For so long, Black motherhood has been depicted as a laborious effort rather than a majestic experience. Two Black mothers, who also happen to be entertainment industry titans, have created a platform that flips that depiction while cultivating a safe space for Black mothers to revel in.

Model and actress Tika Sumpter joined forces with Laugh Out Loud Network’s EVP Thai Randolph to create Sugaberry and The Suga podcast. The two spoke with Blavity about their mission and platform.

Sugaberry.com and The Suga officially launched on March 22, only days after Los Angeles issued its “Safer at home” order. Now more than ever, moms may especially find themselves yearning for community while under social distancing orders. The Nobody’s Fool star said she hopes that both avenues offer a sense of community, which is well-needed during isolation.

“The purpose of Sugaberry is to engage and celebrate modern brown and Black moms. We want this group of women to be at the center of important and fun conversations. Our mission is to always indulge our Sugaberry communities with every interaction. We want the sisterhood to feel cared for with viable resources,” Sumpter said.

“Sugaberry provides a space for modern brown and Black moms to cultivate community as well as expert product recommendations and meaningful content in the form of editorial on Sugaberry.com and our podcast, 'The Suga,'” she said further.

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Celebrating the joys of sisterhood also means looking out for one another, especially when it comes to your mental health. We’re joined by @doctor.imani (Bravo’s Married to Medicine) to help us unpack the stigmas associated with seeking help and ways we can get our minds right. Click the link in bio to listen! ????

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Throughout history, there have been countless examples of white supremacist and capitalist systems exploiting Black mothers. A new book revealed how the formula and medical industries collaborated in sabotaging new Black mothers by coercing them into relying on baby formula rather than breastfeeding, as Blavity previously reported. More recently, a CDC investigation uncovered that Black women are 300% more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. These kinds of stories and statistics that seek to bring awareness to Black motherhood are informational but uninspiring. One of the major differences in the intention behind the content provided by Sugaberry and The Suga is an emphasis on amplifying the lightness and joy that reflects motherhood and the culture at large.

“Sugaberry is one of the few brands dedicated to celebrating Black moms. For so long Black motherhood has been depicted as a state to be endured vs. a journey to be enjoyed,” said Randolph. “Yes, we are strong and enduring, but we are also sweet, joyful, triumphant and deserving of care. One of our key points of difference is our focus on the sweetness and commitment to creating a safe and indulgent platform that caters to Black moms.”

Additionally, their platform operates in a space that understands that Black moms aren't a monolith. The Suga and Sugaberry feature “perspectives and experiences from and for modern moms of color.” Sumpter and Randolph are especially excited about having nuanced or taboo conversations not often openly discussed within communities of color, but that should be.

“Across platforms, we’re engaged in meaningful, nuanced and often, new conversations. From egg freezing and IVF to mental health and sex in your 60s, we’re creating content that is sparking meaningful conversations in our community — and that is extremely fulfilling,” Randolph said.

Sumpter and Randolph are mothers who delight in seeing their children grow into their personalities and echoed similar sentiments on how fulfilling and joyful motherhood is.

“It’s so rewarding to watch my son, Nile, evolve as a human. The shift in his reasoning, communication and personality, on a daily basis is nothing short of a miracle,” Randolph said.

“The most rewarding part is watching my daughter Ella grow and become her own person, with her own thoughts and ideas. With that being said, sometimes her thoughts don’t always align with what I have in mind, so it’s a constant balancing act," Sumpter added.

Both mothers note that their children have helped them grow into more patient, complete versions of themselves. And both mothers hope that their audience takes away something long-lasting from the platform.

“Whether we’re encouraging our audience to eat good or live well, we want to spread a little sweetness at each touchpoint,” Randolph said. “A recent reviewer of our podcast wrote that our conversations with and about moms felt 'wrapped in velvet,' and that’s the sweet, indulgent feeling we want every Sugaberry listener, reader or viewer to leave with.”

Tikka-Sumpter

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