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shawn 🪽🤎

@swilliamsj

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around the way girl realness
@sprblooom
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She lowkey got her master’s degree now !

This journey has been one full of triumph, celebration, and above all else, joy. Joy for my accomplishments, the people I’ve met, and the words I’ve written.

With a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on English and Women’s Studies, I am now part of the most educated demographic in the country: Black women.

In the spirit of Black women writers who came before me, I strive to remain true to myself, repeating Morrison’s own words that “you are your best thing.”

Despite all the noise, the doubts, and suppression, I made it this far, and I ain’t done yet. Àṣẹ. 🪽

📷: my dear friend and the ever talented @lightpainterr by @swilliamsj

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a year ago

Music, on. Thesis, written. Feeling, joyful.

This project is my truth, my call to the world, the academy. It is infused by the rhythms of the streets and the underground, and cared for by VH1 countdowns, community block parties, and nights alone in my bedroom blocking out the noise of the world with my headphones on blast (williams 14).

Happy reading :)
Link in bio
cover by @3nsoi by @swilliamsj

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a year ago

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10 days ago

As an air sign, my thoughts always feel like they're floating away, and I won't know what to do with them until I catch them. But, like the air, it cannot be contained.

Introducing it's still up in the air my first chapbook published by yours truly Superblooom*!

Using various poetic forms such as free verse, epistolary, and lyric poetry, readers will see how experiences can be left up to chance, never forgotten, and ultimately inspired by imagination.

Interspersed with various pictures from my own familial archive, I hope you enjoy and don't forget to keep your heads up in the clouds. ☁️📝

As presented at Printed Matter's NYABF & available this weekend at @richmondzinefest!

Writing/poetry by shawn williams (@swilliamsj)
Cover design by Brian Le (@balladsoldier)
Spread design & production by Jenn Bui (@3nsoi)
Risograph printing by District Riso (@districtriso)
Photos by shawn williams & Jenn Bui by @swilliamsj

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18 days ago

had to make one last beach trip 🐚🏝️ taken in Wilmington, North Carolina by @swilliamsj

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2 months ago

a Black girls song was sung in NYC this week 💙🎶 taken in 54 Below by @swilliamsj

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3 months ago

to be loved warmly and fiercely is truly a gift.

as a trans woman, i am beyond blessed to know that throughout the years my friends have loved and supported me in all my beautiful colors, continuously watering my flowers while i’m still here.

happy three years and cheers to the rest of my life
💐 by @swilliamsj

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3 months ago

250 years of trauma but at least we got some good music out of it

p.s. go study performance theory if you haven’t

read at the link in my bio 🤠 by @swilliamsj

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4 months ago

Our journey with “NAILS!” has been a year long labor of love. Stemming from our mutual appreciation for the artistry we’ve seen coming out of modern-day nail techs, we wanted to explore the origins of one of the most Vietnamese places you’ll enter in America - the nail salon. As we dove deeper into the history of the nail salon, we uncovered the story of Charli Vo and Olivett Robinson through Adele Pham’s “Nailed It” documentary. Deeply inspired by their tale of intercommunity solidarity, we wanted to create a publication that not only highlighted some of the beautiful work that nail techs are doing nowadays, but also pay our respects to the originators that show us how much we can create when we build together.

Come celebrate the launch of “NAILS!” with Superblooom* and Secret Riso Club tomorrow at 122 Central Ave, Brooklyn NY from 1-6PM! We’ll have food from @archivechives @shrimpandgritseater and drinks from @nguyencoffeesupply @its.maivino. We’re super excited to also have one of our featured nail techs, @naudynaudie, there with her own press-ons! RSVP at the link in our bio <3

Thank you @blingblingnail for lending us your beautiful nail salon 💅

PHOTOS BY @minhanhnguyenn

FEATURED NAIL TECHS:
Truc Lam (@trinails10)
Xingbei Lei (@starxdnails)
Anna Hoang (@annahoang.nails)
Lucy Xu (@bonknail)
Naudia Smith (@naudynailz)
Jaime Huynh (@jaimeplus.nails)
Stephanie Calderon (@missssunitas)
Selina Fu (@sselinastudio)
Lucy Oh (@lucynaileditt)
Huynh Tien Nguyen

PRODUCTION: Secret Riso Club (@secret_riso_club)

DESIGNERS: (@sprblooom) Jenn Bui (@3nsoi), Annie Hoang (@aaa___nnie), River Huynh (@cavitytoof) & Isabelle Samay (@isabellesamay4eva)

ART DIRECTION: Colin Nguyen (@colinv.nguyen)

COPYEDITORS: shawn williams (@swilliamsj) & Katlyn Phi (@kwatlyn) by @swilliamsj

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4 months ago

needed a change of scenery 🐚🏖️ taken in Jacksonville Beach, Florida by @swilliamsj

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4 months ago

all her life all she wanted was hair!

@lightpainterr x me for club kids, 2025 by @swilliamsj

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5 months ago

i like to think of myself as a work of art, not so much as a piece to behold or display for my vanity, but as a canvas that is never quite finished, yet beautiful all the same. a being that is becoming more and more herself with each passing day. and as jackie said it, i wouldnt have it any other way.

🌸🤍🦋

📸: by the bestie @lightpainterr

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and yes i did wait a day after tdov to post these cause im visible every day of the year fym!! taken in For Colored Girls by @swilliamsj

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7 months ago