Dope Black Mums — Cinemamas

Website, podcast, community and amazingness all around

N Malone.jpg — DBM’s motto is “WE ARE MUMS. WE ARE BLACK. WE ARE DOPE”.

Nina Malone

Valeria had the pleasure of interviewing Nina Malone, founder of Dope Black Mums. We are very grateful to her for finding time for CineMamas and excited to tell you about DBMs!

DBMs is an amazing an website - you guys host a podcast (I am a big fan!), run a blog, offer advice, and hold events - wow! Can you tell us how and why you started DBMs? And was it always this busy?

I wanted to connect and share with other women of colour without the need to explain or appease. It is a digital safe space for black women to navigate motherhood together. It is a sisterhood and a micro community that strengthens and supports black women from the diaspora to parent from a place of empowerment. This, in turn, supports the wider community.
I truly believe great parenting can change the world!
The WhatsApp group has always been popping! We have become alot busier with our dope black mums live show, bookclub, quiz night and brunches!

We have been trying to start our own positive movement with CINEMAMAS so we really look to DBMs with admiration - Has the experience of starting a positive movement changed you in any way?

Its really affirmed the oneness in everything and all around us. We are all going through the same things, we are all affected no one is immune, all making mistakes, learning and evolving.
It has changed me for the positive. I have massive imposter syndrome, so the safe space helped me to catch myself when going on a downward negative spiral. I find the groups and podcasts help me to share and stay present and I find this very therapeutic. On a practical note so many tips get passed around from patenting tips to meals inspiration, beauty hacks and wellness and what I love most is the amazing mix of women giving different perspectives that always leave me with a new nugget of clarity.

What has been your biggest challenge with DBMs?

I love how intimate the WhatsApp group is, I know its is a life line, support network and oasis for many.
We have 2 WhatsApp groups now with around 250 women in total.
My challenge is its just not enough! I want to find a way to keep the accessibility, the ease and intimacy without losing the connection and for the group to still be able to function as an intimate safe space.

What inspires you to continue with the work that you do?

The tangible feeling of connection inspires me, continually surprised and honoured at what women feel comfortable to share in the space which is a testament to all the amazing women involved. The overwhelming support for one another that is shown in the groups and lastly the laughter, the amount of laughter that goes down is addictive!

You are an amazing group of talented women - How did you all meet?

When the group started I added every dope black mum I had in my phone and they in turn added the mums they knew and it grew from there.
The content in the group was so dope we kept saying we needed to start a podcast and that was that.

Would you say that you have a good work/life balance?

I do now, but I can only say this as I really haven't in the past. Now I have to really protect the balance and stick to these boundaries.

As working parents we often become riddled with guilt, as we might miss important events. I heard you speak at Pregnant then screwed this year and I really loved what you said about choosing to not focus on 'guilt'. Can you tell us a little more about how you came to making this decision?

Well it's still a work in progress but really trying to rid myself of guilt. I want to learn all I can from my experiences but essentially I'm coming to the understanding that I just don't see the payoff of what feeling guilty brings. So I'm trying to analyse, look at the root causes what triggers these feelings of guilt and usually from there if I understand that can make better choices for the right reasons.

What do you think is the hardest part of being a working mum?

I think its tough that our days don't align if working hours could match school hours this would be awesome.
I used to really find it difficult when people have judgments on my working life.

Do you have any particular anecdotes that illustrate some of some of your experiences?

So many. The live events are always good soul food. Me for I particularly love when we all get together for brunches, amazing atmosphere, supporting black owned businesses, great chat, vibe and food along with sisterhood, and those moments are precious not soul food more like a soul feast!

Finally, please let me know if there is anything in particular that you'd like us to highlight that we might be missing?

Really excited to have partnered with NHS Blood and Transplant to bring more awareness to the need for more black blood and organ donors needed. We have a series of podcasts and events coming up to support this.
And lastly massive shout out to all the great work Dope Black Dads, Dope Black Women and Dope Black Men are doing.

To get in touch with Nina and Dope Black Mums you can e-mail:

hello@dopeblackmums.co.uk