1Hood’s Princess Party works to empower girls and women of color

In many ways, Jannah Johari is like any 11-year-old girl. She likes to draw, make bracelets and have fun with her family. She dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter and actress. And her favorite performer is Beyoncé.

“She’s so talented and she really inspires me,” says Johari, who lives in Pittsburgh and attends sixth grade at the Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPA).

But Johari’s interests extend beyond that of most kids her age. She has taken note of how the media’s definition of beauty often excludes women of different races, and how much girls of color, including herself, are bullied for the way they look.

“A lot of times we get bullied because we look different or because of the texture of our hair,” says Johari, who is African-American. “And I think you should feel beautiful, because when you feel beautiful that gives you a lot of self-esteem. So when someone tells you you’re not beautiful, you know that you’re beautiful anyway.”

And so she came up with the idea of the Princess Party, an annual tea party-themed event that celebrates young women and girls, especially those of color.

Her idea became a reality thanks to 1Hood, a local collective of socially conscious hip-hop artists and activists dedicated to empowering young creatives through their Media Academy, where Johari is a student. After securing funding from the Heinz Endowments, the Princess Party launched last year at the City of Asylum, where it attracted around 100 young women and girls, as well as moms and grandmothers.

1Hood CEO Celeste Smith helped expand the Princess Party into a community event. She understands that while young women and girls should be valued for their merits, the reality is anything but.

“We put so much on looks,” says Smith. “Even though we encourage in our own households and in our own organizations and communities that you should endeavor to be more than just a pretty face, society is the exact opposite.”

As Smith explains, 1Hood serves as a platform for area youth, both male and female, to express themselves through the arts, whether it’s through music, dance, writing or other mediums. Besides helping girls embrace who they are physically, she says the Princess Party also reflects the organization’s mission by recognizing “intellect and entrepreneurialism.” Last year, the event’s keynote speaker was Leah Baker Fowler, a young Hill District native who, at just 10 years old, created her own bakery business, Cupcakes Most Wanted.

“It encourages young women to do, be and say whatever it is they want to say,” says Smith. “Basically, we help them do whatever they want to do.”

Some female Media Academy members have gone on to make a name for themselves in the Pittsburgh music scene, including R&B singer Patience Roy’al and teaching artist Blak Rapp M.A.D.U.S.A.

Smith believes that events like the Princess Party, and support provided by 1Hood, can help build self-esteem in women and girls and give them the courage to pursue their dreams. It will also help them combat obstacles they face every day, including misogyny and bullying, which has become more prevalent through social media. She adds that the organization has considered developing more specific programming to help women have more of a voice in hip-hop, which is often considered a male-based culture.

“It’s about breaking down these barriers,” says Smith. “And that’s what we hope to accomplish, to inspire these young women to know that they are capable of doing whatever it is they set their minds to, and to know that they’re beautiful however they are.”

The Princess Party will take place at 2 p.m. on Sept. 3 at the gymnasium of the Ace Hotel in East Liberty. The family-friendly event will feature a DJ set and performances by 1Hood Media Academy students and a keynote address by Johari. There will also be face painting, flower crowns, a bounce house and other fun activities. Admission is pay-what-you-can.