what is Black & Bloom?

The year of 2020, the year this blog was founded, was undoubtedly a year of processing, adjusting, learning, and healing for me. With each headline on the news or post on my timeline, I was reminded of the pressing need to pour into and uplift my Black community, especially since the system and institutions currently in place tend to forget us. I heard the desperate and pleading cries of Black people across the nation. Amongst the chaos and cacophony of the world, I refused to be complicit and idle. I sought out a way to share my voice, but also to highlight the compelling voices of other student activists and community builders who have inspired me throughout my journey. Thus, Black & Bloom was born.

Black & Bloom strives to be a living, breathing reflection of the dynamic Black community of which I hold dear. Being Black is difficult in itself, so I feel that it is important to also acknowledge the plights of Black dark-skinned womxn, Black transgender womxn, Black queer womxn, Black non-binary individuals, Black incarcerated individuals, Black survivors of abuse, and Black folx with intellectual or physical disabilities in a society that refuses to see or respect them for these identities and more. Although I might not always be able to speak from the I perspective when discussing the intracacies of each of their experiences, I believe it is critical and long overdue to center their voices as well. Despite the ravaging roots of racism and bigotry in this country, the Black community continues to rise and blossom in spite of adversity. My community nourishes and uplifts each other in order to weather even the darkest storms. We have watered Mother Earth with our tears for centuries, but from its soil, our strong people continue to grow. My hope is that as you engage with each post, you will be reminded of the resilience, power, and ethereal nature that makes the Black community beautiful.

In conclusion, Black & Bloom fuses together my love for creation, God, and my people. Over the years, the blog has evolved and blossomed, like we all do. I want this blog to also be a tangible documentation of my own growth as an activist and ally, especially in regards to better understanding and lifting up those within our community who have been pushed into the shadows. This blog, like me, is imperfect, but it is my passion. I, too, am acknowledging my occasional blind spots and am challenging myself every day to push the boundaries of my own mind in order to truly think more intersectionally and radically in regards to change. With that being said, as my knowledge and passion continues to expand, I hope Black & Bloom will expand with it. On Sunday once a month (and yes, hold me accountable), this blog will feature new content relating to the complexities of the Black community and Black spirituality.

welcome to our beloved family.

about the founder:

Hi loves, my name is Shira! I am a proud DC native, Aries, woman of faith, plant mom, and avid reader. I graduated from Northwestern University in June of 2023, earning a B.A degree in Sociology, International Studies, and French. I looooove to travel, and I am currently living and teaching on a Fulbright fellowship in Paris, France. I also love to journal, thrift shop, hike, capture the beauty of the world through film photography, and hang out with my girls. I have also always loved to write, especially anything related to social justice, so I figured this could be the perfect place to spill out all of the thoughts and ideas that float through my mind.