beauty – katelynskyebennett

The Purple Tree

By: katelynskyebennett 2019-10-252020-02-28

beauty, Memoirs of the Treesautumn, beauty, deciduous tree, Illinois, October, purple, treesLeave a Comment

My favorite tree

Photos from the Garfield Park Conservatory

By: katelynskyebennett 2019-08-222019-08-22

beautybeauty, Chicago, diversity, Garfield Park Conservatory, plants2 Comments

Today I visited the Garfield Park Conservatory on the Westside of Chicago. It’s one of the city’s gems, this free green space. Local workers take lunch breaks there, and others come from around the city to explore the beauty of the cacti, ferns, flowers, and gardens. The sounds of water streaming physically relaxed and grounded…

The Cherry Blossom

By: katelynskyebennett 2019-06-222019-06-22

Memoirs of the Treesbeauty, bloom, cherry blossom tree, Connecticut, delight, Japanese cherry blossom, patience, reflection, school, seasons, trees, waiting, wedding decorLeave a Comment

The cherry blossom tree sat behind my K-12 school. For two weeks in May, she would bloom light pink and then shed her pretty petals on the sidewalk by the back door. As a girl, I thought I wanted to get married under rows of cherry blossoms. I then realized that their blooming time is…

Dark purple lips to match my shirt and skirt. I was ready for the job fair! PC: KSB

My story: how fashion reflects my spirit

By: katelynskyebennett 2017-10-162017-10-16

beautybeauty, bullying, color, confidence, fashion, Fena Gitu, hope, life, lipstick, Nyakim Gatwech, purple, Refinery29, Skillet, smile1 Comment

No matter your gender, you know what you think when you see something bright. And to me, this flash of color is symbolic of life. But I didn’t always appreciate that.

Inspiring youth, Independence Day, and the DRC

By: katelynskyebennett 2017-06-302017-06-30

peoplebeauty, colonialism, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, future, Independence Day, RDC, Republique Democratique du Congo, social change, youthLeave a Comment

Fifty-seven years ago on June 30, the Democratic Republic of Congo won its independence. While I won’t go into a political history right now, I will celebrate Independence Day by telling you about my generation and how amazing they are. Congolese youth are artists, talented photographers and musicians. They are teachers of elementary students and ESL…

Rocking the purple hair in South Dakota with my bestie. PC: KSB

Thick, curly hair

By: katelynskyebennett 2016-03-182016-03-18

beautybeauty, colored hair, curly hair, hair, mane, natural beauty, natural hair, purple, thick hair3 Comments

Thick, curly hair: Some say it’s a mane, wild like a lion, But our hair is beautiful, not beastly, not something dangerous needing to be “tamed.” Is it unruly simply because it does not lie flat? Are “tangled” locks not close to the heart of curls, which intertwine to form a loose and lovely lattice…

God Gave Me a Mountain

By: katelynskyebennett 2015-06-292015-11-14

faithbeauty, blessed, Connecticut, flat, grateful, Illinois, illusion, mountain, rainLeave a Comment

Walking towards my house in the flat state of Illinois this evening, I thought I saw a mountain peaking over the trees. Struck by the beauty, I halted. I then realized it was merely a purple-grey cloud, but I remained still, gazing forward and pretending that it was a snow capped peak in Nepal stretching away,…