Scrolling through Instagram, you are bound to find happy couples of all kinds plastered on your timeline. However, for Zemirah Moffett, she felt there was an absence of Black love showcased across social media platforms. Deriving inspiration from fellow Instagram accounts MEANDSOMEBODYDAUGHTER and Me & Somebody Queer Kin, Zemirah wanted to complete the trio and create MEANDSOMEBODYSON to further showcase love within the Black community.
Having grown over 314K followers on Instagram, Zemirah has plans to spread Black love around the nation, and world! She is continuously learning love in many different forms and that it always starts with loving yourself.
Okay so, please tell us how you got started with MEANDSOMEBODYSON. What was the inspiration behind that?
Zemirah: “There were a few different things that inspired the page. I started [it] my senior year of college, [when] I was actually studying Africology in criminal justice, and I already had this extreme love for Black people in my community. I’ve always coined myself a hopeful romantic. I’ve always really loved love, but I didn’t see enough of the love that I wanted to see, on the timeline and the internet. There were other pages like Black Love. And actually what really, really inspired MEANDSOMEBODYSON is they were two pages called MEANDSOMEBODYDAUGHTER and Me & Somebody Queer Kin.“
Zemirah fell in love with the content, and the concept and the idea of Black people sharing the love that they wanted to see on the timeline. She started making memes for MEANDSOMEBODYSON, because she felt like the last part of the trio was missing.
“I started making cute little memes on my story and a friend reached out encouraging me to make a page. There was clearly this spot missing. And I kind of teetered back and forth because I’m like, “Oh, I don’t want to do this…Maybe I’ll just do it. I have the time. I want to see it. Clearly somebody else does.” So I made this as like my Finsta inspo blog of the Black love that I wanted to see. And I started showcasing your average people, and not celebrities, because…I don’t want to idolize anybody, and I’ve never, I’ve never really idolized any couple per se. So I’m just like, let me just showcase everyday Black love. That was really the start of this. I wanted to see more love on my timeline, and the type of love that I want. I can see interracial couples. I see white couples. You know, that’s really idolized in the media a lot. But I’m not seeing this. And now it’s here.
As a Black woman, how has your experience with love changed since you started this page?
“Mmmmmh. Has my experience changed? I mean, I’ve definitely gone on my own journey of love, which I can describe as a roller coaster. I think this page has opened my mind a lot and has taught me about what healthy love looks like. And though some people may say this is a goals page, I really don’t see it as that. I really tried to feature people who are showcasing authenticity on the internet and showcasing what it really takes to build a long lasting relationship. So I think as far as what I personally get from it, it’s just continuously teaching me what it takes to love somebody for real. And I also realize a lot of that starts with yourself. And I’m so thankful for the people who showcase that on the internet”
Given the state of dating on social media and the conversations we have about dating on social media, what would you say is the one conversation that grinds your gears the most that you’re just like, “Oh, why do we have to keep talking about this?”
“Oh my goodness. There are so many. I’m tired of the 50/50 conversation… I feel like we all are, but it continuously comes up. I think those conversations of relationship dynamics in a negative and divisive way are just tiring to me. If we’re gonna have a type of conversation like that, let it be solution based. I think that’s really what I want to do. And like that’s why I want to delve into video content and docuseries. I want to have real conversations that are not divisive. M.A.S.S. (MEANDSOMEBODYSON) is supposed to bring us together.”
Zemirah’s stance on the long-standing 50/50 debate is simply whatever works for you. Over the years, she’s seen such complexity and nuance through showcasing black love. No one knows better than her that what meets the eye, may not always be true, and that privacy is a key element of a romantic relationship.
“I think sharing on the internet… there are so many pros and cons to that because I think we become over-sharers of certain things that are just nobody’s business. I don’t want to know.”
What are your top three green flags in love? Like, what are the things that when people do this, you’re like, okay, yes?
“I think consideration, because for me, that’s probably one of the highest forms of like showing somebody that you love them. And the type of consideration that you don’t even have to ask for. I dated somebody who, anytime I came over, they know I’m always cold, so they made sure the temperature was just always right. And honestly, while I was dating them, it felt like so overwhelming to have somebody consider me like that. But…thinking back on it and reflecting, it’s like, yo, that is just like one of the greatest ones with consideration just to care how much you like the temperature in a room… that consideration is definitely high on the list.
Communication, being very raw about who you are [is another one]. I think at this stage in life, I just want that. I think that I’ve said authenticity, at least 20 times already. I just want you to come as you are, and show yourself as you are, and communicate that. We all have a lot of things going on, and I’m pretty open to things as long as you’re willing to speak to me about it. So…the communication part is a big deal for me and then… spontaneity. I am a chaotic person. I live on the edge, and maybe that’s why I feel so overwhelmed. Because I like somebody who’s just very spontaneous and likes to do things like get me out of my chaos and routine. And like, let’s just go do something.”
Where do you envision MEANDSOMEBODYSON going next?
“I think that this brand and what I love about it so much is that there are so many things that can come from it. And when we were first talking, you mentioned how people bring so many good ideas to you all the time. So I’m excited for collaboration first and foremost and, people bringing ideas to me.
The docuseries and relaunching that and taking storytelling beyond a photo is so important to me and integral to what M.A.S.S. is for me. So that’s my summer lineup of events. I am trying to go to a few different cities. I guess I’ll give a sneak preview here. We’re going to be going to Chicago this summer. I’m working on Houston as well. And what other cities do I want to give you? Charlotte. We have a summer tour.
I’m just traveling and connecting Black people all over the U.S. and hopefully internationally soon to go as well *wink wink*. And then also, the “What About Me” series, [where we’re] really branching out and telling stories beyond the romantic part of it. Like I mentioned, to be able to love somebody, you have to love yourself. And I think that is really important and I am excited to showcase myself more. Like I have obviously revealed myself, so it’s exciting to share more of me with my community.”
We’re so excited to be part of the big reveal and continue to watch founder Zemirah grow her brand showcasing everyday black love on a global scale. To engage in memes about love and black couple content, check out MEANDSOMEBODYSON and stay tuned for all that’s next <3
