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Hope you pull up to support these badass creators and get to love them up as much as I do. XO, Shelley
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CARIBBEING: Describe yourself in 10 words or less?
Museum Hue: I’m an agent for arts and culture.
CARIBBEING: Tell us your story... (How did you get to where you are today)?
Museum Hue: I’ve worked in the museum field my entire career and wanted to see greater racial equity in the arts ecosystem. I cocreated Museum Hue to support people of color in the arts.
CARIBBEING: What is your earliest Caribbean memory?
Museum Hue: Going to Jamaica or Trinidad over the summers to spend time with my grandmothers (maternal and paternal)
CARIBBEING: What does it mean to you, to be of Caribbean heritage/descent?
Museum Hue: It means to be connected to a thriving culture and community that have
CARIBBEING: How do you believe your work is influenced by your Caribbean heritage and where you were born/raised?
Museum Hue: I was taught the phrase Likkle But Tallawah from a very young age. And even through racial equity is a large beast, I know that I can defy odds through strength and courage.
CARIBBEING: How do you feel your work has impacted the communities that you are apart of? How do your communities support your work?
Museum Hue: The greatest impact has been the community of creatives of color as well as the opportunities I have been able to garner for them.
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean person/place/thing?
Museum Hue: Shirley Chisholm. She says "These rules and these laws and policies inside were not made for you, they weren't made for me, so we've got to get in there and shake things up."
CARIBBEING: What's something most people don't know about you?
Museum Hue: I love traveling.
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean saying?
Museum Hue: Likkle But Tallawah
CARIBBEING: What are you listening to?
Museum Hue: Chronixx, Machel Montano, Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, and Lizzo
CARIBBEING: What is the last country you visited or next country you are visiting?
Museum Hue: Switzerland last. Jamaica next.
CARIBBEING: What does caribBEING mean to you?
Museum Hue: It means being authentically you. It is boldly being true to and leaning on Caribbean culture.
CARIBBEING: Describe yourself in 10 words or less?
Spicegrove Roselle: I practice living in the now everyday!
CARIBBEING: Tell us your story...(How did you get to where you are today)?
Spicegrove Roselle: I started making my mother's sorrel drink about 6 years ago for friends and family during the Christmas season because it was hard finding good sorrel on the market. As time went on, I realized I wanted to do something different so I starting tweaking my mother's recipe and eventually wrote my own recipe, the response was overwhelming! People loved the refreshing twist I put on the drink and they began not just asking for it during the holidays but ALL THE TIME! I was encouraged by my so many people to work towards putting it on the market. I embarked on a quest to make a bold drink. A drink that was more robust, herbaceous but still had an authentic taste. I believe I have accomplish this goal in my Roselle + Ginger. I officially launched in April 2018 and currently the drink is sold in over a dozen locations in the NY/NJ and West Palm Beach, FL. The unsweetened version will be coming in early 2020!
CARIBBEING: What is your earliest Caribbean memory?
Spicegrove Roselle: I spent my formative years on our family farm (Spicegrove) in rural Jamaica what we call country! I was fortunate to have so many natural and beautiful resources! I would chase chickens, feed pigs, goats, cows, ride donkeys, horses, pick mangoes, oranges, sweet sops, guava and other fruits right from the trees. The freedom of living on the land and being able to share with others in our communities as my parents did stays with me till this day!
CARIBBEING: What does it mean to you, to be of Caribbean heritage/descent?
Spicegrove Roselle: Coming from a place of pride, strength, resilience, commitment, family & love has helped to mold the person I am today! I'm so proud to carry our legacy of strong beautiful people where ever I go!
CARIBBEING: How do you believe your work is influenced by your Caribbean heritage and where you were born/raised?
Spicegrove Roselle: The beverage is a revolutionary twist on the sorrel drink I grew up with. The name Spicegrove came from my little rural farm I wanted to share a piece of my heritage in this product as it truly shaped who I am today.
CARIBBEING: How do you feel your work has impacted the communities that you are apart of? How do your communities support your work?
Spicegrove Roselle: Since being on this journey I often see how I've inspired others. I often encouraged them to work towards their goals. People are excited about the product and we all know how much pride we all take in making sorrel especially at Christmas time so it's truly awesome when people buy and serve my drink instead of making their own! Or when I hear people often tell me how magically this drink is!
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean person/place/thing?
Spicegrove Roselle: My favorite Caribbean person is Dr. Jean Dixon, favorite place is Jamaica, and favorite thing is my reggae music!
CARIBBEING: What's something most people don't know about you?
Spicegrove Roselle: That I'm an awesome cook!
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean saying?
Spicegrove Roselle: one one coco full baskit
CARIBBEING: What are you listening to?
Spicegrove Roselle: Always listening to the universe. As far as music nothing in particular since I listen to what I'm in the mood for.
CARIBBEING: What is the last country you visited or next country you are visiting?
Spicegrove Roselle: My little Island Jamaica.
CARIBBEING: What does caribBEING mean to you?
Spicegrove Roselle: Community, pride, strength and legacy
Guided by the belief that arts inspire community and culture, we are pleased to introduce you to our friends @84Gem whose AfroCaribbean ‘ethnic, exotic and regal' jewelry is fit for a Queen.
CARIBBEING: Describe yourself in 10 words or less?
84GEM: I’m a calm, easy going person. I get along with almost anyone.
CARIBBEING: Tell us your story...(How did you get to where you are today)?
84GEM: My love for beautiful statement jewelry has gotten me to where I am today. One day I just purchased materials to play around with to make my own pieces to wear. It wasn’t until friends and family members asked about purchasing them that I decided to turn it into a business. I didn’t have any previous jewelry making experience. I just wanted to make things that I wanted to wear.
CARIBBEING: What is your earliest Caribbean memory?
84GEM: My earliest Caribbean memory is going to work with my dad. He worked as a lifeguard at a hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. I would just play at the pool all day. I was probably about 3-4 years old.
CARIBBEING: What does it mean to you, to be of Caribbean heritage/descent?
84GEM: To be of Caribbean heritage to me means having many beautiful cultures merged into one. In Jamaica, our motto is ‘Out of Many One People’. We descend from many cultures and traditions but we are all the same. I love my culture and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. The food, the smells, the holiday traditions, the language and lingos we have amongst each other are what make us so special.
CARIBBEING: How do you believe your work is influenced by your Caribbean heritage and where you were born/raised?
84GEM: I would say that my work is heavily influenced by the Afro part of my heritage. From the shapes and materials down to the names that I choose for each piece. It’s all intentional to make the wearer feel like a Queen.
CARIBBEING: How do you feel your work has impacted the communities that you are apart of? How do your communities support your work?
84GEM: I feel my work has introduced a new look to what’s already existing. My pieces easily fit into the African Diaspora and Caribbean communities. Being a part of different pop ups, local events and collaborations with brands like Caribbeing help my own brand to reach even further into the community.
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean person/place/thing?
84GEM: So hard to pick one but it has to be the music. Hearing Caribbean music just puts you in a certain mood. There are certain songs that I hear that bring me back to little moments in my past. Like hearing Beres or Bob always takes me back to Sunday’s when oldies were playing in the house. The old tunes are the best.
CARIBBEING: What's something most people don't know about you?
84GEM: I’m very much introverted. I never figured this out until about 8 years ago and since then I’ve been unapologetic about it. I love my alone time and enjoy my own company. After being around people for long periods of time, I literally have to remove myself and recharge.
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean saying?
84GEM: My mom always has the best sayings. She was old before her time. Even to this day she will say something that I’ve never heard and it will have me cracking up. My favorite though which I’m sure all Caribbean children heard growing up is “Who cyaa hear mus feel”.
CARIBBEING: What are you listening to?
84GEM: Chronixx and Koffee have been on repeat lately.
CARIBBEING: What is the last country you visited or next country you are visiting?
84GEM: I visited Trinidad in September.
CARIBBEING: What does caribBEING mean to you?
84GEM: To me CaribBEING literally means to be of or embodying the Caribbean culture.
Follow Kimone
Instagram: @84gem
Shop/Website: www.84gem.com
]]>Made from 100% all natural ingredients, essential oils and luxurious scents and based right here in Brooklyn, we are pleased to introduce @avalahbeauty!
CARIBBEING: Describe yourself in 10 words or less?
AVALAH: Alexzandra Denis is loving, charitable, innovative, creative, hardworking, intuitive and independent.
CARIBBEING: Tell us your story... (How did you get to where you are today)?
AVALAH: I was born in Brooklyn to a mom who is from St.Vincent. She always used shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, castor oil and salt as part of our skincare regimen growing up. Mom always stayed away from perms, white sugar, processed foods and skin/hair care products that were not necessarily good for us. When I became a young adult I wanted to use what all my friends used which was Bath and Body, so when I had my first job I stocked up. I soon realized that the quality of the products was not giving me the same glow and moisture than what I was used to. In creating my company, I wanted to give people the quality of West Indian natural products with luxury scents and the opportunity to buy in collections.
CARIBBEING: What is your earliest Caribbean memory?
AVALAH: My earliest Caribbean memory is my grandpa in the kitchen after coming back from the market and teaching me how to drink coconut water, eat the jelly and then eating the meat. He then gave me sugarcane and tamarind. It is a fond memory of time spent with my grandpa and getting to learn about my culture. To this day all three foods are my favs!
CARIBBEING: What does it mean to you, to be of Caribbean heritage/descent?
AVALAH: To have Caribbean blood running through my veins gives me great pride. There are customs, dances, foods, drinks, music and values that are in my culture and are exclusive to us. The customs in my household of cooking for Labor day, listening to music and getting dressed up. The respect we teach our children to have for their elders or our hard work ethic are all things that I love about being from the Caribbean.
CARIBBEING: How do you believe your work is influenced by your Caribbean heritage and where you were born/raised?
AVALAH: My entire company is influenced and based on my Caribbean heritage, from the black soap to the shea butter. My favorite part of the weekends as a child was going to the Caribbean markets on Church Avenue and watching my mom shop for products that were going to be used to maintain our hair and skin. She would always have tips on how to naturally take care of ourselves, lemons on your elbows and knees when they get dark, castor oil on your edges and aloe vera on burns. My enter company is based on my experiences as the product of two Caribbean parents.
CARIBBEING: How do you feel your work has impacted the communities that you are apart of? How do your communities support your work?
AVALAH: My work has impacted the communities that I am apart of through donation, education and career assistance. Avalah has donated product to domestic violence and cancer awareness programs. It is important as I continue on this path that I assist people through their journeys as well. I spend time educating men and women of my community on taking care of themselves by not just smelling nice but by using all-natural products or at least fewer artificial products on their bodies. Avalah currently takes on interns in an attempt to expose young adults to vision, opportunity, fostering relationships, marketing, business etiquette and discipline. I have been fortunate enough to foster amazing relationships in my community. These relationships have supported my work by sending me opportunities to work at events, new product ideas, feedback on social media and marketing. I currently do everything myself so to have people give me feedback or ideas is very helpful.
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean person/place/thing?
AVALAH: Favorite Caribbean person is my grandpa because he said a lot by saying a little. He valued hard work, education, entrepreneurship and family. My favorite Caribbean place is Bridgetown, Barbados. I love the sunset from there and try to go 2-3 times a year. My favorite Caribbean thing is mangos. As a kid my mom would go to Brooklyn terminal market and get us a crate. It would be done in less than a week. Also scotch bonnet peppers! I put them in everything.
CARIBBEING: What's something most people don't know about you?
AVALAH: I traveled to a lot of Caribbean islands over the past couple years but I have not been back to St.Vincent since I was a child.
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean saying?
AVALAH: Either my mom telling me not to look like a raggamuffin or my stepdad saying mi soon come...... or stop your coming and come...... or my mom asking me if I ate parrot bottom.
CARIBBEING: What are you listening to?
AVALAH: Trust by Buju Banton is currently on replay on my spotify
CARIBBEING: What is the last country you visited or next country you are visiting?
AVALAH: Barbados was the last. I keep saying I'm going back home to St.Vincent.
CARIBBEING: What does caribBEING mean to you?
AVALAH: Everything. Heritage. Identity. Support. Culture. Love. Hard Work. Community.
Shaquanda Will Feed You: It means an identity and cultural belonging.
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CARIBBEING: Describe yourself in 10 words or less?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Cheerful, dedicated, loyal, insightful, trustworthy, overeater
CARIBBEING: Tell us your story...(How did you get to where you are today)?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: By believing in myself.
CARIBBEING: What is your earliest Caribbean memory?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Pulling the laundry off the line.
CARIBBEING: What does it mean to you, to be of Caribbean heritage/descent?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: It means an identity and cultural belonging.
CARIBBEING: How do you believe your work is influenced by your Caribbean heritage and where you were born/raised?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: My culinary choices
CARIBBEING: How do you feel your work has impacted the communities that you are apart of? How do your communities support your work?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: My community supports my work and what I do. My work helps queer identity continue to exist
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean person/place/thing?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Bob Marley, Rihanna, roti, and oxtails.
CARIBBEING: What's something most people don't know about you?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: I used to be a double dutch champion
CARIBBEING: What is your favorite Caribbean saying?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Cheese on Bread!
CARIBBEING: What are you listening to?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Nina Simone
CARIBBEING: What is the last country you visited or next country you are visiting?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Barbados or Italy
CARIBBEING: What does caribBEING mean to you?
Shaquanda Will Feed You: Everything
CARIBBEING: What does it mean to you, to be of Caribbean heritage/descent?
84GEM: To be of Caribbean heritage to me means having many beautiful cultures merged into one. In Jamaica, our motto is ‘Out of Many One People’. We descend from many cultures and traditions but we are all the same. I love my culture and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. The food, the smells, the holiday traditions, the language and lingos we have amongst each other are what make us so special.
]]>When Caribbeing first started our goal was to build community through the lens of Caribbean culture + art + film establishing a bridge between Caribbean communities in Brooklyn and beyond. Since then our work has evolved and now includes travel, lifestyle and experiences.
To kick things off for our very first “Caribbeing Connection”, we partnered with our friends @84Gem whose AfroCaribbean ‘ethnic, exotic and regal' jewelry is fit for a Queen. For the entire month of February you can purchase a very limited edition of the #ShesRoyal bundle which includes a pair of black @84Gem Ife Hoops, our signature #IAMCARIBBEING GOLD ON BLACK DENIM TOTE and a Royalty pin for $65 (shipping in mid-February).
Next week you’ll learn more about Kimone, Founder + Designer of @84gem and her Caribbean heritage. Finally, on February 22nd, we’ll be hosting a Happy Hour where you’ll get to lime with us IRL at one of our favorite spots in Little Caribbean, Brooklyn.
Stay tuned for more details on location and time.
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