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What is colorism and how is it both similar to and What is colorism and how is it both similar to and different from racism? There will be some who deny its existence and others who acknowledge it, especially based on personal experience. Whatever your views, keep an open mind and swipe left to learn - because colorism IS real.⁣ ⁣ Racism is discrimination based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges white people. Colorism is the discrimination that occurs within a racial group based on the shade or tone of their skin (also known as #shadeism). See examples in slides.⁣ ⁣ Societies with persistent issues of colorism also have long histories of colonization. In the United States, colorism is traced back to slavery where enslavers often gave preferential treatment to enslaved people with lighter complexions. You may also be familiar with colorism in countries like India, which can be traced back to British colonial rule, where British officials consistently demeaned Indians with dark skin and gave Indians with light skin more access to jobs (I've personally observed colorism during several trips to India).⁣ ⁣ "Divide and conquer” is just one of many historically strategic tactics aiding the continual existence of white supremacy. When we don’t check it within our own own families, friend circles, and the Black community as a whole, we unintentionally contribute to the racism machine and its divisive by-products.⁣ ⁣ We must remember that Black Lives Matter is an intersectional movement. It isn't enough to just fight racism. We must fight colorism, bigotry, sexism, and all forms of oppression denying ANY Black person the social, economic, and political power to thrive.⁣ ⁣ Because #ALLblackLivesMatter.
Can this fruit help fight cancer? If so - why isn' Can this fruit help fight cancer? If so - why isn't enough research being done to prove it?⁣ ⁣ This prickly produce is called #soursop. Its flavor is reminiscent of pineapples, strawberries, and apples mashed together in one bite. Soursop is both tasty and advantageous to our health.⁣ ⁣ It's great for eye health, can treat infections, stabilizes blood pressure, and shows promise in fighting cancer. In cell studies, some of the compounds in soursop fruit have been shown to kill cancer cells. And yet, adequate research hasn't been conducted on soursop in cancer, despite these findings.⁣ ⁣ So why isn't this being taken seriously? Using food as medicine isn't profitable for the billion dollar pharmaceutical industry, therefor it doesn't receive the funding it deserves to explore the real possibilities plant-based nutrition presents for reversing diseases, including cancer. And THAT, my friends, is a damn shame.⁣ ⁣ 🌿 What are some holistic alternatives to traditional medicine that you would like to see researched more?
What does the word "modern" mean to you? The furth What does the word "modern" mean to you? The further I get on my sustainability journey, I realize some of what we think is a modern way of living does not necessarily mean it's a more advanced way of living - it's just usually more convenient. My mom is the OG of sustainable living and I didn't even know it until I visited her and my grandmother's home in India. Solar panels, composting, hanging clothes to dry, growing food, a giant well in the middle of her land, ride sharing to get around. At different stages of my life, I would have looked at this differently. As a kid I'd probably view it as old fashioned. As a young adult I probably would have exoticized it as some authentic local cultural Indian experience fascinatingly different from the West. Me now? I just see it for what it is. A sustainable way of living within the context of her geographic location. My mom, on the other hand, just calls it simple living. Sometimes she loves it. Sometimes she doesn't. No way of living is perfect, but I will say this: some "modern" conveniences we think help define us as an advanced society are actually holding us back from progression. Imagine if we looked at modernity differently. Not as a way to advance our societies through conveniences but as a way to advance our societies through sustainable ways of living. If modern inventions (like factory farms, gas cars, an influx of disposable products, etc) mean depleting the earth's resources and threatening the livlihoods of future generations, then there's nothing advanced about that and it suggests a need for governments and big corporations to start getting a lot more creative in the systems and products they present us with. No matter where you live, I challenge you to think about what modern living means to you and whether your vision of modernity makes space for a sustainable future 🙃 Share your thoughts!
Eco Swap Idea 03 💡Swap out toilet paper for a # Eco Swap Idea 03 💡Swap out toilet paper for a #bidet. Thanks India for teaching me this.⁣ ⁣ When I first traveled to India 10 years ago, I was in a wee bit of culture shock during my first public bathroom experience. In hindsight - it was nothing to be alarmed by. It was simply different from what I was accustomed to back home. There was a hole in the ground, a bucket and a hose. I squatted, did my business, sprayed down, wiggled around to air dry, and kept it moving.⁣ ⁣ Truth be told, it was brilliant. Besides the fact that squatting is the healthiest position to take a 💩, so is using water to cleanse your bottom and vag.⁣ ⁣ 🌱 Some benefits:⁣ ⁣ 1. CHEAPER: Investing in a bidet seat or bidet attachment can lower your spending on toilet paper by 75% or more.⁣ ⁣ 2. GREENER: You save an estimated 384 trees that are cut down to make ONE person's lifetime of toilet paper supply. A bidet also uses only 1/8 of a gallon of water, while it takes about 37 gallons of water to make ONE roll of toilet paper.⁣ ⁣ 3. HEALTHIER: Washing your butt with water helps remove more fecal bacteria. Toilet paper just smears it around.⁣ ⁣ 4. CLEANER: Bidets keep your hands more sanitized.⁣ ⁣ 💰 Bidet Pricing:⁣ ⁣ Bidets can vary in price depending on the brand and level of fanciness. I have two.⁣ ⁣ 1. One is a smart bidet from @biobidet that came with a heated toilet seat, a night light, warm water, and a wireless remote control. We paid $440 and keep this in our master bathroom.⁣ ⁣ 2. The other is a simple bidet attachment called Genie Bidet that gets the job done without all the extras for a fraction of the cost. We paid $45 and I keep it in my office bathroom.⁣ ⁣ Other budget brands to look into include @hellotushy, @brondell_inc, and @meetomigo.⁣ ⁣ 💦 How do you feel about bidets? Yay or nay?⁣ ⁣ Stay green y'all 💚⁣ #EcoSwapIdeas #SwapOutSwapIn
Being "Light Skinned" in America vs. Other Countri Being "Light Skinned" in America vs. Other Countries. The way I'm perceived changes depending on what country I'm in.⁣ ⁣ In America, my earliest memory of racial identity happened at age 5. I told a kid named Kevin I had a crush on him and he venomously responded:⁣ ⁣ "Ashley, you're Black and I'm White. I could never like you."⁣ ⁣ That moment set the tone for how I would identify throughout my childhood.⁣ ⁣ Black culture was all I knew growing up. It was where I felt accepted, what America viewed me as, and how I identified.⁣ ⁣ But when I began traveling globally, it seemed like nobody knew I was Black - making me hyper aware of #LightSkinPrivilege and my ability to pass through countries with less hassle than those with dark skin.⁣ ⁣ In brown (Asian) countries, people would blatantly trash talk Black people in front of me, not realizing I'm Black.⁣ ⁣ One lady spat, "My son lives in DC and I fear for his life. So many Black people live there."⁣ ⁣ She then saw my wedding ring and asked if I was married. I nodded and showed her a photo. She said, "But he's Black."⁣ ⁣ I smiled proudly. "So am I. My dad is Black, my mom is Indian. We love who we are."⁣ ⁣ I thought it'd be a teaching moment, but she continued her racist remarks. "Oh. That's why your hair is so wild. Because of your father. It looks hard to brush."⁣ ⁣ There are many times I heard: "Why'd you marry a Black guy?" Ironically, it always came from POC in brown countries. Some with skin as beautifully dark as my husband's.⁣ ⁣ Behold, the ongoing ramifications of worldwide colonialism and white supremacy.⁣ ⁣ Painfully, this includes India. Though I LOVE my Indian heritage, I can't ignore its deeply rooted issues with colorism or blatant racism my own Black father has endured from Indians. But I digress - that's a WHOLE other post with lots to unpack.⁣ ⁣ Some cultures have just not been exposed to the many shapes, shades, styles, vernaculars, and mixtures of Black folks and only go by what they see in the media.⁣ ⁣ What this proves is how much of a social construction race truly is. Colorism and racism are learned behaviors that differ across cultures.⁣ ⁣ Question is - what are you doing to UNlearn it?
You asked and I'm finally giving it! My India seri You asked and I'm finally giving it! My India series. So many of you followed my journey via my stories and now we can relive it together as I give those experiences a permanent home on my page.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ From ancient holistic health tips and my mom's savory Indian vegan recipes, to my continual frustrations with racism and colorism from the perspective of a Black and Indian woman, and more - I'm finally sharing some of my thoughts, experiences, and sustainability/health tips I absorbed during my time in #Kerala earlier this year.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ On Day 1, my mother picked my big sis @jasminepennamma and me up from the airport around 4am and we began the long trek to her residence. I wasn't prepared for how stunning it would be.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ She bought this home 7 years ago for my grandparents to gift them a delightfully peaceful haven to spend their final years. A lot of love went into this place which was apparent from our first glance.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you've ever seen the movie "The Secret Garden" that's what her home reminded me of - but a tropical version. Not only was her land covered in vibrant floral arrangements that she grew herself, but it will filled with homegrown FOOD. Spices, herbs, vegetables, fruit, and over 150 coconut trees! 🥥🌴⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ You can guess who inspired my own green thumb.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I couldn't believe my mom downplayed this little slice of heaven for 7 years whenever we inquired about it. But then again, for those of you who followed the IG stories - you saw how humble and genuwinely sweet she is. That's my mom. And this was my home for the next month.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ To be continued 💚 #BlackInKerala
I gotta emphasize this. There is no climate justic I gotta emphasize this. There is no climate justice without racial justice. A sustainable future must ultimately be accessible to EVERYONE.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I first learned about gentrification over a decade ago while working on the documentary @theatlantaway directed by @iamkingwilliams. We documented the displacement of low-income residents in Atlanta due to the influx of wealthier populations driving up the cost of living.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Years later, I developed a passion for environmentalism and sustainability - and began to notice the connections between green initiatives and the gentrification of once undesirable neighborhoods.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I'm an environmental advocate here to share ways to intersect individual action and systemic change in the health of our bodies, communities, and planet - and today I'm sharing a topic along those very lines.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ So SWIPE LEFT for a lesson in environmental and climate gentrification.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Have you noticed gentrification in your communities?
Save these colorful recipes! ALSO: How is blending Save these colorful recipes! ALSO: How is blending healthier, more eco-friendly and affordable than juicing?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🚫 WHY I REFUSE TO JUICE:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ HEALTH: Juice extracts the liquid from fruits and veggies, leaving all the fiber goodness behind. Fiber keeps ya regular, controls blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, and helps you stay full longer.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ SUSTAINABILITY: Between composting and regrowing food, I try REALLY hard to keep scraps out of landfills where food waste ends up producing a large amount of methane. Because of the juicing extraction process, a lot of perfectly good food gets wasted. Why trash it?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ AFFORDABILITY: It takes way more fruit and veggies to make a single glass of juice than it does to blend one smoothie. I care about my coins. The idea of spending all that money on produce just to chuck most of it out makes me cringe.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There is *one* significant benefit with juicing, though. If you have digestive issues, juicing may be easier to consume for those who have difficulties handling a lot of fiber at once.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 📝 INGREDIENTS FOR SMOOTHIES IN PHOTO:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🍓 Red Smoothie: 1 beet, 1 plum, some red cabbage, handful of strawberries, water⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🥒 Green Smoothie: 1 green apple, 1 celery stalk, 1/4 cucumber, handful of parsley, 1 lemon, 1 bunch of kale, water⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🥕 Orange Smoothie: 1-2 carrots, 2 oranges, 1 ginger root, tablespoon of turmeric, water⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Do you color coordinate your smoothies? Or is it just me?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ~Stay green y’all 💚~
This lil’ baby has come a long way (SWIPE 👈🏽 to see its growth over time) from its humble beginning as a piece of food scrap from my fridge. Time to harvest!⁣ ⁣ 👩🏽‍🌾 Initially I grew this scallion to a decent size simply by putting the roots in a glass of water on my windowsill and watching it regrow. After following the advice of @mint2grow, I transferred it to a pot of soil and observed it triple in size to get even more bang for my buck.⁣ ⁣ ✂️ To harvest these, I use scissors to trim about 75% of the green from the plant. This allows the green shoots to grow back in over the course of about two weeks.⁣ ⁣ 🌱 How is your food growing (or re-growing) going this season? Have you been able to harvest anything yet?⁣ ⁣ Stay green y'all 💚
Eco Swap Idea 02 💡Swap out plastic grocery prod Eco Swap Idea 02 💡Swap out plastic grocery produce bags for reusable ones.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🌱 When I first started using large reusable bags for my groceries, I completely forgot about small bags for my fruits and veggies! At first I'd try to just toss my apples, spinach bundles, oranges, etc into my cart, but naturally that made the checkout process less efficient. So I bought organic produce bags and problem solved. No more plastic for each bundle of fruits/veggies I buy and no more scattered fruits/veggies in my shopping cart.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 🌱 What do you use for your produce?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Stay green y'all 💚 #PlasticFreeJuly
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Ashley Renne

Live an adventurously green life

Tag: Christmas

Posted on 14 Feb 201624 Nov 2018
Cold and Cozy: 10 Romantic Winter Destinations in America

Blog, Destinations

Cold and Cozy: 10 Romantic Winter Destinations in America

Baby, it’s cold outside. Nothing says “I love you” like getting cozy with your sweetie in frosty weather, especially during the holidays. Last year, I spent Christmas cuddled up in one of the coldest, yet oh-so-romantic cities in America: Chicago, Illinois. Yes, I know just the mere thought of the infamously named Windy City sends

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Posted on 2 Dec 201414 Feb 2020
Travel Guide: Christmas in Chicago

Blog, Destinations, Travel Guides

Travel Guide: Christmas in Chicago

Chicago is one of my favorite American cities; even when winter is coming. Nicknamed the ‘Windy City’ for a reason, Chicago can dish out some pretty frosty weather, making even the local pigeons gather around fires just to keep warm. The famous Chicago River turns to ice. And the beloved Chicago Bean gets completely snow-capped.

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