Let’s do lifestyle, yes?
I love these denim tie-waist pants. Seems like the perfect option for the loose seat I prefer, but, fashion. Currently sold out. Maybe to return? Aliya Wanek is a designer here in San Francisco but new to me.
How about more small and simple earrings? Can one have too many? I think not. These tiny concave discs also come in white and rose gold. Surprisingly affordable, made of recycled precious metals.
I always love a simple but Artsy sweatshirt. Made from cotton and hemp and navy besides. Also from Aliya Wanek, size 2X still available.
How about a supplier of linen sheets for our roster, this time in Belgian eco-linen? Linoto sews their goods in New York. They also offer sheets of conventional linen, in a very wide range of colors, and boxer shorts. Linen boxer shorts, doesn’t that sound like summer heaven for around the house?
Or a candle collection? A tiny sampler set, so as to find the one or two scents you like most. It’s on its way to me as we speak. Remember The Great Candle Burn-Offs of years past?
And finally, for my sister’s August birthday, a party topper from Etsy. We think it’s safe to gather at Dad’s house, outside by the pool, socially distanced by family pods and all in masks. We’d all bring our own food. I’d put this in our cake and wave to my sister from affectionate afar.
You might be surprised, or maybe you’d figured it out (but sometimes it’s good to be snuck up upon), all these goods are from Black-owned businesses.
I have been thinking that one component of systemic racism, to be defined in a dense run-on sentence because it’s the best I can do, i.e the racially unjust impact of well-meaning people who do not feel they deserve an advantage nevertheless participating in a system designed over time to maintain said advantage, can be understood as a habit. I’ve heard systemic racism defined as a pandemic, but that implies powerlessness on the part of the infected and we are not that. So it’s a terrible habit. An addiction, if you will.
And what I know about habits is that you create good ones a day at a time. You do it by setting small goals that you meet, every day, and by establishing replacement behaviors you don’t have to think about. Remember me and alcohol? (BTW, a kind gift I got from a friend as an evening alcohol replacement.)
When I read that Sephora* had resolved to dedicate 15% of their shelf-space to products from Black-owned businesses, I knew what I had to do.
So going forward I’ll try to make at least 15% of the products on Privilege will be from Black-owned companies, or large corporations with representation from Black executives and/or board members. Black Americans comprise 15% of our population. It’s a fair start, even if only a start. It is OK to only start. (Look at your most frequently-visited retailers. Nordstrom for example, has 11 outside directors, 3 of them Black women. But their top executives are, as far as I can tell, all white.)
How will I do this? Last week a lot of bloggers and sites compiled and published vendor lists. Here’s home decor, from Emily Henderson, here’s another, across multiple categories, from Young House Love. Google is your friend. Directories exist. Did you know you can search for Black-owned businesses on Etsy? Yes! You can!
Personally, I also intend that 15% of my Instagram content, television programs and books will be from Black creators.
I did wonder, at first, whether shifting this spend would affect my High WASP aesthetic. As you can see from the images above, I wouldn’t have to change a thing. Navy, gold, and neutral textured bedding. Elegant fonts. But that also made me think; what if my aesthetic embodies a culture that is ripe for change?
In my experience, we evolve in the direction of what’s nearby. Draw Black businesses and Black voices close to you, and keep them there.
Have a good weekend. Everything we do can count.
*I read today that this initiative is spreading.
26 Responses
First of all – I can’t believe those fantastic denim pants are sold out, and even the pre-order is sold out!!!!
Did you ever read An American Marriage – I know I’ve suggested to you, but it’s more timely than ever.
I love that you’re doing this with your blog – love it. xoxo
I know. I wish I’d ordered a pair when I first started making the list! I hope she’ll open orders back up in the fall:). Have read that book, agreed. And thanks. Here’s the thing, I feel like I’m doing myself a favor for many reasons. xox.
@KSL, Great book, very relevant, and a powerful reminder that America’s is not what a large part of the population may want to pretend it is.
What a wonderful idea for your blog. I will also use the directories.. I had no idea Linoto was a black-owned business. I have purchased bedding and towels from them and am so very impressed with their products and customer service!
@Deborah Citron, Aha good to know that Linoto in reality reflects the way I perceived them from their website.
I’m just getting ready to order fitted sheets from Linoto, after the one I bought as part of a Queen-size bedding bundle (from a Canadian-owned, Atelier Dore-recommended, very stylish company that I won’t name) disintegrated — in two years?! I’ve done enough research to know that Linoto sheets are unlikely to do that (although they may be rougher to begin with) — but I had no idea they’re a black-owned business.
I’ve been thinking this morning about the role of cultural hegemony as a powerful force in maintaining political, social, and economic systems. Not as potent as state/military/police power and justice systems, in some ways, but in other ways both more insidious and yet more amenable to change given the right conditions and enough will on the part of those of have held the cultural/social power. The kind of de-centering you’re modelling is a hopeful example. xo
@Frances, So you know about Linoto too? And thank you for the concepts and theory behind this. I have been out of the world of scholarship for so long I have to learn it from my son:).
I fully support your idea to highlight black owned businesses. We are going to be seeking them out in Dallas as well. I’ll look forward to your online suggestions. I love the pants, the earrings and the sheets.
@Susan D., Excellent! I’m curious to see how it goes, I expect to enjoy myself and learn a lot and I hope be useful to my readers as well.
Lisa, You work so hard to do the right thing. My own projects have fallen short but I always learn something. You give depth to “Privilege”.
Luci
@Luci, Thank you very much. We are all falling short all the time, as they say, fail forward:).
Linen boxer shorts? YES ! Apron-wrapped linen pants? Pas pour moi – but you go, girl ! (You are slender enough that they just might look fabulous …)
It’s too hot today to think about your wider range of thought-provoking commentary – but thanks for your excellent choice of fashion/decor purveyors. That candle set may be on its way to me before long, too.
@Victoire, I like the red boxers;). Fifteen percent, baby!
Those earrings…and I had been so good until now.
I like what you’re doing with your blog. I’m making a concerted effort to seek out Black-owned businesses for the very reason you stated above, and this helps. Thank you.
@Jennifer Murray, They are wonderful, aren’t they:). Happy to help!
Good definition. Good idea about our purchases. Let’s also think about where our charitable donations go.
@MJ, Thanks. Agreed about donations. You know what I’m doing? Cancelling my Ancestry.com membership and donating instead to Equal Justice Initiative and Color of Change.
Love the jeans and the direction you are going here. Also Other Mother. We can all contribute to changing the world.
@Mardel, I’m going to put myself on the “email when these are available” list, if I can. And I agree, we can all contribute, in any of hundreds and hundreds of ways.
Wow, how fun to see Alia featured! She purchased my house from
me and I’m so happy for her success. Very nice woman.
This is sort of fascinating, having all the concept at the end of the post; usually you have what-ties-it-together at the beginning and end of the post, and I was missing that as I went through, for behold, while I (perhaps bizarrely) enjoy picturing how things fit into your specific envisioned scenarios/WASP-y-Need, I do not have pierced ears and am allergic to almost all candles and am not sure about those pants for me although if I could try them on maybe (and I did spot and appreciate the designer diversity)…
And then I got to your concept and that is gold, and thank you for doing this and starting here and also demonstrating it as an option of a place to start. (but the post did feel like it was missing something up to then? Which is odd, perhaps, but maybe something to think about while one is being direct but also making sure things are not token-y?)
Anyway! It is excellent to have some good places to start, and also a reminder that One Small Change is good but that we should keep building on that and changing our habits until the way we want to be treating people and treating the world is accurately reflected in our actions. But: steps. And keep taking steps. :-)
Some great practical tips on how we can be part of the solution from now on. Good on you, Lisa.
Bravo! Well done–a great start and inspiring to me, and to many other readers, I’m sure.
Lisa, Awesome post and comments, too! Love all the products. Thank you so much!
Linoto had striped linen sheets!I am so excited to find them. Thanks for the recommendation. I also restocked on linen napkins- such wonderful colors are available.
Love those pants, too, and remembered this pattern.
Very easy for a seamstress to taper the legs and whip up.
https://www.stonemountainfabric.com/product/nehalem-pant-skirt/
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