Appreciation Post: The Bottom 🖤

I could write a host of appreciation posts for The Bottom. I was first introduced to this beautiful sanctuary and its manifold stories in the basement of the Marc Nelson Denim building. It was the middle of the pandemic, summer 2020. Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin introduced me to Zimbabwe, and we spent a couple mornings walking the streets of what used to be The Bottom neighborhood. In 2022, the East Knox community was able to commemorate these rich stories with an immersive tour through the neighborhood streets. I had the honor of documenting this unforgettable experience with photos.

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The Bottom has established its own presence on Magnolia Avenue… a Black-owned bookstore, thoughtfully stocked with emerging authors and classic Black writers alike. Beyond that, they provide so many free resources to the local community, including a professional-grade podcasting studio, a growing ceramics studio, and Black Creatives Meet-Ups.

From sewing to photography to writing, Black Creatives Meet-Ups bring people together to learn, fellowship, and heal through art. This past weekend, I got to lead a Story Weaving workshop at The Bottom. Through reflection and creative storytelling, each person in the workshop shared about the individuals whose stories are woven into theirs, as well as highlighting some of the gifts inherited from them.

I don’t feel like I have adequate words to express my thankfulness to The Bottom for making this space possible. Thank you for trusting me with this idea. Thanks to the friends who came out to support me. Thanks to everyone who brought their stories to share in our circle.

photo credit: Ty Murray

All of us have stories living inside of us. Those stories are connected to those who came before us and those who live amongst us. My own process of recording and preserving family stories has included writing, ceramics, photography, and embroidery. And that’s just the beginning! I look forward to experimenting with more media. If you have been wanting to honor your stories in some type of tangible way, I encourage you to try something new. Here’s to helping you get going.

Heads up: the next Black Creatives Meet-Up is this Wednesday (3/20) with international artist, Genesis the Greykid. He is hosting a poetry workshop in tandem with an increeeedible exhibition curated by Kreneshia Whiteside-McGee. Go check it out: “Y’all Don’t Hear Me: The Black Appalachia: Ode to Nikki,” on display at UT Downtown Gallery (106 S Gay St) until April 6th, 2024 (Sponsored by Dogwood Arts 💖 in collaboration with UT Downtown Gallery and Big Ears Festival). The Bottom is also participating in a Performance Night, curated by LaKesha Lee, at Dogwood Arts on First Friday, 4/5. You do not want to miss it.

Note: while Black Creatives Meet-Ups specifically center the Black community, they are open to all.

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Want to support The Bottom?

• Buy books

• Donate to support their programs

• Show up! Attend events and invite your friends

A Year Since...

It’s been one full year since I got to share this listening space with the city of Knoxville (literally right before the world shut down). In the days since, the need to listen and learn and love our neighbors hasn’t gone away (surprise).

“How Did We Get Here?” was a collective storytelling endeavor to bring attention to the varied experiences of immigrants, refugees, and international people living in the U.S. If you haven’t had a chance to hear some of the stories, they are all on my website here. (Each story is about three minutes long. Please go and have a listen!)

I share this, not to rest on old laurels, but to invite you (yep, you!) to come and learn with me. Over the past year, I have continued searching for and subscribing to additional resources that elevate immigrant, refugee, and international voices in American society and around the world—all with the driving hope to become a better ally and friend to those who experience the joys and triumphs and struggles and losses of making a life in a new country. Getting out of my own head and seeing from someone else’s perspective allows me to love and understand others more deeply and motivates me to join with them in pursuit of liberation.

Me & my sweet cuz, who drove down to see the show

Me and my friend, Marcia, who shared her story

Of course, relationships are by far the most enriching settings in which to learn a new perspective (hello, you gain a friend and get to be a friend!), but only if we are willing to listen.

In relationships, there are danger zones… if you’re not clear on what (true) friendship looks like, you might run the risk of treating a person like a textbook on the [insert culture] experience; only taking interest in them when you have a race question (Lord, help); or viewing them as a spokesperson for their entire race. In order to gain a more comprehensive view of the varied experiences within a community without exhausting the community, I highly suggest evaluating your sources of news, literature, music, etc. and diversifying them.

In this process of learning, I have found writers and organizations that are doing amazing work to embolden and equip people to share their stories. I have learned that I don’t necessarily have to align with 100% of a platform to learn something about the issues that immigrants face in the U.S. (Truly, if we have to agree on every single thing that someone else says, we will miss out on a lot).

So on this one year anniversary of “How Did We Get Here?”, I want to share a few resources that uplift immigrant, refugee, and international voices with you. Some of these resources focus on the effects of colonization in African or Central American countries, others shine a light on the immigrant experience in the United States. This is not a comprehensive list by any stretch of the imagination… just a few of my favorites. Also, I am still learning and constantly discovering, so if you have additional resources to share, please do!

Online Resources

The New York Times - “What Does Independence Look Like? Images From the Year of Africa”

United We Dream - Undocumented Under COVID

The Frontline

UndocuBlack

Books

Americanah - by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Hermanas - by Natalia Kohn Rivera, Noemi Vega Quiñones, and Kristy Garza Robinson

The Book of Unknown Americans - by Cristina Henríquez

Local

AKIN - Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors

Bridge Refugee Services

UTK Students for Migrant Justice

Bridges International

Until Black and Brown people are no longer criminalized for their skin color 🖤

Lily | Headshots

I love getting to do my thing while helping my friends do their thing! Lily is a counselor educator who just finished defending her PhD proposal (whoop whoop!). On top of being super talented and brilliant, she is just a good human, and I’m grateful to call her friend! Go read all about what she does on her site, and while you’re there, think about the school counselors you know and send them her way!

Quarantine Meals | Thai Spaghetti

This food photography project started as a way to stay productive in early quarantine, and then life started back up again. However, seeing as how quarantine is an on again, off again practice these days, I figured I might as well keep posting. I made this recipe from Half Baked Harvest’s cookbook and had to photograph it, because look…

The COLORS !!!

My version is slightly adapted from Half Baked Harvest’s Thai Basil Beef recipe, so I’m calling it Sweet & Spicy Thai Spaghetti. I used cashews—because I don’t like peanuts—added some Sichuan peppercorns—because I love using my mortar and pestle—and added sweet onions and red peppers—because I’m my momma’s child. Once again, I did not create this recipe, but here’s how I adapted it:

Sesame oil

1lb. of ground beef

1/2 sweet onion

1 red bell pepper, sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 T roughly chopped ginger - I like mine in bigger chunks

Add sesame oil to skillet and cook beef and onion together over medium high heat. Drain beef, if desired. Add bell pepper, garlic, and ginger.

Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil. Remove from heat and add 1/2 a package of rice noodles (approx. 8oz). Let sit for 10 minutes or until soft and strain.

Add 1/4 cup of soy sauce, 1/2 cup of sweet Thai chili sauce, and 1/2 cup water to the meat concoction. (Tip: buy the chili sauce with the label that’s not in English. Most likely, there will be fewer added syrups and more authentic flavor!) Add the juice of two limes. This is where the magic happens. Let it simmer a while.

Next, chop a healthy handful of fresh basil leaves and add to the mix. Remove the skillet from the heat.

A nutty, crunchy topping is the finishing touch for this dish. It may seem random, but take my advice and don’t skip it!

A handful of cashews (approx. 1/2 cup)

Sea salt

Ground Sichuan peppercorns

4 mini sweet peppers, cut into small bits

Juice of 1 lime

Step 1: Go visit your local Asian market and get some Sichuan peppercorns. I bought these for another recipe and loved the smoky flavor. I also think it added a nice spice since I used sweet peppers instead of a Fresno pepper. Grind the peppercorns, crush the cashews, and combine with sea salt, peppers, and lime juice.

Additional toppings:

Matchstick carrots (y’all, I only had baby carrots, so I used a peeler and sliced them)

Sliced green onion

Sprinkle all your toppings over the noodles and meat sauce and EAT UP!

Quarantine Meals | Flatbread Pizza

Submitted by Jules in LA

Ok, so “pizza with spicy honey” was the actual submission; however, I didn’t have any spicy honey and my quick mixture of sriracha, apple cider vinegar, and honey turned to gum in a matter of minutes after boiling. I would suggest getting some Mike’s Hot Honey, if you’re looking for the real pepper-infused honey.

Pesto Pizza with Tomato, Spinach, and Sausage

Ingredients (in order of addition):

1 pre-made flatbread

Enough pesto to cover the entire crust (approx. two Tb)

1 Tablespoon of marinara (optional)

1/4 cup cooked pork sausage

Handful of spinach

Shredded mozzarella cheese

1 sliced roma tomato

Freshly grated parmesan cheese

The next creation is a sweet & savory take on pizza: Carmelized Onion & Bacon with Brie

Ingredients:

1 pre-made flatbread

Carmelized onion - sauté 1/4 of a vidalia onion in olive oil

Candied bacon bits - Cut one slice of uncooked bacon into bits. Fry in a skillet with a good pinch of brown sugar (I added a slice of ham as well.)

About 10 slices of brie cheese

Healthy handful of arugula - It will “crispify” in the oven, so you might want to add after baking :)

Drizzle of honey

Bake on 400 degrees for 8-10min, checking frequently.

To complete the meal, use your leftover spinach and arugula to make a side salad. Enjoy!

Quarantine Meals | 01

Name: Jalynn

City of Quarantine: Knoxville, TN

Quarantine Meals:

BREAKFAST - zucchini bread

I've been eating this zucchini bread since I was little. It's super easy to make, and I got the recipe from my mom, so basically it's the best. Tip: Use a blender to chop zucchini and blend the rest of the ingredients for the smoothest batter and easiest cleanup.

Blend wet ingredients:

2 cups chopped zucchini

1 cup canola oil

3 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

1 1/2 teaspoon orange extract

Then, add dry ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (pictured: Penzey’s)

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (couple shakes)

Spray loaf pans with oil and bake on 350 for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

LUNCH - pasta primavera

"If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?" Hands down, my answer is always zucchini. It’s such a versatile ingredient! These veggies got a quick sauté in olive oil and pesto, and they tasted delicious.

1 box of pasta of your choice - I used penne

2 small zucchinis

1 yellow squash

heirloom tomatoes

chopped carrots

1/2 sweet onion

handful of fresh spinach

as much garlic as you can handle

Don’t worry, I’m not usually a day drinker. This project is about practice, and practice requires proppage. That being said, no wine was wasted.

DINNER - a brownie and ice cream

It’s fine, this only happened like twice. Tell me I’m not alone?

A few nights ago, I opened a box of brownie mix and realized I was out of canola oil. I found some ghee (clarified butter) in my cabinet and did a quick Google search to verify the substitution. This is now my new favorite way to make a brownie. It was so. good. Topped with a scoop of Magnum White Chocolate Ice Cream (chunks of white chocolate in every bite!) and a super easy ganache (chocolate chips and cream).

Box of brownie mix

Substitute canola oil with ghee - use same amount

Add nuts if desired

A scoop of ice cream

What are your quarantine meals? Send them to me, and I’ll make them to add to the photo series!

Sarah + Coleman | Engagement

The amount of laughing and FUN had on this shoot was ridiculous! Love watching these two together.

Nathan + Laura | Engagement

Dancing in the fields + dancing in the streets = pure gold.

feeling small

In reflecting on this past year with my family, I chose the word “humbled” to summarize all that has happened in me in 2019. And mind you, humbled is much different than humble.

I hadn’t realized just how tiny my view of God was. I wasn’t aware that I have been harboring a disbelief in God’s ability (and moreover, his desire) to save the world. Why did he make two trees in the garden, if he knew he would have to come back as the hero to rescue everyone? Why does he let pain persist for so long? Like many others I am sure, I have had these questions for years and never dared to ask them. We don’t talk about doubt amongst church people very much, but I have doubted to the point of frustration and anger. When hurt and hatred and suffering in the world seem insurmountable, it’s hard to see God as good and powerful.

In the moments after avoiding and questioning God, he has sung so sweetly to me. Sometimes it's only a whispered song. "I am waiting for you. I’m here when you’re ready to talk. I never left. I am able to hold judgment and mercy equally and perfectly. When your heart breaks for the world, mine breaks even more. You may not get me completely, but you have to trust me." Moses' request to see God's glory in Exodus 33 truly resonates with me.

"'Please show me your ways that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight.' . . . And he [the Lord] said, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The Lord.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.' And the Lord said, 'Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.'"

All I have to say to you is this: God is real. And I don’t like everything he chooses to do, but he is good. When I traveled to see the other side of the United States and the world, he was there with his people, and he was in control. He showed up in ways that my mind could not comprehend, providing shelter and protection and comfort and salvation and love for people all over the world.

So in commemoration of the lessons God has been teaching me in 2019, here is a random collection of travel photos with people being small.

"How Did We Get Here?" Stories

Story is a powerful thing—moving those who hear to laughter, tears, and deeper thought. I am so honored that each individual who shared in this project was willing to invite me and others into their story. It’s really easy to use stories for entertainment or for a quick feel-good moment... but let us be moved into action. To truly love, you cannot hoard privilege. We can all find ways to share what we have with those who have not. We can each find ways to love our neighbors every day by hearing them out before jumping to judge and assume.

See Gallery Story Transcripts here

Benito

Deeksha

Eddy

Edy

Marcia

Kadoma, ZIMBABWE (The Answer Is Within) | Travel

Going to Zimbabwe for 10 days validated a truth for me: Africa doesn’t need America (or any foreign source of saviors for that matter). I feel so blessed to have seen with my own eyes the inherent skill, leadership, and camaraderie that exists within their country.

Lasting Impressions leadership camp activities

But after the trip, I am equally aware that the long term impact of trips like mine often rests not in the painted walls or loved-on babies that teams leave behind, but instead in the hearts and lives of the team-members going forward. Don’t get me wrong, I know God uses the prayers and time spent to uplift and benefit the people we encounter as well; I just don’t flatter myself that it’s essential for me to go. It is a privilege to travel into a person’s life for one day or week, share and learn about them, and then fly back to my comfy home.

Why do I get to do that? It feels unfair. Learning and connecting through travel is something I love, and I believe being engaged in missional work is important because Jesus commanded it. Still, it leaves me with so many questions as to how we go about it.

The cities that we visited in Zimbabwe (Harare, Kadoma, and Chegutu) showed me a world of beauty unlike anything I have ever seen. Just like any culture, they have been enriched by the sharing of ideas between other cultures; but what I saw so vividly in the eyes of these children is that the answer is within.

I love looking at this picture. I think it’s my favorite one from the whole trip.

While we were there, we didn’t necessarily “do” a list of good, but we surely saw it. I got to see the most beautiful examples of leadership being cultivated within the community. We as Americans may think of missions and foreign teams as doing the good, but that is not the case. The real work is done by the people every day.

An early childhood development teacher at Jairos Jiri, a school for blind children

Zimbabwean men and women, white and black, are raising up the next generation to problem solve in resourceful and effective ways, engaging their collective minds in teamwork and racial reconciliation, and boldly facing challenges head on. I have so much respect for them!

Lasting Impressions camp owner/mentor/speaker extraordinaire

Preschoolers with a Lasting Impressions camp leader

In thinking about the impact of my trip in particular, a few questions have been rolling around in my head. I don’t have the answers, and I don’t know that there are hard fast answers for any situation. One question I have been asking is this: How can we as outsiders partner with local organizations in third world countries so that our relationship builds them up from within (supporting its existing teachers and leaders) rather than building up ourselves? That question was not fully formed before I went, but it was the root of why I knew God told me to go on this trip. My team’s goal was to focus on asking God how he wants us to partner in the work he is doing, and that is the question we are still evaluating now that we are back.

God commanded every single one of his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations,” so if you’re a Christian, we are all called in that sense to be engaged in missions. But what does it look like? Sitting and sharing a meal with your next door neighbor from Saudi Arabia? Traveling and forming friendships with people from around the globe? Adopting an orphaned child in your own city? All of these could be valid options. The cool thing is, God has been reminding me that he will help me know what my part is in all of this is. It’s really not about us. It’s all about what he is doing. I’m glad we humans get to be a part of such a grand story.

Food for thought for myself and any other follower of Jesus: When you see people in need of Jesus, but you don’t know what your role is, ask God. Don’t shy away from travel or international adoption, if he tells you to go, and don’t force it if his answer is no.

Loren | Senior

She knows how to bring her own sunshine wherever she goes.

Sitka Dreams | Travel

I learned to embrace the rain; and when the clouds finally made room for the sun to show itself, I danced in all its glory.

Kari + Chris | Engagement

Alas, an ode to summer in the middle of winter! These two were truly themselves together, and that is my favorite type of client. No pretense, no requests to change anything about them. They were just… them. That’s where the beauty lies, friends.

Thanks for trusting me with your engagement photos, Kari and Chris!

Marcia + Jack | Engagement

"Completely and perfectly and incandescently happy," they are. It is truly beautiful to watch Jack and Marcia's love for one another unfold. Through thick and thin, they are together. Words, words, words... just look at these pics for proof. 

Marcia is a grad student studying plant and animal sciences, and Jack is a pilot. I love that we got to bring a little bit of both worlds together here! 

Antonio (Spectrum 03) | Portraits

Never mind that these portraits were taken in December. (I said I was behind, right?) This is a judgment-free zone.

Due to recent events in our world, I've been freshly reminded that a few achieved milestones in the fight for equality do not equal constant progress. Sometimes we take a few steps back. We are humans. We will mess up. There is grace for that! Still, my frustrations with the current state of the world and how it is possible to still be calling people "apes" and penalizing people for standing up (aka kneeling) to a prejudiced system compel me to action. If you’re looking for a mantra, here’s a good one: I am not the standard. There are other ways of doing life, and they are just as valid and significant as my way. 

Listen to those that are different from you and choose love. Learning to appreciate and respect another way of thinking is half the battle, friends. Take time to listen to the stories of others--whether at the grocery store, in your neighborhood, or on "the other side of town." This is Antonio's story: 

"I grew up in a [predominantly] Caucasian town. My best friend was biracial as well (black/white). It was crazy to grow up around people that had no exposure to culture, especially as a pre-teen and teenager. 

Raised by my white grandmother, I was always different in the household. I always embraced my culture but because I wasn’t raised around it, I didn’t know a lot of things about it. The town made it so hard for me to be cultured because they were afraid of it.

People are afraid of what they don’t know.

The people that I met when I moved to a more diverse town helped me to really embrace who I was. They have helped mold me into the man I am today. There have been pastors, father figures, mentors that I have been blessed enough to look up to! Because of them, I no longer feel out of place but exactly placed in this world! 

The program I am furthering my education in is school counseling. The reason I wanted to do this is because I want to make sure that the youth of our generation or the next don't grow up without anyone. I know that during my childhood as a youth, I didn’t have anyone to talk to or go to that would talk me through these things. I now believe that is my calling in life. My hope is to give back and to help youth to not go through the same mistakes I went through." 

Spring Recap, pt.1

This season is running away from me quickly, so here is a "latergram" post in honor of all the big things that have happened this spring.

First up, 2018 grads! Congrats to Ian and McKenzie for working hard to complete a major chapter of your lives!

Finishing college was one of the biggest accomplishments in my own life, and it really is a moment to capture. To be honest, I still wish I had taken senior photos. Needless to say, it's an honor to mark this life stage for friends. Happy adulting, McKenzie!

Coming up soon: celebrating friends with babies and businesses, engaged friends, and married friends. What a happy, crazy season!

Ashley (Spectrum 02) | Portraits

Being a minority has made me stronger. My wounds run deep and as of a year ago, starting to heal. I never talked about my racial issues or the attacks I’ve received with anyone really until I moved to Knoxville. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling was valid, or if I even had the words for it. All I knew was anger, confusion, and shame. I mean, my family being from Uganda, born in America, going to a predominantly white school, having mostly white friends... Not African enough, not black enough and obviously not white enough.

Now because of my social character, making friends wasn’t hard, but fitting in was. I mean FULLY fitting in. Lovey in crowded room, but never really FULLY expressing myself. I think I got “the race talk” in second grade. I found myself doing extra to make someone feel comfortable. However the more I buried my hurts and my wounds, the harder it became. I LOVED my friends, but I didn’t know how to tell my white friends how I felt; they don’t know the struggles. Not that I’d wish it upon anyone... now I see God loves my skin, and doesn’t need me to “be black” when it’s convenient or live under the labels that make people feel good. He will fight for ALL people.

The labels that have caused some type of disadvantage are: I am a first generation African American, a child of divorce, single, a woman who is now living in the south, so I’m decently low on the scale of what culture would call #winning. The way this country was set up, I’m not supposed to make it; but Christ beat death for me, therefore I win too. So I wear my disadvantages proudly, so people can see how big my God is and watch Him show up. No, I don't always wake up with this mood, but once I believe in this truth, there’s no stopping me.

Year in Review | Travel Edition

One month is already in the books for 2018; meanwhile, I'm still chipping away at Operation Portfolio. Don't mind me, I'll finish by December. Flipping through my travel images from the past year, I was drawn to the interaction between people and plants. Our relationship has been intertwined from the very beginning--cultivation, sustenance, responsibility... It's intriguing and sometimes scary to watch the interactions develop (Hurricane Harvey, et al.). Here's to appreciating the earth's beauty and taking care of her. 

More travel images here. 

McKenzie (Spectrum 01) | Portraits

I love seeing people in their most pure and honest form—apart from the filters of media characterizations and stereotypes. When I look, I see fearlessness in one's gaze, serenity in another's smile, years of stories bundled in a laugh... all this richness in an individual's experience is hard to discover if we don't first choose to really see them with unfiltered eyes. 

We live in a world where expectations for your race are pinned onto your diaper as an infant and drilled into your head as you grow. In these expectations are rules for what you can and can't do, how you can talk, how loud you should be, what music you should listen to... as a _____ (fill in the blank with your race) man or woman. But people's stories go beyond these parameters. 

I've been thinking about the experience of being a minority in America and all the different stories that exist within that experience. We stand out in a crowd, which ironically can be an incredibly invisible feeling. Are the people I am encountering really seeing me? Or, do they see the black girl I'm "supposed" to be? 

“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” MLK Jr.

Now, thanks to Martin Luther King, Jr. and men and women like him who fought and prayed hard for their dreams, my sufferings are minuscule compared to the experiences of the 1950s and 60s. But we all know there’s still work to be done. 

I asked some friends, with whom I share the minority experience, Tell me what shaped you. What has your experience been like? No expectations, just questions. 

This is my friend, McKenzie, and this is a little snippet of who she is: 

Defining parts of my childhood include "becoming a Christian for sure. . .  just being around people who loved God really helped me understood who I was as a Christian. 

A really close friend I had who God allowed to grow up with me through my teenage years [really impacted me]. We shared everything together, and that was really a blessing because I really got to know myself because of her. I learned that thinking deeply and having really analytical thoughts wasn't weird. I had a friend to share my thoughts with!

My parents and siblings have ALWAYS been there to support me. I just think I learned what love is and how to love from my immediate family."

Thank you for taking part in the Spectrum portrait series, McKenzie.

More stories to come.