Happy New Year! Today is also Imani (Faith), the last day of #Kwanzaa which we have been celebrating as a community since the day after Christmas. We gathered and ate food from the African diaspora: jollof rice, jerk chicken, etc. I also made the unity cup for the Kwanzaa table this year decorated with black, red and green foraged clays. It’s easy to identify what we’re against but celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa reminds us what we need more of in 2026 and beyond. #BlackFedi
My nuclear family was Black growing up. But my community was minority Black.
The first time I was in a space with only other Black folks, it triggered a fear of a racial attack (harking back to the only times I saw that on TV being some of those civil rights or slavery movies). Being the sole Black person in a very white area for the first time also triggered some fear (specifically for myself).
I asked a friend once about culture. Not feeling like I could identify my cultural markers. The first thing I could identify was a culture of resisting other cultural influences (for religious reasons — we’re talking holidays and some other celebrations). It took me a while to recognize food—some of my Southern upbringing.
I was also raised to keep folks at arms length if they were not part of the same religious community. Is that culture?
#BlackFedi #BlackMastodon #BIPOC #community… (1/2)
A lot of my exposure to culture was from TV (this is gonna be more U.S. centric). Sadly, most shows with Black folks featured “bad words” and sex, so they weren’t available to me as a kid. The popular cultural references also not being a thing to help me connect with Black folks online. I know of “bye, Felicia” but I don’t know it.
Sometimes life just feels like pretending a lot when you don’t feel included in communities.
Do you struggle with feeling included? I know a lot of white folks will see this, but I’m especially interested in non-white folks.
A lot of my exposure to culture was from TV (this is gonna be more U.S. centric). Sadly, most shows with Black folks featured “bad words” and sex, so they weren’t available to me as a kid. The popular cultural references also not being a thing to help me connect with Black folks online. I know of “bye, Felicia” but I don’t know it.
Sometimes life just feels like pretending a lot when you don’t feel included in communities.
Do you struggle with feeling included? I know a lot of white folks will see this, but I’m especially interested in non-white folks.
My nuclear family was Black growing up. But my community was minority Black.
The first time I was in a space with only other Black folks, it triggered a fear of a racial attack (harking back to the only times I saw that on TV being some of those civil rights or slavery movies). Being the sole Black person in a very white area for the first time also triggered some fear (specifically for myself).
I asked a friend once about culture. Not feeling like I could identify my cultural markers. The first thing I could identify was a culture of resisting other cultural influences (for religious reasons — we’re talking holidays and some other celebrations). It took me a while to recognize food—some of my Southern upbringing.
I was also raised to keep folks at arms length if they were not part of the same religious community. Is that culture?
#BlackFedi #BlackMastodon #BIPOC #community… (1/2)
Happy New Year! Today is also Imani (Faith), the last day of #Kwanzaa which we have been celebrating as a community since the day after Christmas. We gathered and ate food from the African diaspora: jollof rice, jerk chicken, etc. I also made the unity cup for the Kwanzaa table this year decorated with black, red and green foraged clays. It’s easy to identify what we’re against but celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa reminds us what we need more of in 2026 and beyond. #BlackFedi
@mekkaokereke Here's an update you'll like: the satirical Dutch newsprograms 'Even tot hier' ('Up until here') has placed duplicate panels just outside the US controlled grounds, including panels about Trumps discriminatory executive orders, and spelled out the name William F. James Junior in hay bales in an adjacent field. Unfortunately, all panels were soon removed by the police; they are now looking for a permanent location. #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLiberators #Margraten #Veterans #BlackFedi
So the US recently forced the Dutch to remove a memorial to America's own Black soldiers that died liberating the Netherlands from the nazis? On brand. [Edit: the cemetery is US government controlled, and the US forced its own employees to remove the memorial plaques. The Dutch government had no opportunity to oppose the decision.]
Towards the end of WW2, the French were shocked when the US refused to let its own Black soldiers join the celebration of the liberation of Paris.
The 761st Tank Battalion was an all Black tank unit that served with distinction as part of Pattons 3rd army. They killed a lot of nazis, and liberated over 30 French towns, and much of the Netherlands.
If you saw their Black Panther logo? It was all over for you. Black Panther beats German Panzer.
These elite Black soldiers racked up victories.
But they weren't immortal, and they didn't have superior weapons to either the Germans or white American soldiers. They were just brave. Many Black soldiers died freeing Europe from the nazis.
Europeans were grateful.
Racist Americans? Not so much.
@mekkaokereke Here's an update you'll like: the satirical Dutch newsprograms 'Even tot hier' ('Up until here') has placed duplicate panels just outside the US controlled grounds, including panels about Trumps discriminatory executive orders, and spelled out the name William F. James Junior in hay bales in an adjacent field. Unfortunately, all panels were soon removed by the police; they are now looking for a permanent location. #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLiberators #Margraten #Veterans #BlackFedi
Going live now @ https://twitch.tv/airadam13 !
Q&A Special! | Live from Manchester 🐝
Turn your volume up and come join us!
Going live now @ https://twitch.tv/airadam13 !
Q&A Special! | Live from Manchester 🐝
Turn your volume up and come join us!
Going live now @ https://twitch.tv/airadam13 !
Vintage Vinyl | Soul, funk, jazz, and more | All-wax | Live from Manchester 🐝
Turn your volume up and come join us!
Going live now @ https://twitch.tv/airadam13 !
Vintage Vinyl | Soul, funk, jazz, and more | All-wax | Live from Manchester 🐝
Turn your volume up and come join us!
New vibes, new priorities, new #introduction
I'm NaClKnight.
I write fiction at https://www.scribblehub.com/profile/231761/salinescout/ and other things at https://howdoyouspell.cool/sodiumreactor/
I'm Black (shoutout to #BlackMastodon #blackFedi #BlackTwitter), American, socialist, straight, cis, male, and happily married. Any flirting is strictly unserious, but some posts will be lewd, thirsty, or #NSFW, especially during #demontime
I play fighting games ( #FGC), Tactics or Soulslike RPGs, and Shooters on #PC but I'll try just about anything. I build and sell #DesktopPCs and will always offer help or advice if you want it.
I'm def the chattiest Mechanical #Engineer you know. I like hearing why you like what you like, especially #gaming #anime #comics #NBA #NFL #MMA #UFC #HipHop, #Rap or #Boxing #AEW #ProWrestling
Don't be shy; holla at'cha boy
Going live now @ https://twitch.tv/airadam13 !
#BeatsOnly | All-instrumental mix, chill, and beat chat | Live from Manchester 🐝
Turn your volume up and come join us!
Going live now @ https://twitch.tv/airadam13 !
#BeatsOnly | All-instrumental mix, chill, and beat chat | Live from Manchester 🐝
Turn your volume up and come join us!
Hey hey! Guess who's got a lil #Kofi shop!!!
After yesterday's market I genuinely wanted to cry so bad (emotions are still very messy 4 me). I never thought people would look at my art with so much love, and even BUY MY PRINT??!!
So uhh... if you'd like to help me continue pursing my #GameDev journey, please do consider buying my art 🖤 ❤️
edit: Boosts appreciated hehe
Okay so I'm currently exploring the #fedi lore and thought I would share some of my favourite reading nugs. Feel free to throw in more-
@so_treu has an amazing interview with @ArtistMarciaX that looks at blackness out here and yeah! This really puts a lot into perspective 🧐
https://logicmag.io/policy/blackness-in-the-fediverse-a-conversation-with-marcia-x/
The second, and thanks for sharing @jdp23 , goes a bit more into the nitty gritty details of some key events all the way from 2009 🤯 (its long) https://privacy.thenexus.today/mastodon-a-partial-history/
#BlackMastadon#blackfedi
Back at the rent-making hustle. Having to go home unexpectedly for my Aunt's funeral has absolutely trashed my budget this month, so my ask is slightly larger than usual. 🙏🏾🍀🤞🏾
http://cash.app/$sotreu2
http://venmo.com/sotreu
http://paypal.me/rikiam
#MutualAid #MutualAidRequest #BlackMutualAid #TransCrowdFund #TransMutualAid #BIPOCCrowdfund #BlackFedi #HelpFolksLive2025 #QueerCrowdfund #lowincome