Y’all ready for some free, Black mermaid merch?
Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” has finally sailed into theaters, giving us a reason to celebrate the importance of Black representation in the fantasy genre. So our friends at Sunny & Ted hooked our subscribers up with two ways to catch a deal on their new Merfolk Collection, which include heirloom-quality plates, cups, a mug and a blanket decorated with Black and brown merpeople showing off various hairstyles, like bantu knots, afros and headwraps.
Grab this $139 value collection for free by filling out our giveaway form, or you can use the code BLACKJOY20 on Sunny & Ted’s website to get 20 percent off your purchase. The offer is good through the end of the year! Our giveaway winner will be announced on Instagram on June 2 at noon eastern time. Sunny & Ted founder Jasmin Williams started the merfolk line as a way to embrace her Black hair journey. Sis is phenomenal at creating items memorializing our culture, especially when it comes to Christmas. So while you’re shopping, consider signing up for Sunny & Ted’s newsletter at the bottom of their site.
Now wade your way on over to your friends and fam and share this newsletter with them. We’re diving into the Black mermaid culture that’s reminding us that we were always “part of that world” – cause our history literally says so.
– Starr
A kickback under the sea: Who’s all over there?
“As fat people, we get taught to cover up, to hide, to be quiet, all this stuff. And it’s like, Nah,” Monique said. “There are millions of fat people today. And today, I feel like they’re worthy of celebration even if they do want to change themselves later.”
Grab your color fins, ethereal crowns and even a shiny trident if that suits you. It’s time to ditch our land-dwelling lives and transform ourselves into ethereal mermaids. It doesn’t matter if you’re chilling on the oceanside, riverside or poolside, we’re encouraging you to get outside this summer. But instead of just getting out of your house to touch some grass, we’re submerging ourselves into the beauty of the water as we welcome you to our own imaginary kickback under the sea.
We promise you won’t be alone down there. There are folks who’ve made their whole career being professional mermaids and mermen, which is a half a billion dollar industry according to the new Netflix docuseries “MerPeople.” Listen, I’ve already turned on the waterworks many times thinking about the Black kids who will be in awe while watching a Black Ariel frolic around with other sea creatures – a gift I and many others didn’t experience until now. To learn that a thriving merfolk community actually exists in real life? I’m in awe!
It’s more than just playing dress up. This is about encouraging the Black imagination in a way that embraces playfulness and creativity. So I reached out to a couple of Black mermaids who are doing dope things for the culture. A few of them are actually featured in the “MerPeople” flick!
Head to our site to read about the fabulous Blixunami, Society of Fat Mermaid founder Chè Monique and Black MerMay Day Founder Anita Riggs. Wanna see the mermaids in action? Check out our video created by Reckon sis Kavolshaia Howze.
So, you wanna be a mermaid?
Arikah Nash is the founder of the Mer-Cademy in Nashville, Tenn.
Have you ever thought about becoming a professional mermaid? Doing a little bit of a throwback by giving a shout out to Shakira Baly, known by the “mersona” (get it? Mermaid and persona?) Arikah Nash. I interviewed her back in June 2022 to talk about the Mer-Cademy in Nashville, Tenn. It may be a landlocked area, but that doesn’t stop Arikah from teaching the next wave of Black aquatic entertainers. She also can help land dwellers take charge of their mental health through aquatics therapy.
Read Arikah’s story of how she became the Black mermaid her daughter deserved on our site.
Just keep swimming in the current of Black joy this weekend and beyond! See ya next time!