Episode #28

Shanicia Boswell:

Black Moms Blog and Changing Perspectives

Creating a space within a space to positively replay black parenthood was the vision of today’s guest. Sara and Misasha get to chat with Shanicia Boswell about her unique perspectives as a black parent, and how there’s something for everyone on her popular blog.

Shanicia Boswell is a self-described serial entrepreneur, best known for her Black Moms Blog, where she talks about parenting, culture, and lifestyle from a black mom’s point of view. She also has a company called the Self Care Retreat, where she takes women to international retreat destinations to release, relax, and unwind. Shanicia is also an accomplished photographer.

“There are a lot of white mothers and mothers of any race, that stay in their bubble and have never had a conversation with a black mother. Hopefully, being on my platform, they can say, ‘Oh, this is just like me!’” ~ Shanicia Boswell

Show Highlights:

Shanicia shares the compelling reasons that prompted her to start her Black Moms Blog.
Black Moms Blog content is about 70% parenting issues, including subjects such as intimacy and self-care that are relevant for any race, and around 30% issues that are more race-specific, with topics such as black hair care, how to be a stronger woman, and maternal death rates for blacks.
Caucasian moms are also part of her community. They sometimes show up to meet-ups, and for various reasons: they might have mixed children, or may have adopted black children, and have questions when reading the blog articles.
Sara, Misasha, and Shanicia discuss relationships and how we connect with different races and sexes.
Having conversations can change perspectives, and changing it for one person at a time can have a domino effect and bring about change.
There’s a discrepancy between advertiser’s pay rates among white mom bloggers and black mom bloggers.
Shanicia imparts some ways she helps to create positive black experiences for her daughter, who is the only black student in her classroom.
Experiencing “Hair Day” with a white friend married to a black man with mixed children: get the food, snacks, and movies ready! Hair is such an important part of black culture.
Being labeled a single mother in any community typically carries a stigma, and even more so in the black community. Let’s dispel the myth of the single black mom. Shanicia suggests that “single woman” is a more positive narrative.
Residential Dad: Instagram’s Chronicles of Daddy has joined Black Moms Blog to speak on fatherhood!
Shanicia inspires us with her story behind becoming single and the hard work it took to successfully get back on her feet.
Self Care Retreat - you’re allowed to spend some time away from the kids to care for yourself. Without guilt!
Ways you can lead in love: great suggestions for a wonderful, yet often under-used attribute that women possess.