ASHANTIGYAL

Been Black My Whole Life I’ve been Black my whole life I get followed when they see me in sight  Lock the doors and hold that purse tight  I’ve been Black my whole life It's a wallet not a gun or a knife  I may not live to see another night  I’ve been Black my whole life 10-15 years now I'm doing time? You know damn well I didn't commit a crime I’ve been Black my whole life I'm yelling Black lives matter until they do right   Just like Sofia, all my life I had to fight ‘Cause I’ve been Black my whole life  -Amira Mensah

*The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.                                              -Malcom X The anger I feel when I am disrespected seeps past this life time into another from generations ago. The sadness I feel is the sadness of not just my own. The pain I feel is the collective pain of us all. There hasn't been a time in this country's history when the disrespect of the Black women hasn't been justified by the stereotypical characteristics attributed to us. We are defined and named as attitude, criminal, promiscuous, and most frequently, angry. For years, nothing could be done. We could only endure as we were enslaved, raped, beaten, killed and insulted. In this time as we continue to fight for equality, it is hard to not be discouraged the moment we fall victim to disrespect and nothing is done. Society sits quietly while recognizing an injustice. We look around for the appropriate consequences to take effect or even just someone

                                                                Grandma’s Bungalow     An excerpt from my working memoir, “Memoirs of a Lost Ashanti Soul” My sanctuary is located in Kumasi at Mbrom. Grandma’s bungalow is refuge for my soul. The African bungalow where the family matriarch resides is a place many feel at home. There is not a place I have lived where I have felt at home other than grandma’s bungalow. There are few places we can go in this world where we feel a strong connection to our souls. For me, the overwhelming connection to my soul and this bungalow is a result of my first experiences with the things that bring our souls back to us. Here inside my home, I feel love. I learn about Ashanti traditions and customs. I hear stories of our ancestors. Mounted on the walls are photos of family and close friends of the family, both past and present. Descending from the ceilings are well wishes and greetings from prior visitors. The halls have a funny way of evoking

My poor roommate! I some how manipulated her into taking pictures of me last night so I could have a bomb birthday Instagram post. 124 photos later, I realized that I hated all of them. I know it sounds ridiculous but I began experiencing extreme anxiety about not having a  photo to post this morning. After thinking long and hard for a solution, I remembered that I have a photo of myself as a child that I absolutely love. In the photo you can see baby Ashantigyal sitting on a bench surrounded by plants with her eyes closed soaking in life. When I look back at that photo I see more than just a younger me. I see a child who was radiant, confident and hopeful. I see a little girl who had a clear path to  her dreams. As we grow older, we experience growing pains in many forms. For me, my growing pains came in the form of depression and self-doubt. If we are not careful, we can allow our growing pains to debilitate us.  This day in my 28th year of life, I am grateful that I can also

"And so I thought, everyone wants to know what's in my closet, so why don't I just share it with the world?" explains Amissa, Head Curator of Amissa's Closet. I was fortunate enough to discover Amissa's closet through their Instagram page, right before their official launch. The way Amissa connects Ghana fashion to the world, while promoting individuality is the reason why Amissa's Closet has become my new favorite online boutique.  The inspiration to start the brand came from her many visits back home. With each trip back from Ghana, an overweight suitcase full of custom made pieces is sure to follow. "I really enjoy the process of creating stand out items that aren't like everyone else's but rather made from my unique perspective" she passionately exclaims.  As the fashion authority, friends and family of Amissa seek her out for fashion related advice."I found myself advising my sister and relatives about which fabrics

                                            If you spotted me at Oracle Arena Sunday night, then you would've thought I've been a fan of Bad Bunny since the very start of his career. Truth is, I just found out who Bad Bunny is about two weeks ago. After I agreed to attend his concert with my girl Gena, I decided I should probably find out who he is. I took a break from my usual Instagram stalking and directed my energy to YouTube to study all things Bad Bunny. In the midst of my accelerated course, I learned my favorite verse on Cardi B's I Like It , is actually Bad Bunny. Turns out I've heard other songs he's been featured on such as, Te Bote and Dura.   If you have no idea who Bad Bunny is, it's okay, I got you! Bad Bunny is a Latin trap reggaeton artist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. His music is amazing! I cant speak to his lyricism as I am not fluent in Spanish. Okay, so I'm not even at novice level, meaning besides general greetings, no habl