Today we’d like to introduce you to Latoya Watson and Darrah Dunn. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Latoya and Rah D are both transplants of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rah D is from Detroit and moved here about 12 years ago and Latoya moved from Washington D.C. to Cincinnati almost 3 years ago.
For Latoya, living in D.C. meant having a sense of belonging. She had access to a vibrant community of Black queer women whether it was a day party, brunch, or professional groups, Black queer people have space and community everywhere you look.
Moving to Cincinnati, Latoya noticed a lack of Black queer spaces, specifically for Black queer women, where we can build community, let our hair down, and be our authentic selves. She felt like it was important to recreate the atmosphere that made her feel safe, welcomed, and where she can meet others that look like her.
For Rah D, she noticed quickly after moving to Cincinnati that the same spaces were nonexistent. She grew up in a city that celebrated Black Gay Pride, has a plethora of gay bars, and even inhabits a Black Gay Park! For Rah D, moving to Cincinnati was a complete culture shock.
Latoya and Rah D decided to be the solution and help create the community they desired and fix the need for Black Queer events in the city. They founded The Black Pearl Experience in July 2021.
The Black Pearl was named in honor of Josephine Baker. Remembered for her unbothered, infectious, and unapologetic force to be reckoned with – Josephine Baker, also known as The Black Pearl, was and still is an influential Black queer woman. In the words of Rah D – “I love her infectious spirit and how free she seemed to be”. That’s exactly how we envision the Black LGBTQ+ community to feel at all our events.
The Black Pearl Experience is more than just a party. It’s a curated experience with the intent to celebrate us and people like us. We are Black queer women looking to bring unapologetic celebration, joy, art, and music to our community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Initially starting a business, the first challenge is getting the concept from paper to reality. We both had a solid idea of what we envisioned for the experience – flirty, fun, carefree, and joyful – we wanted to create this space, and part of The Black Pearl Experience is to discover hidden gems with our community.
Since our experiences are typically held at bars or restaurants, we rely on building relationships with bar owners and pitching the party to them. We weren’t sure how welcoming the idea would be, considering this isn’t a typical party you see in Cincinnati.
We’re happy to say that from the beginning, the support from business owners and our community has been astonishing! Once we got started, the interest kept growing and growing. We’re starting to look at bigger venues for our events, a challenge in itself, but a great challenge to have. We have folks coming from out of the city and even out of state to attend a Black Pearl Experience. Each event brings in familiar and new faces and we’re starting to see the relationships and fellowship continue to be built even after the last call.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
DJ Rah D is best known for her eclectic genre-bending sound, one-of-a-kind ear, and ability to connect with all crowds from the largest dance floors, to your most intimate occasions. Her undeniable talent and infectious presence makes her one of today’s premiere disc jockeys.
While aligning herself with achieving her goals, DJ Rah D’s list of clientele is ever-growing. She’s had the pleasure of working with P&G, Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, Revel OTR, Platform Beer Co.,The City Flea, Cincinnati Pride and many nonprofits. With an ever-growing passion for her art, she’s sure to keep audiences mesmerized for years to come.
During the day, Latoya works as an IT Consultant for one of the Big Four accounting firms. Her experience is enhanced by her bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the University of Cincinnati.
Socially, Latoya is best known for her vast knowledge and being ‘in the know’ of local events, dining, and culture. You can find her blogging about her favorite foods, restaurants, and local eateries. She’s your go-to person for any food recommendations and will always point you in the right direction!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Both Rah D and Latoya have supportive partners that pushed us to stop complaining about the issue and find solutions to the lack of space and community. Our partners have spent countless hours helping us practice our pitch, reviewing our content, and providing feedback along the way.
Some of our events have vendors, so we must also give credit to the Black-owned vendors and mentors who have offered advice and set up their shop at our events, providing another element to our experiences.
Lastly, we must thank our Black Pearls that show up from all around to attend and support our events. None of this would be possible without them. They embody the spirit of exactly how we envisioned The Black Pearl Experience to be. Heeey Black Pearls!!!
Pricing:
- Free
Contact Info:
- Email: blackpearlpride@gmail.com
- Website: https://blackpearlexperience.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackpearlexperience
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackpearlexperience
Image Credits
Christina Garrett
