Close your eyes. Dream of a place dedicated to a black community of artisans who make natural home goods, hand-crafted jewelry, non-toxic makeup, purifying skin care, nourishing hair care, magical tonics, and holistic elixirs – all with people of color and their health in mind.
Now open your eyes and see BLK+GRN. A site made just for you and your well-being, inside and out. This gem of a platform promotes holistic living and self-love by carefully curating the best in all-natural products from home to hair – all crafted by black artisans.
Created by Dr. Kristian Henderson, a Public Health Professor, and Yoga Instructor, meet the girl boss behind the first black-owned and operated online shop for high quality, ethically sourced, toxic-free products:
BlackDoctor.org (BDO): Describe the very moment when the idea came to you for the beautifully curated, natural and holistic e-commerce platform, BLK + GRN.
Dr. Kristian Henderson (DKH): I was tired of complaining about brands neglecting black women, so I decided to create a platform that promotes and supports black women and their brands. I was tired of using toxic products that were negatively impacting my health, so I created a way to easily find better healthier options. I was tired of just talking about the economic problems impacting black people, so I decided to find a way to circulate our dollars within our own community. I created what I felt was missing and that is how BLK + GRN was born.
BDO: Nice! What prompted you personally to create such a place?
DKH: There are two key movements that are currently happening in the United States: the buy black movement and the green movement. The buy black movement is an acknowledgment of tremendous buying power of the African American community and the realization that we can literally vote with our dollars. The idea that we can build our communities by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The green movement is a movement towards holistic health. It is the idea of removing toxic chemicals from our diets and products and instead using the power of plants and nature to heal and thrive. BLK + GRN was born out of these movements, allowing Black people to be conscious, politically and socially, with our consumption decisions.
BDO: Your shop includes high quality, ethically sourced, and toxic-free products, all made from Black artisans. Why are these particular products important to carry in your shop?
DKH: Of the products marketed to Black women, 75% are considered toxic. Health hazards linked to product ingredients in mainstream products marketing to Black people include cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental and reproductive damage. Moreover, mostmainstream products marketed to Black women were not created by Black women. BLK + GRN wants to change this trend, and instead feature high-quality all-natural products that are created for Black women.
BDO: With more stats and studies coming out about the odds stacked against black people every year, what’s your stance on health and wellness in Black communities today?
DKH: We know that health disparities are real, and even when we control for education, insurance status, and income Black people still have worst health outcomes than their white counterparts. There is an array of potential root causes – systematic racism, unconscious and conscious bias, and mistrust. If we do not change our behaviors, our life expectancy is only going to continue to shorten. I want to empower our communities to take control of our health and wellness, and BLK + GRN is the first step.
BDO: You often mention happiness in your professional work, what role does that play in living a healthy life?
DKH: Happiness is at the core of wellness. And declaring a commitment to creating a life of happiness is revolutionary. Learning to love my kinky curly hair challenged the self-hate that racism perpetuated. Letting go of a failing marriage challenged societal norms. Supporting, uplifting, and loving other women challenged patriarchy. Deciding to watch less television and read more books challenged popular media culture. Quitting my high-paying corporate job challenged capitalism.
Eliminating the need to acquire objects and putting more value on experiences challenged the essence of the American Dream. The steps I took towards being happier were revolutionary. Wellness isn’t just about what you eat, it is about how you feel. It is aboutloving yourself. It’s about taking care of yourself. At its core, it is about happiness.
BDO: What are some of the new things you see or hope to see, in the small yet growing Black wellness community?
DKH: Given the battles that our grandparents and parents have fought, the current generation has the opportunity to thrive and not just survive. Although we still have a long way to go to dismantle racism and inequality, we have made enough progress that has allowed Black people to begin to focus on wellness and happiness.
BDO: I know you’re a direct testament to what health and wellness can do for your life. However, what would you tell your 16-year-old self about holistic living and self-love?
DKH: Slow down. I have a tendency to move fast. I rarely procrastinate and I truly live by the words, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” But as I get older, I am learning the value of being present and slowing down. That stopping to read a book, or taking some time to myself is just as valuable as being productive.
You can find out more about Dr. Kristian Henderson and her company BLK+GRN at www.drkristianh.com | www.blkgrn.com.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.