Joy Reid and Tiffany Cross Invite You to the Ultimate Sista Circle
The Culture Is : Black Women
Joy Reid and Tiffany Cross Invite You to the Ultimate Sista Circle
By Angela Johnson Guest Columnist The Root
The Idea Came From A Girl ’ s Trip
Reid and Cross said the idea for their special came after a 2021 trip they took to Cabo with girlfriends – who just so happen to be heavy hitters themselves , including activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham , political strategist and organizer LaTosha Brown , and journalist Jemele Hill . The time away , Cross said , was not only relaxing but a catalyst for some seriously heartwarming conversations . “ I don ’ t have to tell you the type of honest exchange that happens when Black women get together ,” Cross said .
And while the women appreciated the time they took to unplug , celebrate and support one another , Cross says they were surprised by what happened when they began sharing the pics from their trip on social media . “ Not only did we drive conversation , but we drove commerce ,” she said . “ People were asking about and following the brands behind the things we wore , ate and drank . Even though we weren ’ t promoting anything , our organic activities became the subject of conversation .”
When they got home , Cross and Reid immediately began strategizing about how to keep the conversation going and bring other strong female voices to the table . “ We explored all of these options until it dawned on us that we work for a tv company ,” Cross said . “ We can do this as a special .”
Creating a Beautifully Safe Space
Reid thought the best way to celebrate sisterhood and inspire intimate conversation was through dinner . “ The dinners allowed us to really get to know each other . So my thought was to bring together lots of prominent Black women , who all faced some of the same challenges and some of the same haters ,” she said .
They chose Minton ’ s Playhouse , located inside Harlem ’ s historic Cecil Hotel , to provide a beautiful backdrop to their conversation . “ Minton ’ s and the Cecil go all the way back to the Ella Fitzgerald era . It was the jazz spot in Harlem ,” Reid said . With the location set , they added food prepared by renowned Harlem chef Melba Wilson , and what came out was some serious Black Girl Magic . “ We just put together things that really espoused Blackness , Black womanness , Black history , and the most fabulous Black place to be ,” Reid said . “ It was amazing .”
Their dinner guests included women who represented different industries , and they didn ’ t all know each other well . But Cross said their common lived experience was enough to make them feel like they could keep it real . “ When we gather , we create a safe space for each other ,” Cross said . “ Because as Black women , even if I don ’ t really rock with you , I rock with you . When our community has to face the outside world , that ’ s my sister no matter what .” And she adds that by not having to explain their issues , they could get right down to business . “ We could skip past explaining why hair and makeup is an issue and what it means to have someone demean you . We could get right into ‘ Yes , sister , I see you . I remember when that thing happened to you . And yes , let ’ s talk about it .’”
Reid added that the group bonded over the strength they have to display in the face of their challenges . “ Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has to do her job in heels while facing death threats . We ’ re never allowed to be publicly angry . We ’ re never allowed to be publicly upset ,” she said . ” I think about my sister , Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson . She could have never pulled a Kavanaugh . If she cried , and talked about liking beer , she would have never been confirmed . We always have to handle our slights and our attacks with poise . And you know what ? We do .”