The Hidden Political Life of Postage Stamps

The postage stamp is a lot more than a sticky tag attached to our envelopes. They are a reflection in culture, and a political tool used to persuade the masses.

Celebrating tiny sheets of beauty, patriotism + philatelic propaganda 

Regular

5.4 Million Women Lost Their Jobs Last Year 

We're looking at a sesmic shift in our workforce—and not for the better.

5.4 Million Women Lost Their Jobs Last Year

We're looking at a major shift in our workforce—and not for the better. 

For the Love of Third Ward: An Interview with Marc Furi

Hear from artist Marc Furi on how branding and art have helped bring attention to Houston's Third Ward.

How Marc Furi turned his love of art and his city into a local movement

Here's a roundup of podcasts created by Black creators, covering topics from culture, money, work, and history. There's something in this list for everyone.

A Collection of Podcasts for Black History and Black Culture

February is winding down, but we're continuing our celebration of Black creators.

The Divine Nine | The Daily Social Distancing Show

Black Excellence: A Short History of Black Sororities and Fraternities

The Divine 9 (D9) is a collective of Black Greek-lettered sororities and fraternities that, for decades, have been uplifting and amplifying black voices at American universities. Our Community Organizer, Torey, witnessed first-hand the black excellence these organizations promote.

The Divine Nine (D9) is the example Black collective.

Sounds can transport us, help us heal, help us focus and help us wind down. Here are some suggestions of soundscapes you can bring into your daily lives to help your work, and your relaxation.

From Your Laptop to the World

How we can use the internet to shift our inner landscapes to affect our external realities

Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live 1959 [Reelin' In The Years Archives]

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Les Amazones d'Afrique chantent "I Play The Kora"

In the United States, protest music dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War. During the 19th century, songs were expressions of protest against topics such as poverty, the Civil War, and slavery with African-American spirituals like “Oh, Freedom” defining this time.

A short history of protest music

My knees gettin' weak and my gun might blow

-Pre-chorus from Kendrick Lamar’s "Alright"

Snow days make for great memories, but in the wake of the pandemic, we're lacking those miniscule moments of bliss, like being surrounded by snow.

What's Your Version of a Snow Day?

It snowed last week in my home state of Virginia.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: WHERE OUR PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE COLLIDE

American history is Black history. This February, we're celebrating how our nation's past—and future—is tied to the Black experience.

Welcome to the first day of February and the first day of Black History Month in 2021. 

Murals. Drawings. Paintings. Following George Floyd’s death in 2020, the world saw him globally immortalized by countless artists who created works dedicated to his memory, and pleading for his killers to be brought to justice. George Floyd has become an icon, both in a personal and artistic sense.

A Short History of American Protest Art

As long as America has existed, art has been used in all forms to challenge the status-quo.

Condemned by the Puritans, lamented by the young and wealthy and avoided by all, boredom is now an easily-remedied nuisance of yesteryear. No longer must one twiddle their thumbs in a waiting room, make small talk in an elevator, observe the faces of one’s Fellow Man in the subway, or gaze tragically out the window at passing scenery in a long silent car ride.

Transcendental Nothingness

Our screens have "cured" boredom, but is that really a good thing?

You can’t deny the power of the Tube, and it’s a great tool to use if you’re a small business owner, artist, writer, gamer, or all of the above.

How to get results on YouTube

You don't have to be a trendy blogger to get results with YouTube.

Last week (read: for the last two months), all eyes were on Georgia as they decided who controlled the senate for the first two years of President Elect Joe Biden’s administration. Georgia has been a red state since 1992, so its sudden flip to blue came as a shock to many. 

An Ode to Grassroots Organizers

The key to a free and fair democratic system is making sure that everyone can vote.

2020 has kept us plugged in all year, scrolling through news feeds, texts, emails, you name it. So to celebrate the passing of 2020, we thought we’d share a playlist of the tunes that got us through this SPECTACULAR year.

2020: At Least the Music Was Good

We Are Hiring: Come Work With Us in 2021 (Closed)

If you want to be a part of a dynamic team, work on cause-based creative and help change communities for the better—then we got a job for you.

We're absolutely hiring

Joan Morgan  - Hip-Hop & Feminism

Since the 1990s, Black women in hip hop have been outspoken within their sexuality, freedom, self-preservation and dismantling toxic ideals and narratives.

Hip Hop Feminism Saved 2020

For me, this year has been one of complete transformation—from the inside out. 

Written by a Gen Z Digital Storyteller

Giving Tuesday has raised a lot of eyebrows at Black Sheep over the years. But nonprofits are in dire straits across the country—and it's time to think through how we can give back when we're tapped out from 2020.

#GivingTuesday2020

We were over it. Now it's all we can think about.

Condensed

A reflection on the weird parade of life and grime that this obnoxious pandemic year has spurred.

Triumphs and Laments of 2020

A reflection on the weird parade of life and grime that this obnoxious pandemic year has spurred

Hey—are you on a quest to tell better stories? With experience writing for brands and organizations in a cause-based space? Cool. Please apply.

We are hiring: Copywriter

No matter your impact space, the last few years have taught us that our causes are interconnected. Researchers are now dealing with what the White House calls “converging crises” across industries. As a purpose-driven organization, we’ve spent years discussing everything from environmental racism and climate change to education and housing. But until recently, we hadn’t yet looked into an issue that’s affected by all of the above: food insecurity.

Food insecurity affects millions of all ages and backgrounds across America, particularly impacting the BIPOC community and hitting kids especially hard after millions have lost access to free school lunches. 

The pandemic has only exacerbated the fragility of the inequitable American food system. In 2022, the Census Bureau reported a 41% increase in households saying they did not have enough to eat after Congress stopped pandemic relief programs. 

That's over 40 million people who are experiencing hunger—or the fear of hunger—on a regular basis. With rising food and housing costs, that number is only expected to grow. 

Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life. This can include not having enough money to buy food, living in an area without access to healthy food options or experiencing disruptions in food supply due to natural disasters or other crises.

According to Feeding America, the causes of food insecurity are complex and include:

Systemic racism and racial discrimination

The devastating effects of food insecurity

Access to fresh, healthy food is a basic human need and a social determinant of health and wellness. Without equitable access, we see an impact on:

Health: Without nutritious foods, people are at an increased risk for chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and mental health disorders—particularly as many turn to cheap, caloric-rich foods in lieu of fresh, prepared meals.

Education: Children who experience food insecurity are more likely to have lower academic achievement, be suspended or expelled and suffer from behavioral and emotional problems. 

Financial wellness: Food-insecure households often spend over 25% of their income on food, making it challenging to budget other expenses like housing, healthcare, education and utilities. This is more harrowing given that food-insecure households also spend more on healthcare due to their poor diet.

Words matter. Food deserts and food apartheid are related terms you have probably heard but are distinct concepts.

Food deserts refer to geographic areas where residents lack access to affordable, healthy and fresh food, often due to a lack of grocery stores or other food retailers. These food deserts can occur in both urban and rural areas and affect people of all races and income levels.

Food apartheid, on the other hand, refers to a systemic and intentional form of discrimination in the food system that leads to unequal access to healthy food based on race and income. This terminology recognizes that food access is not simply a matter of geography but a result of historical and ongoing inequities in the food system, including racism, poverty, and systemic inequality. 

There are organizations across most major cities to fight these issues, namely urban farms and dedicated neighborhood markets. However, given the multiple converging crises, issues like food insecurity are often overlooked in favor of more hot-button issues. That’s where all of us can step in.

What can social justice-minded people do to help solve food insecurity?

While food insecurity offers no easy solutions, there are many ways to get involved.

Poverty USA offers some smart systemic change recommendations:

Reduce food waste - we throw away 30% of the food we produce

Here are a few ideas you can engage with at the individual level:

Find your nearest co-op (like Plant It Forward) and volunteer and shop there

Call your representative to advocate for policies that support access to healthy, affordable food.

Support local farmers and community gardens

Educate yourself and others about the causes and consequences of food insecurity

Donate to organizations that are working to address food insecurity, such as Feeding America or the World Food Programme

Food insecurity is incredibly complex, but it’s one area we can actually make great progress on as individuals. Supporting these local, fresh food sources improves the entire community’s health—AND it means more delicious, interesting meals on your plate. That’s a win for everyone. 

What is food insecurity and what can we do about it?

Food insecurity is a complex issue affecting millions of Americans, with systemic factors like poverty, racism, and geography playing a major role, but there are steps we can take to combat it.

The Black Sheep blog is turning up the volume on community engagement, social media strategy, Houston happenings and what it means to lead a purpose-driven life.

The Black Sheep Agency | Social impact and nonprofit blog

We like to type as much as we like to listen.

We're not shy.

The Politics of Food Access

The Hidden Political Life of Postage Stamps

5.4 Million Women Lost Their Jobs Last Year

For the Love of Third Ward

A Collection of Podcasts for Black History and Black Culture

Black Excellence: A Short History of Black Sororities and Fraternities

FROM YOUR LAPTOP TO THE WORLD

A Short History of Protest Music

What’s Your Version of a Snow Day?

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: WHERE OUR PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE COLLIDE

A Short History of American Protest Art

Transcendental Nothingness

How to Get Results on YouTube

An Ode to Grassroots Organizers

2020: At Least the Music Was Good

We are absolutely hiring

Hip Hop Feminism Saved 2020

Written by a Gen Z Digital Storyteller

#GivingTuesday2020

Triumphs and Laments of 2020

We are hiring: Copywriter