To be a part of the alternative culture lifestyle is a beautiful and fulfilling experience. But as a Black woman in this community, there are so many intersections for us to not only belong, but to celebrate and explore. From the Black roots of rock music, to the cultural influence we’ve had on alt, punk, and goth fashion, and even to the importance of our mental wellness — we don’t just belong in this culture, we helped build it.
At Black Girl Emo Night, I’m carving out a space for us: a platform where we’re included, supported, and uplifted in ways we may have never imagined.
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Why Alternative Culture Matters Today
If you grew up like me, you may have been told you didn’t belong in the community you felt so called to. Or maybe you heard, “that’s not for us.”
Here’s the truth: they were wrong.
Many facets of alternative culture that we love today were directly inspired by (and in many cases, directly created by) the Black community. Most folks don’t even realize that many Black musicians, icons and creatives over time pioneered much of what is now considered “alt.” The waves we’ve made through our self-expression, style, and voices are what make alternative culture so rich and vibrant.
The Three Pillars of Alternative Culture at Black Girl Emo Night
This page is your hub for exploring alternative culture in the Black community. For now, my focus will be on three main pillars of Alternative Culture: Music, Fashion, and Wellness.
If you’re looking for where to begin, this post will act as the starting point and will link to articles, guides, and reviews going deeper in each topic. Let’s dive in.
1. Alternative Music
Music is at the heart of alternative identity. For me, it’s the foundation of this community, and I couldn’t write about it without centering the role of Black musicians in rock, punk, emo, and grunge.
Here I’ll share instrument reviews, playlists, concert vlogs/articles, and my thoughts on the latest music shaping our community. Like my podcast work, these posts will carry on the conversations that keep our culture alive.
2. Alternative Fashion
As one of my favorite topics to explore, the aesthetics of alternative culture are a staple of our identities. These styles are informed by our music genres, and vice versa. Fashion finds like our favorite pair of black boots, gritty statement pieces, and DIY thrift finds help update our character design and make us who we are. The freedom and versatility we have to express with our clothes, body mods, makeup and of course our hair is one of the most joyful parts of the culture.
Here you’ll find posts like beauty tutorials and my picks and reviews for affordable and ethical fashion finds, including black-owned brands that are often overlooked.
3. Alternative Wellness
Something I would like to encourage more of in our communities is the emphasis on our own healing journeys. Many of us grew up being “othered” or ridiculed for how we looked, what we loved, or simply for being Black in alt spaces.
As someone who has been on their own healing journey for many years and is always a work in progress, we will come together here to discuss ideas on how you can be your healthiest, authentic self as an alt Black person, such as through journaling, shadow work, and meditation practices.
Living Alternative Culture Every Day
Being Black and alternative is about so much more than fashion or music, it’s a lifestyle, a community, and a mosaic of culture that thrives on uniqueness and originality. We’ve always excelled at building our own spaces to celebrate each other, and in doing so, we’ve created something powerful.
And honestly, what’s more Black than that?
The pillars will continue to grow through their respective tags as I publish new guides, reviews, and stories, which I will link down below. I can’t wait for you to explore them and see everything Black Girl Emo Night has to offer.