Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Khadi A. Oluwatoyin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Khadi A. , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
I decided to become sober in the fall of 2018. When I went online for guidance, I noticed that many pro-sober platforms did not cater to girls and women who looked like me or shared similar cultural and societal experiences.
When I turned to in-person organizations, I made a similar observation. In an attempt to share my story and connect with other Black folks practicing sobriety or curious about it, I created Sober Black Girls Club. At the time, SBGC was just a blog. Today, we run a blog, newsletter, mentorship program, and four weekly support meetings. Through mutual aid, the collective assists members pay for out-of-pocket expenses related to treatment. We gather online and in person and believe in the power of community, inclusivity, truthtelling, creativity, and social justice.
To get where we are today, I had to be honest with myself and vulnerable with those I wanted to build community with. By sharing my journey, other Black girls and women knew that they were not alone in their struggle with substances.
Substance abuse and addiction are stigmatized yet prevalent in the Black community. As long as we can sustain productivity, our emotional and mental health is often ignored. Codependency is also common in our community, often to the detriment of Black girls and women who mistakenly find meaning in their lives by being indispensable to others.
Sober Black Girls Club gives its members a safe space to explore their substance use through the lens of cultural and social norms. Sure, support for recovery does not have to come from someone who shares one’s same race and gender, but it is extremely affirming when it does.
If you feel like there is a need or lack in your life, don’t be afraid to be the solution. It takes time and trust to build community, but sooner than later you will realize that you are not alone in your experience.
Khadi A. , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Sober Black Girls Club fills the need for inclusivity in the recovery realm and helps eradicate stigma in the Black community. In the past, recovery was regarded as one size fits all. Those who failed to practice total abstinence traditionally were often ignored or disregarded in recovery conversations.
Members who attended 12-step meetings were restricted from talking about their racial and cultural experiences, which were deemed “outside issues.” SBGC changed the recovery culture and created a space where all pathways are welcomed and accepted. In addition, members are free and encouraged to examine their relationship with substances through the lens of social and cultural structures and practices.
Furthermore, research suggests that compared to White Americans, Black Americans experience more health consequences related to addiction yet are less likely to receive preventive services and quality rehabilitation care. Black Americans drink less and consume drugs at equal rates (compared to White Americans), yet are more likely to be criminalized and punished for their consumption. Almost 80% of people in America’s prisons on drug-related charges are Black or Latino.
Through representation, mentorship, mutual aid, and weekly support meetings, Sober Black Girls Club aim to give Black people a fighting chance to recover despite the disparities and a safe space to address the underlying issues behind their addiction.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Haha. Well, when I graduated from law school in 2017, I planned to live the rest of my life as an attorney. Then, I fell into addiction and leaped into recovery two years later. I have since found new meaning in my life and would rather spend my time mirroring the light in others instead of arguing with opposing counsel in a courtroom. I have also developed an appreciation for astrology and tarot and have gained the clarity to live out one of my childhood dreams. Talk about a pivot!
Can you open up about how you managed the initial funding?
Donations, private grants, community fundraisers, and social media campaigns have been fundamental in starting and maintaining the daily practices and operation of Sober Black Girls Club. The Club recently applied to become a tax-exempt organization with the IRS and hopes to receive government grants soon.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.soberblackgirlsclub.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/khadiforever
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoberBlackGirlsClub/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sober-black-girls-club/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/soberblackgirls
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@SoberBlackGirlsClub
- Other: Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/khadiforever Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/khadiforever
Image Credits
Sober Black Girls Club, Inc.