FLM
FLM
Fete Lifestyle Magazine
Publisher's Note
Presence. Power. Personal Style.
Three words that feel especially alive in February.
Black History Month asks a simple but necessary question: Why do we celebrate? And for me, the answer is deeply personal.
Growing up, my education around Black history felt narrow and incomplete. We learned about a few notables—Harriet Tubman, Eli Whitney, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks—but little beyond that. The message was clear: outside of a short list of heroes, Black significance lived mostly in sports and entertainment. It wasn’t until later, when I began learning on my own, that I realized how one-sided those teachings were—not just where I grew up, but across America.
That discovery changed everything.
I learned about Black innovators, architects, educators, financiers, artists, strategists, and visionaries whose work helped build this country, often without credit. And I learned something else just as important: education is the gateway to understanding. The more we know, the better we are at asking questions, challenging assumptions, and making informed decisions.
Think about how often we judge someone based on perception alone, how they look or speak. Then think about how quickly that judgment can shift once you learn their story.
For so many minority communities, being ignored or erased has been a recurring reality—especially when power sits with the majority. Ethnic schools, colleges, fraternities, social clubs, and even sports teams were created not out of separation, but necessity, because access to existing spaces was denied. While we’ve made progress, inequities in opportunity and resources still exist.
So why does Black History Month matter?
Because it reminds this country of the undeniable contributions Black Americans have made, and continue to make, in shaping America. It honors what has been accomplished, shines a light on what is happening now, and challenges us to confront what still needs to be done.
Celebrating Black History Month does not diminish the achievements of any other culture or community. It expands the story. It deepens the narrative. It invites appreciation for those who came before us, those leading today, and those who are starting to rise.
This issue of Fete Lifestyle Magazine is about Presence, being seen and heard. Power, owning your influence and impact. And Personal Style, the boldest expression of who you are, shaped by history and culture.
May this month encourage us all to listen more closely, learn more deeply, and move forward with intention. Enjoy our issue.
D.C.
Style, Substance, and the Strength of Our Story
On the Cover: Anjali Camara
Cover Photo by James Gustin
Hair Stylist: Keyarah Peppel Courtesy of Steven Papa George Hair Academy
Location: Adalina Prime Chicago