Hi, Cinnamongirl family. Like you, we were devastated by the latest Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. Most people know that the case pitted Asian students against Black and brown students—but did you know that the plaintiffs were bankrolled by the same white activist who successfully gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965? Read on to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, affirmative action is not just about boosting numbers and percentages in a zero-sum game. It’s about redressing the lasting effects of centuries of racial inequity and injustice. And despite this setback, we know that our girls will continue to lead the way toward a more equitable and just society.

 

To our beloved Cinnamongirl family, the Travelgirl cohort would like to express a heartfelt 'arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you) to our wonderful donors, incredible parents, and our committed travel girl leads. This journey would not have been possible without any of you!

 

Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, was a great welcome to Japan. Our exploration of the Tsukiji Fish Market led us to traditional flavors of Japan, such as fried fish cakes, fresh tuna, and so much more. We stepped into a whole new world at the Team Labs immersive art experience, and dove into the past at the historic Kaminarimon Gate. A meeting with Motoko Rich at the New York Times office in Tokyo broadened our perspectives about journalism and the lives of women in Japan.

 

A day trip to Hakone offered us an entirely different perspective of this beautiful country.Our highlight was a visit to the Hakone Jinja shrine, where we deepened our understanding of Japanese religious practices. We embarked on a breathtaking boat ride to the base of Mount Fuji, culminating in a stunning aerial tram tour over the serene landscape. 

 

We had the privilege of meeting several Black Expats in Tokyo and Osaka, including Tia Haygood and Ayana Wyse, who shared their experiences and perspectives on Black lives in Japan. This was an important step on the journey to building global mindsets and really helped us Cinnamongirls imagine living a life outside of the states.

 

In Osaka we got hands-on experience at the Ramen Noodle Museum and were able to see Osaka Castle. In Kyoto, we engaged in insightful discussions with Dr. Fumiko Sakashita at Ritsumeikan University's Kinugasa Campus about the study of Blacks in Japan. We also immersed ourselves in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

 

At the heart of Cinnamongirl is our motto, "Girls Destined for Greatness." This sentiment resonated throughout our journey in Japan. Each experience, each cultural interaction, and every new understanding reflected this motto. It was not just about visiting a foreign land, but about expanding our horizons, understanding our global community, and appreciating the diversity of cultures that make up our world.

 

We Travelgirls are so grateful to everyone who supported us and helped us to see that the world is big, beautiful, and full of lessons for us. Here's to learning, growing, and journeying together!

 

With love and gratitude,

Travelgirl Abisola

 

 Register for the Online Information Meeting for 2023-2024!

 

Our next virtual recruitment information meeting will take place on THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM PT!

 

If you attended an earlier meeting and know which cohort you want to apply for, get those applications in! Returning Cinnamongirls can use the app to do a shortened version.

We have moved our summer book club to August and are lowering the price $125/adult and $50/youth to make this unique experience accessible to as many people as possible!

 

For four Sundays in August (8/6 - 8/27), read with your sister, aunty, mother, and/or bestie to discuss approximately 40 pages each week of Toni Morrison’s heart wrenching, transcendently lyrical novel, Sula. It is about friendship, sisterhood (all kinds), and motherhood. It is about the urge to belong and the drive to break with convention, and how (or if) we can reconcile the two.

If you have not had a chance to register, we hope this new price point and time will help! We want to make this series widely available so that it will be an engaging and enriching experience for all.

It’s the summer of The Little Mermaid! Take advantage of the last weeks of summer to read one of these wonderful books about Black and brown mermaids for all ages.

 

A Mermaid Girl by Sana Rafi, illustrated by Olivia Aserr

Heba is excited to wear her new, yellow burkini to the community pool for the first time, so she can be a sparkly mermaid girl. But when she arrives at the pool and her friends start asking her questions about her new special swimsuit, her burkini suddenly seems like a bad idea. Luckily, Mama helps Heba to find strength in the mermaid girls who came before her. (Ages 3 and up)

Looking for a Jumbie by Tracie Baptiste, illustrated by Amber Ren

New York Times bestselling author Tracie Baptiste and acclaimed illustrator Amber Ren take readers on a fun, creepy, storytime-ready romp through a forest filled with creatures from Caribbean folklore. Mama says jumbies exist only in stories. So Naya sets out on a nighttime adventure to find out for herself. (ages 3 and up) Look for Baptiste’s other Jumbie book series for slightly older readers, The Jumbies.

 

Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The book that inspired Apple TV’s series, Ghostwriter. City girl Maddy visits the bayou for the first time and falls in love: there are glimmering fireflies, a glorious landscape, and something else, deep within the water, that only she can see. Could it be a mermaid? As her grandmother shares wisdom about magical sayings and signs, Maddy realizes she may be the only sibling to carry on her family's legacy. (ages 8 and up)

 

A Comb of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow

Kelah’s mother’s death has left her shattered. So when she and her friend Lissy stumble across an ancient-looking comb in a coral cave on a Carribean beach, with all she’s already lost, Kela can’t help but bring home her very own found treasure. But deep in the cold ocean, the mermaid Ophidia can feel that her comb has been taken. And despite her hatred of all humans, her magic requires that she make a bargain: the comb in exchange for a wish. (ages 8 and up)

 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting literal demons from her past. These best friends are navigating the perils of high school’s junior year together when in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, Tavia lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment. Soon, nothing in Portland, Oregon is safe for Tavia or Effie. A captivating modern fantasy about Black sirens, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today's racism and sexism. (ages 12 and up)

 

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

Simidele can only recall life as Mami Wata—a mermaid—following the tides and laws of the gods. As Mami Wata, her duty is to collect the souls of those who die at sea and bless their journeys back home to the Supreme Creator. But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable—she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. Now she must brave untold terrors to save the world from the consequences of her crime. (ages 12 and up)

 

The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes Yetu is the historian for her people—the water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone but Yetu. But the memories are overwhelming her. So she flees to the surface to escape the burden of carrying them—and discovers the world her people left behind long ago. There, Yetu learns about her own past—and the future of her people. If they are to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are. (Written for adults)