Venita Aspen
Venita Aspen is a Charleston native whose blog covers fun recipes, outfits and “everything in between.”
On getting your start:
I started my blog back in 2011, alongside my Instagram, but I really started before that on Tumblr. I choose to talk about things that inspire me, and I like being able to provide people with a perspective that they might not normally encounter.
On representation:
It’s very important that Black voices in all industries be amplified. Often, our narratives or our positions don’t get the time of day, so as the culture around the world is breathing in these micro-changes, my industry needs to change with it. The use of Black culture without the need for Black voices is a nefarious trend that needs to be addressed and halted now.
On challenges:
There’s isn’t one workplace culture, no matter the industry, that doesn’t reflect the rules of society. If we recognize that this relationship is a mirror, then we are confined to this agreement, bound by idea that discrimination is the norm. There have been many instances that I can recall in this career where I wasn’t given equal pay as my white female counterparts for doing the exact same jobs with the exact same companies. These challenges exist and are persistent.
On choosing issues:
It’s not necessarily about being compelled to write about Black issues. I’m a Black woman who is living the Black experience. My content and actions will always come from a place born in that experience. The appearance of my Blackness doesn’t show up in a vacuum.
Website: venitaaspen.com
Instagram: @venitaaspen