About GirlrillaVintage the Blog

PEACE! I’m Gracie Berry, a Black-Afrikan, queer, cis-woman, community root-healer/educator, multi-dimensional creative, womanist and owner of GirlrillaVintage. As a griot, its important to the integrity of my work that I share my life’s experiences and messages in a ways that honors my ancestors and comes from an Afro-diasporic centered view point before any of the margins. Showcasing my art, activism, autochthonous Afrikan-spirit, my story, vintage, words. Community roothealer. Here to love and liberate my people. I founded GirlrillaVintage in 2010, an Afrikan Roots & Empowerment Organization that shares Afrikan cultural diaspora content, events, and perspectives through the offerings of education, expressive arts, spirituality, vintage aesthetic, and workshops. A creative platform that uplifts Black and Brown communities, lineages, narratives, and stories, and uses compassion and creative problem solving to empower and reawaken possibility in and around my community. Visit my website at www.girlrillavintage.com

Bundle Up Black Joy!

Bundle up, BLACK JOY and grand Winter Solstice to you! Never forget that our blood memory is our superpower. Our very inception is supernatural and worthy to be praised. One love. ❄️❄️❄️

afrikanface #africandna #ancestralhealing #blackjoy #blacklove #breakgenerationalcurses #girlrillavintage #perspective #renegotiatethenarrative #saturnjupiterconjunction #theeamazinggrace #wintersolstice

Concrete Cowboys

Cousin Leon (M) and cousin Ron (R) at West Philly Stables early 1990’s.

Can’t wait to see, Concrete Cowboy, a Netflix movie that highlights the Fletcher Street Stables in North Philly. Such an important story to be told for the Black urban horse community in Philly.

My cousins Ron R.I.P (Right) & Leon (Middle) were part of that scene in West Philly back in the 90’s. I remember them riding ponys in the middle of the hood on Markoe Street where my aunt lived. It was unbelievable to a kid my age who had never seen a horse in person. It was definitely one way to keep young Black boys off the street and nurturing something else.

—TheeAmazingGrace 🖤🤎❤️

afrikanface #blackcowboys #concretecowboy #fbf #girlrillavintage #fletcherststable #netflixmovie #smudgetalk #urbancowboys #westphillycowboys #westphillystables

Healing is the greatest come up

Healing ourself is the greatest come up. @lii.zka captured me back in March, the month of my birth and the same month the world paused. Giving thanks for countless opportunities to gain and grieve. Becoming someone longer lasting is requiring me to return to my source, to heal and rebirth my self over and over. To lean on the patience of ancestors even when it feels like I’m making no strides at all.

Me captured by Elizabeth Levkovich March 2020.
Me captured by Elizabeth Levkovich March 2020.
Me captured by Elizabeth Levkovich March 2020.
Me captured by Elizabeth Levkovich March 2020.
Me captured by Elizabeth Levkovich March 2020.

—TheeAmazingGrace ♥️

afrikanface #ancestralhealing #evolving #girlrillavintage #griefandloss #healingfrominsideout #hibernation #marsretrograde #reenergize #shadowkeepersandroothealers #smudgetalk #thatslove #theeamazinggrace #westafrikan

Afrobeat


You cannot sing Afrikan music in proper English. —Fela Kuti, pioneer of Afrobeat ✌🏾🤎

Afrobeat ink

🎨 @mike.muldowney 🙏🏾♥️

afrikanface #afrobeat #afrikaunite #ancestorsspeak #blackisbeautiful #blackhistoryisworldhistory #felakuti #girlrillavintage #soulmusic #ripancestors #tonyallen #westafrika

Be your own bucket list experience

This day 7 years ago I got to connect with a thriving young gifted and black photographer @ozmynoree as his first Black nude model! At the time, having lost a child 2 years before and 3 years into my 30’s was a beautiful confidence booster and milestone to reach. This is the first I’m sharing these publicly, so enjoy. I want to encourage more Black people to honor their bodies this way at least once in their life. Be your own bucket list experience and you’ll have a photo to remember it. ❤️

Nov 6, 2013. Church St House. Photographed by Osmyn J Oree.
Nov 6, 2013. Church St House. Photographed by Osmyn J Oree.
Nov 6, 2013. Church St House. Photographed by Osmyn J Oree.
Nov 6, 2013. Church St House. Photographed by Osmyn J Oree.

afrikanface #beyourownbucketlistexperience #blackbodiesarebeautiful #blacknudemodels #blackmuse #blackphotographersmatter #censoringnipplesisrediculous #girlrillavintage #osmynoree #selflovejourney #smudgetalk #theeamazinggrace #younggiftedandblack

This Woman’s Work

Between it being less sunlight, the cold air, and memories of my loved ones who transitioned into the ethers around now, I know at least for me, this time of year is a lil harder than usual.

And with that I want to share that my brother David visited me in a dream this morning. It was a fun dream, almost like I was back in college at a lecture and I was walking towards him to introduce him to a friend, but the strangest feeling came over me like I was introducing my friend to myself, literally lol! I could see me doing the introduction, but I also felt me standing where my brother was. Needless to say he grabbed me by both arms and hugged me deeply. He knew that I was surprised to see him, so he started rolling his eyes in the back of his head then laughed that irking laugh showing all teeth before playing the song, “This Woman’s Work” the Maxwell version. He had on the DOPEST RBG, mostly black sweatsuit and his face looked brighter, fuller than I ever remember before. MARVELOUS when ancestors visit like that.

I woke up crying because I miss him. But I think it was his way of reminding me that we are more deeply connected than my earthly mind can imagine. He let me know that we still have access to each other. Although sometimes we forget our ancestors grace when we are sad.

Remember the goodness, remember your loved ones, remember the moments you ever felt grateful for anything, remember that you’re here now and have a life’s work to do no matter how long or short you’re here. Remember your sunshine. Those things count. They count so much more than you’ll ever know.

—TheeAmazingGrace ♥️🙏🏾

afrikanface #ancestorsspeak #church #girlrillavintage #imsunflowerssista #love #mybrotherskeeper #shadowkeepersandroothealers #sunflowerseeds #theeamazinggrace

Watermelon LIVE

I wrote this after George Floyd was taken from here. All his motherly ancestors channeled me to write. All the mothers conjured up through. Cause even in death he called on his mother. The power in wailing her name was battle cry that had to be answered by every motherly energy that ever was. Thank God for his breath, his last words stained into the fabric of the universe. He didn’t give those cowards the power they were seeking. And that’s why I always say we don’t have to acquiesce, even in death. Watermelon is a poem to my people for my people. Break dem gotdamn curses. And stay in the struggle.

Ase—O 🖤🍉

—TheeAmazingGrace ♥️

🙏🏾 @pavaagallery crew
🎥 @marioncococoleman
🎶 @gerrimccrittycreations @teetosmusic

afrikanface #ancestorsspeak #blackpoems #blacklivesmatter #blackpeopleareancient #eternallove #girlrillavintage #griot #healblack #lancasteramtrak #shadowkeepersandroothealers #shadowkeepersandroothealerstheoriginalogs #smudgetalk #ripgeorgefloyd #theeamazinggrace #truthspeaker #watermelon #watermelonRedBlackandGreen #watermelonworthlesswithouttheblackseeds #watermelonpoem #westafrican

Artist Talk At Lancaster’s Amtrak Station Was A Hit!

I genuinely had a beautiful time exchanging with community about my exhibit Shadowkeepers & Roothealers the Original OG’s (Orisha Gods). Special love to all the ancestors that showed up and out! I’m a bird, still flying high. Ase-O 🤍🤍🤍

—Theeamazinggrace ♥️

Integrity of Stones

Ancient triangle fusion

Did you know the Ikom monoliths @ Cross River State Nigeria contain symbols that existed 4,000 yrs BC? Symbols now recognized as “universal” since they form the root of most cultures religions and sciences in the world?

Symbols include the circle, CONCENTRIC CIRCLE, cross, spiral, and TRIANGLE not to mention every other known geometric shape. Get into it knowing we come from someplace.

And that while “staying in the struggle” we must be intentional about finding what illustrates happiness or we are in danger of believing only hardship exists. Play. And do photo 3 often lol! 🥰

—TheeAmazingGrace ♥️

afrikanface #ancientafrika #ancientcivilization #blackjoy #catherineacholonu #crossriverstatenigeria #girlrillavintage #ikommonoliths #smudgetalk #shadowkeepersandroothealerstheoriginalogs #theeamazinggrace

Purpose in the disEASE

There is nothing in vain about 2020. We’ve become so fragile that we forget the strength and purpose we were born with. We descended and “made it”. Makin’ it. We forget our telepathic relationship with Mother Earth, like how we know damn well this pandemic ain’t over just ‘cause we’re over it. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Remembering Chadwick Boseman fondly although we’d never met. How he lived his remarkable life, so FULL & PLENTY. ⁣This year is nothing short of a miracle. This year is forcing our divine power into action. It’s a returning. A redemption. A laying down of our bare bones, those of us on this side of spirit and those ancestors alike. It’s an honor to exist. We’re not in vain.⁣

There is purpose in the disEASE of the present moment. My friend @tyshanalakre taught me that. ⁣
⁣⁣
And I don’t know everything. That is all.

—TheeAmazingGrace ✊🏾♥️

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#afrikanface #alchemy #ancestorsspeak #ancestorsknowmorethaneverything #ascending #digdeeper #girlrillavintage #live #liveinthemoment #ripchadwick #shadowkeepersandroothealers #smudgetalk #2020isnotcancelled