If you felt like January lasted at least six fiscal quarters, welcome — you’re among friends. Between the post-holiday crash, Ohio pretending to be Antarctica, and the kids being home for what felt like a district-wide snowcation, this month tried all of us.
And behind all the normal chaos of parenting, work, and trying to function on vibes alone… many of us have quietly carried something heavier: the ongoing fear and heartbreak tied to recent ICE actions impacting immigrant families in states like Ohio and Minnesota.
As a child of immigrants, watching this unfold hits differently. Deeply. Personally.
This isn’t trending-topic outrage — this is lived experience.
Why I’m Speaking Out (Without Turning Into a News Anchor)
You do not come to Jamison & Bexley because you want political commentary. You come because:
✨ You love high-quality, gender-neutral baby and toddler clothes
✨ You want to see what my 3-year-old did to test my patience this week
✨ You enjoy a front-row seat to my weekly “I’m fine… no I’m not” emotional updates
I’m not Nancy Grace, I’m not Don Lemon, and I’m not a reporter from ABC 6 News.
But let’s be honest —
the only ICE I approve of is the kind floating in my Old Fashioned. 👀
(IYKYK.)
The Privilege Gap No One Talks About
I’ve watched several white-owned businesses post statements from a place of safety:
“We’re taking a step back to reflect.”
“We’re pausing operations to process this moment.”
“We want to acknowledge the harm and sit with it.”
And listen… must be nice.
For POC, immigrant-owned, Black-owned, and first-generation businesses, stepping back is a luxury we simply do not have.
If we stop working, we don’t get paid.
If we speak too loudly, we risk being targeted.
If we show fear, we worry we’ll be “next.”
So what do we do?
We grieve in silence.
We work in silence.
We struggle in silence.
We survive in silence.
Even while building businesses, raising babies, and trying to carve out our tiny piece of the American dream.
How You Can Actually Support Black-Owned & Immigrant-Owned Businesses
After my newsletter went out, two people emailed me asking for a list of Black-owned businesses they could support — and that meant more than they realize.
So here are two incredible Columbus, Ohio directories showcasing Black-owned businesses you can shop with, invest in, and amplify:
👉 Everything Black-Owned in Columbus, Ohio
https://www.columbuslivingblog.com/black-owned/everything-black-owned-in-columbus-ohio
👉 Columbus Navigator’s List of Black-Owned Businesses
https://www.columbusnavigator.com/black-owned-businesses-columbus/
Whether you're looking for restaurants, boutiques, creatives, wellness brands, or service providers — these directories are a goldmine.
If you’ve ever said, “I want to support Black-owned shops but don’t know where to start,” start here.
Why This Matters (Especially Now)
Immigrant and first-generation entrepreneurs aren’t asking for special treatment — just a fair shot.
Many of us grew up hearing about the American dream but are still fighting for our chance to experience it.
Your support — sharing a post, making a purchase, leaving a review, attending a pop-up, recommending a brand — genuinely changes lives. Not figuratively. Literally.
So if you’re able, support my fellow Black-owned, POC-owned, immigrant-owned, and first-gen-owned businesses. Your dollars become our stability, our progress, our future.
And as always, thank you for being here — through the chaos, the heavy moments, and the beautifully messy journey of running a mom-owned business.
Now excuse me while I go refill my Old Fashioned… with the only ICE I’ll ever accept. 🧊🥃
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