental health, literacy, and matters of housing and home. Our readers’ support (you!) has allowed us to do this — thank you!
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Thanks for reading and supporting GNI and our partners — they help make the creation of this free newsletter possible. Just a note: GNI may receive a small commission from items you purchase from this newsletter. ❤️
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