“There’s not enough sage in the world for this shit.” — Sojourners 4 Justice Press

IN KIND (continued)

Slide 3.

I was looking for the exact location of this house in Harlem with photos of prominent Black luminaries and historic figures like Harriet Tubman and Langston Hughes on its windows. One of my friends finally came across it on a walk, and they sent me the address which was very thoughtful. Going to see it myself sometime this fall is something I look forward to. Image credit: Lamar J Robillard

Slide 4.

Found Wells’ referred to as “Well’s Musical Bar” in my facsimile edition of The Negro Travelers’ Green Book a 1954 guide for traveling in a segregated US. I purchased this in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture circa 2023 before I started writing The Harlem Table and it served as one of the many signs from the universe that propel me forward. Another is that I read Yolanda Wisher’s no more grandma poems a few years ago, and posted an image of her with the caption: “still trying to write something for my Nina” sharing the lines “every poem is your grandma / & you miss her / wouldn’t mind seeing her again / even just / for a moment.”

Slide 5.

An intimate moment on captured on camera with Michael W. Twitty author of Recipes from the American South at the Phaidon office looking at his NPR Culture Desk feature. We spoke about his childhood growing up, and how impactful this moment is as he is celebrating the publication of his new book on what would’ve been his grandmother’s 100th birthday. Spending time with him and his magnum opus to date has been a guiding north star.

Slide 6.

While traveling for work on a modest stipend, I treated myself to Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s restaurant Dōgon. Before sitting down to eat, I went to use the bathroom and left my phone there. I realized after a couple of minutes and went back, but it was gone. Because I had to spend time at the security desk sorting this. I didn’t complain about this as it was my mistake, but the chef sent me a dish on the house despite this as he was worried about my food getting cold after the waitress mentioned he wanted to replace my dish and I told her I appreciated the offer but it wasn’t necessary. His rum cake served with honey sweet cream and blistered gooseberries revolutionized my tastebuds. I enjoy spending time with myself doing a variety of things from traveling the world and seeing art. I was sitting at a table next to two lovely Black women, who after I internally felt I had embarrassed myself with the whole debacle praised me for being able to take myself on a solo date.

Slide 7.

My first collage created at the Beyond Form workshop series hosted by Sierra Francesca after eons on saying I wanted to expand my practice to this medium. While cutting up scraps from magazines, books, and the NYC subway map, I was able to release some emotional blockages around art making and perfection.

Slide 8.

After almost a year of doing typewriter poetry, I finally purchased my own machine a few months ago. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture just posted a video of Taylor Cassidy on Instagram you can watch here “putting her hands on history” and showcasing all of the archival artifacts across books, films, and other ephemera available for free with a NYPL card. While watching her experience visiting the center, I realize I have the same typewriter make and model as Maya Angelou. It’s a Smith-Corona and the only difference is that it’s in a thyme green like color instead of black.

Slide 9.

Been feeling stuck specifically when it comes to writing poetry and “On Repetition” by Omotara James from her equally resonant book Song of my Softening breaks me free and encourages me to think of all the poetry I’ve come across as of late in the quietly powerful moments that resurface upon meditation and the sheer wonder of Black people, places, and things.

Slide 10.

Some days are so fruitful in terms of event offerings, and there are plenty of times where I’m unable to make everything I’d like to as I can’t be in multiple places at once. Luckily, I was able to leave the event I was staffing a tad early to catch the tail end of the launch event for Danielle Mckinney: Beyond the Brushstroke where Dr. Imani Perry was in conversation with Danielle Mckinney and her mother Barbara Mckinney both pictured here. This moment was so precious because I had mentioned to another scorpio friend how I was disappointed I couldn’t make the conversation and then boom manifestation. We ran through the streets from and quickly caught the subway that was just arriving to the platform as we ran down the stairs (which admittedly felt like a bit much at the time, but now see was necessary). Sweaty and still catching my breath, I landed at the almost fully dwindled book signing line. Considering this was a spontaneous venture, I left my copy of her book at home, but Danielle kindly signed a bookplate for me. To make it easy, I told her the spelling of my name is “kind” “all” and she mentioned how beautiful it was. I was also able to wish her mother a Happy Birthday. It was heartwarming to see her light up. Image credit: Tennille Mack

Slide 11.

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions by visual artist and filmmaker Kahlil Joseph just premiered at BAM as a part of New York Film Festival after debuting in galleries and museums years prior. The features acts as “a celebration of Black life that reconceptualizes and remediates common, corporate notions of journalism. Joseph’s sprawling film is an uninterrupted gush of ideas, mixing newly shot footage and extant media, leaping from fantastical images to historical narratives, collapsing boundaries that often separate documentary and fiction.” It’s collage like construction reminds me of Arthur Jafa’s Love is the Message, the Message is Death.

Slide 12.

Curry J. Hackett describes himself as a multimedia artist concerned with Black landscapes. According to The Architect’s Newspaper “The diversity of Black experiences Hackett encountered at Howard helped him realize the uniqueness of his family’s generational relationship with their land. This in part inspired AI Black History, the informal Instagram series that Hackett is perhaps best known for in the digital realm. Using Midjourney, Hackett portrays scenes of speculative Black realities like a Black family gathered for a portrait beneath a giant collard green plant and bathtubs-turned-planters on Harlem sidewalks. For Hackett, the interface offers an opportunity to share provocations, alternative visions of Black life that could exist with present-day technology and grounded in works by Black feminist artists and scholars like Stephanie Dinkins, Badia Ahad-Legardy, and Katherine McKittrick.” With everything going on now with food insecurity, his video Live abundantly encapsulates the future we must build collectively.  

Slide 13.

I’d be remiss not to share ways to to Help Families Losing SNAP Benefits. As of today according to The Cut, NPR, and The Guardian “about 42 million people, including 16 million children, are set to lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, triggering what experts say could be the worst hunger crisis in the United States since the Great Depression.” We take care of us and I urge you not to forget how to show up in community for one another as we traverse beyond the oppressive systems that are unkind. The article illustrates steps those with the privilege of being able to support folks in need, including myself, can take.

Slide 14.

Listened to an enlightening Tribute to Nikki Giovanni at Brooklyn Public Library with Edwidge Dandicat, Mahogany L. Browne, Renée Watson, and Rebecca Carroll. There was a lot to gleam from this conversation on cultivating joy, how loving is a hard but worthwhile practice, and the way those that are left on earth to carry the loss those who deeply impacted you, but are no longer here in this dimension serve as living epistolaries of those shared memories.

Slide 15.

I lost a friend this past January, and one of the last places we were last together was Little Dipper, an astrology themed bar in the city celebrating my birthday. The menu had changed since I was there and I couldn’t remember what I originally ordered, so I felt a bit emotional considering this was a pivotal memory for me of when he was alive. When I arrived home that night, I opened my laptop and scrolled through to approximately a year ago on the bar’s page on Google to find the menu here. The Alchemist (scorpio) and Duality (gemini) related more to who I aspire to be than what must be the shadow sides of my sun and rising signs… Velvet Venom and Verdant Twin. I remember wanting to try my moon sign Balance (libra) as well, but wasn’t in the mood for whipped cream in my libation.

Slide 16.

It’s impossible to always be up, and I definitely am someone who relies on my friends to keep it real with me. I have so much gratitude for the people in my life who have become life family in the ways they show up and encourage me. I’m working on being more comfortable with being vulnerable and am appreciative of those who pour water and light into me. Here’s a screenshot of a text message I received from a friend who is a genuine gem on kindness in spite of everything else.

Slide 17.

Sudan is experiencing the biggest humanitarian aid crisis. Hope and Haven for Refugees ‘ mission is to help those seeking safety from war by providing essential medical care, food, and supplies to restore hope and rebuild lives. Please find information on their website about how to help, and stay informed. I’d recommend watching Sara | BS on blast’s updates and look at the highlight on her page called “Sudan Resources” which highlights books, podcasts, articles and “Sudan Videos” which contains videos she has made since the beginning of the war which began years ago. Here is a list of other Sudanese accounts to follow for more crucial insights and boycott the UAE.

Slide 18.

Jamaica was just devastated by a category 5 hurricane. According to PBS, climate change is fueling this storm’s ferocity as “the warming of the world’s oceans caused by climate change helped double Hurricane Melissa’s wind speed in less than 24 hours” which is due to the burning of fossil fuels. Watch climate justice organizer Mikaela Loach’s video to understand why Melissa and Katrina which told a similar story over 20 years ago shouldn’t be classified as “natural” disasters. Check out The Noir Space’s post outlining the impact of the storm and how to provide aid. The government also set up a link to donate here.

Slide 19.

If you made it this far, thank you. I am grateful for this studio space in my Sunset Park apartment bedroom with postcards, stickers, posters, my vision board, etc. on the wall behind my desk. Books are on the shelf above and in stacks all over my room which has become a library in itself. I have to admit, I haven’t read every single one, as working in publishing makes it too easy to acquire countless stacks. According to BBC “tsundoku” is an untranslatable word from Japanese that describes the intention to read books that then becomes an eventual, accidental collection. There’s no negative connotation to this, instead this phenomena is seen as a charming quirk among book lovers and represents potential knowledge, and stories to be gained in the future. I’m especially proud of this photo as it features the monitor I set up which was on my floor for a year prior to a couple of months ago. Having two screens has been game changing as I do more research on online archives and lean more into the interdisciplinary aspects of my creative practice. This is where the above collection of moments, and media was gathered over the course of the past few months. I hope these vignettes sustain and motivate you, dear reader, in the months to come.

Slide 20.

What’s next? I’m not quite sure of the cadence of this series yet, but I’d like to take it slow and see what spirit calls me to say and share over a considerable period of time as I write my forthcoming book, make time for poetry, and work to meet future project goals. In the meantime, please check out my writing, events, and offerings on my website for and keep an eye on Instagram and this newsletter page for more. You can email me at kindall [dot] nicole [dot] gant [at] gmail.com if you want to connect or collaborate. I hope to grow this concept to typewriter poetry pop-ups, readings, and other community gatherings “in kind” and will share more soon <3

PS - Being kind and nice (at the expense of your well being and/or at the expense of being honest) are not the same. Truth and directness are kind. Mark Nichols has a video about the downside of being a direct person you can watch here. I’m holding the thought of getting to know people for yourselves close. Additional musings are forthcoming. Goodbye, for now, until we meet again.