What I’ve been into for the month of April

April, for me, was about realization.
Realizing the privileges I’ve had, the ones I haven’t, and seeing everything in a much sharper perspective. This month pushed me to stand up for myself more than I ever have, and that is both beautiful and exhausting.

Beautiful in the sense that I feel connected to the Black women who came before me, who endured far greater hardships than I ever will, and still managed to thrive. I walk through this world experiencing both racism and misogyny. Yet, I’m expected to show up, to stay poised, and to perform (exhausting).

Malcolm X once said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.”

While talking to a friend over dinner who was born and raised in Mumbai, she shared how deeply ingrained misogyny remains in India’s system. She spoke of child marriages, the beauty standards shaped by colorism, and how these issues manifest in the film industry and everyday work environments. Many women in her office, who handle “help” roles have darker skin, commute for hours, taking long bus rides just to get to work. Meanwhile, in New York, I rarely needed to ride the subway; I walked or Ubered everywhere. Even here, I easily book a car without hesitation. If I needed to leave, I could fly without thinking twice. That is privilege.

But back to standing up for myself, that’s something I’ll always do. I don’t care who I’m talking to, I demand respect, period. And that’s something I got from my dad.

When I was eight, weekend car rides with my dad were our thing. One day, we pulled into a Burger King drive-thru. I told my dad I wanted fries with extra ketchup. He repeated my order into the intercom: “Fries with extra ketchup.” The worker responded, “Does it look like we have ketchup?” My dad glanced at me and raised ane eyebrow. He stopped the car in the drive-thru, we got out, and walked to the counter holding my hand.

“I want whoever was on the mic to come to the front and apologize to me and my daughter,” he said—calm, but firm in a look that said “Do you know who I am?”. Not yelling, but loud enough that everyone could hear. It was a command for respect that left no room for doubt or question. A steady presence that made people stop and listen. That moment has stayed with me.

My dad always made sure I knew I was worthy of respect and protection. I was a princess in his eyes, and he treated me like one — knowing I could always call him if something went wrong. If you’ve seen The Irishman (2019), you know the scene where Robert De Niro’s character handles the man who shoved his daughter in the grocery store. That’s the energy I grew up with. Knowing that I could always call my dad if something went wrong.

April brought me back to that feeling, especially as I travel the world and work as a Black woman. It reminded me of my voice, my right to demand respect, and the strength I carry.

2006, My dad and I at my grandma’s southern restaurant

I went to Kurjat, India for a two-day farm vacation. I was in need of self-care, farm to table dining, and greenery.

Before my trip, I got cupping done. I’ve been getting cupping since I was 17, and acupuncture since I was 15. I really made cupping a ritual when I moved to New York; it was in Chinatown where I was able to find those cheap parlors where you could get it done for ten dollars. I like cupping because I oddly enjoy the pain of the suction, and it’s one of those treatments where my body responds in colors. Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s used to improve circulation, release muscle tension, and promote healing. I hadn’t had it done in a while, which led to the tension buildup and with that, darker circles.

Seabass curry (a pescatarian’s dream)

If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I’ve always valued crystals over diamonds. My most recent jewelry purchase was an amethyst crystal bangle, sourced from Zambia.

Historically worn by Egyptian pharaohs and European monarchs, Its deep violet hue has been linked to the crown chakra, symbolizing spiritual awareness, protection, and inner peace. Amethyst is prized for its grounding and known to bring clarity.

I got a mineral mud body mask, and I loved every second of it. They wrapped me in clear plastic, and I couldn’t stop laughing—I told the lady I felt like sushi being rolled in seaweed.

What I’ve been doing.

What I’ve been…

I’m reading Acid for the Children by Michael Balzary, aka Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'm halfway through, and it’s a raw, reflective, and beautiful memoir that captures how music gave him direction in the middle of instability, addiction, and all of the funk from the 60’s and 70’s that came before fame.

John Lee Hooker - Interview : 8/17/1991

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the legacy of blues music. Is it dead, or has it simply evolved to the point where its roots are harder to trace?

My playlist for the month is filled with 1960s vocal groups like The Falcons, The Dixie Cups, The Supremes, The Shirelles, The Shangri-Las, and The Clovers. I appreciate how groups stayed mononymous, simply starting with “The.”

There’s something special about the way male artists of the 50’s and 60’s sang about love, desire, and longing. They expressed vulnerability in a way that I haven’t heard since; yearning for romanticism that feels so pure, it made every word feel like a love letter. A kind of aching reverence in the way they sang about women, a tenderness and desire that’s often missing from today’s music.

Songs I’ve had on repeat is “Love Potion No. 9” by The Clovers and I Can Never Go Home Anymore by The Shangri-Las.

Fashion & People I’ve been loving.

Singer David Ruffin, with two lions, standing next to a black Rolls Royce. The photo was taken by Motown photographer Jim Britt around 1973.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

I grew up on David Ruffin and Miles Davis —man, bring back the ghetto hippies.

Colors for the month of April : bright orange, deep purples, musky green & velvet baby blue

I was named after Mýa, my parents just added the “A” for A'mya. Since 2013, Mya has been married to herself. On her decision to marry herself, she explained, "It was all about self-care and self-love.