Rhea Ramjohn - Life in Berlin

Dreads, Berlin & Culture Appropriation

So, I like to think of myself as a person who has seen and appreciated things that have originated from African Culture being

accepted, explored, and inspiring to people not of its descent. That's why I was pleasantly surprised by the numerous people in Berlin WITH dreads who I can only assume don't identify as being African, Black, Caribbean, or even Rastafarian. Again I can only ASSUME.

While in Florida I can probably count on my hands the amount of people that were not African, Black, Caribbean, or Rastafarian who wore dreads. I can dwindle that number to only account for my left hand if I take OUT the ones who wore them because they were "In-Style" or "Hipster.

There is an instant vibe in Berlin that makes you know people do things here because they genuinely appreciate it.  Dreads in Berlin are not exclusive to a counter-culture of out of control teens, ex-cons, ganja smokers, or thugs as the American Culture often associates it with.

 Identity here is very much associated by interest and not race. So I am not surprised to see a Turkish woman, an Asian man, and Dominican woman in an American inspired Hip-Hop Club like 2BE.  I don’t know if I have been here long enough to say everyone who does adorn the historically black hairstyle know its origins. But… I do think I have been here long enough to know the city is culturally awake enough to not attribute the hairstyle to Kylie Jenner.(no shade, kind of) Which is a very good attribute btw . Way to go Berlin !

Dreads in Berlin

Tonight I will post my little two cents on dreads in Berlin. Don't miss it!

Rhea Ramjohn

I have started my interviews for my Black in Berlin project!

I had a wonderful interview today with Rhea Ramjohn who is a creative writer in Berlin. She has a very diverse background which I believe contributes to her very informed, complete, and thoughtful answers on Black Culture. I wont give to much away about her history because I want you all to check out her website www.rhearamjohn.com and click on her about page. It also features her creative writing stories, photo gallery of places she has traveled, her blog, and poems. My personal favorite is her pictures from Jordan and her poem Jackie's Lament.  She is one of those people who you can talk to for hours and never run out of things to say. I will be featuring some clips from our interview on the blog periodically about topics like elections in America, white privilege, police brutality,  and the diversity of Berlin.

Pictures of Black faces around Berlin

Soda Club

I am just coming back from an amazing Afro and Latin American Club. Club Soda is a maze of rooms that featured different music styles. There were DJ's and bars in EVERY room giving a different atmosphere. It made me feel like I was hopping from country to country. There were rooms of Mambo, Kizomba, and Bachata, and Salsa. Every time we would leave one room we stumbled upon another with better music then before. My personal favorite was the Salsa

room. The dancers on the floor ranged from beginners to advance but all levels felt welcome. I was told I had noodle arms (nicely) and learned proper technique by the vibrant crowd of Latin music lovers. A last minute plan turned into an unforgettable night. I will be back again on Sunday to show everyone how I sharpened up my two step!

Christoph Niemann- Cover illustrator for The New Yorker, Times Magazine, and Wired.

We met the current May 2016 cover artist for The New Yorker Magazine.

Christoph Niemann hosted us at his studio for a Q&A on his career as a Illustrator. He is a highly sought out artist who is fortunate enough to have lots of top companies call him to do free lance work for them.

I asked him " Have you ever felt pressed to keep up with the evolving changes in the industry?" He spoke about keeping a healthy step above other colleagues literally and figuratively. He ran in the New York Marathon and live tweeted his sketches of the runners. Thinking outside the box and using the changes of journalism to his advantage has kept him on top.

He told us one of the most important thing for success is the trust you develop with your editors. He said that is a big part of being successful. Not taking on more than you can handle is apart of this track to trust. He said if you say Yes it means YES! No one remembers the part where you said you were low on time. They only know that you gave back mediocre work or late work. It is better for them to be disappointed by No then a bad Yes.

Signed book by Niemann

Christoph speaking to the group