Tembe Denton-Hurst on Her New Book & What Juneteenth Means to Her

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Beauty and culture writer Tembe Denton-Hurst knows a thing or two about making others feel seen and comforted through her work. This is present in everything she touches, from writing articles that highlight the best books celebrating Black culture to tips on fading and preventing Melasma for New York Magazine’s The Strategist. Other times, she’s running Sundays Only, her equal parts charming and delicious homemade-biscuit delivery business with her fiancé, Connay.

As for the New York born-and-based multi-hyphenate’s latest venture? Her book, Homebodies, is no different. “The book is very much inspired by a transitional period for me, from when I got laid off from my previous job until I started my current one,” says Denton-Hurst, who wrote it during the quarantine. “It wasn’t a super long period but I definitely remember feeling bored and thought it would be an interesting topic to explore within a book and a character,” she says of how she turned a difficult, soul-searching time in her life into a piece of inspiring art. “I wanted to write about a Black woman who is messy and makes mistakes and unhinged decisions,” Denton-Hurst explains. “It was really freeing to be able to do that on the page.” Since the book’s release in May, Denton-Hurst has gone on a book tour across the East Coast and been featured in the likes of Vogue and New York Times.

Below, Denton-Hurst goes into detail about her career journey, beauty inspirations, what Juneteenth means to her and the self-care practices she swears by.

“Self-care means having boundaries. Boundaries allow me to be present. And being present is the highest form of self-care.”

By Emma Trim

RI:
How would you describe your approach to beauty?
TDH:
I would say Sunday’s best meets cutting edge. Being from NYC has allowed me to be on the pulse of what’s happening in beauty and fashion. Being from here has definitely informed my career choice, to go into journalism, as well. My approach in general is also very minimal. My routines are easy and not fussy. I’m definitely a skin-first type of person.
RI:
Who are your biggest beauty inspirations, and why?
TDH:
Definitely my grandmothers. They’re so beautiful. My paternal grandmother is the most elegant woman in the world. She has very high cheekbones. Her forehead is wrinkle free. And there’s just something about the way she carries herself and the way she puts herself together that has always been so inspiring to me. My maternal grandmother is really a character study in the finer things in life. She was always very into designer things, especially Chanel and Elizabeth Arden. She definitely passed this taste on to my mom, and eventually me.

“Juneteenth has become an opportunity for Black people to gather, to rest, to be in community, to enjoy each other. And that's really beautiful.”

By Emma Trim

RI:
Tell us more about the inspiration behind your book, Homebodies
TDH:
My book was inspired by a layoff that I experienced. I really wanted to write about that and have a character who is navigating this world that seems very glamorous on the outside, but on the inside, it’s not exactly what people imagine. This book is very much about fighting for space in the industry. And also letting go of what publishing used to be and accepting it for what it is now. I think a lot of people still think editors get these big budgets and ride black cars home from every event… but that is no longer the case. So I wanted to write about someone who's grappling with that reality in some ways. She’s holding on so tightly to something that other people deem valuable, and she deems valuable, even though she's not getting a ton out of it.
RI:
What have you been reflecting on ahead of Juneteenth?
TDH:
Juneteenth is both a celebration and a day of remembrance. There's something really tragic about the idea that it took three years, right? And it was also the job of the government to let these people know that they were free. There's something very haunting and sad about the fact that they, for years, continued to labor and nobody told them, even though I'm pretty sure that the people who were their slave masters knew. It brings up this idea of slavery as theater and slavery as this infinite condition that really troubles me. But in its current context, it's become an opportunity for Black people to gather, to rest, to be in community, to enjoy each other. And that's really beautiful. I think it's beautiful to have something that's so distinctly Black and celebratory.

“You always have to be seeking your own knowledge, awareness and freedom. You have to be the biggest advocate for both yourself and your community.”

RI:
What does Juneteenth mean to you?
TDH:
I love the holiday. In a lot of ways, I think it’s replaced July 4th for a lot of people and rightfully so. To me, it means community, reverence and being aware of the fact that those who benefit from your oppression are not going to be the ones who free you or immediately try to guarantee your freedom. It’s a reminder that you always have to be seeking your own knowledge, awareness and freedom. You have to be the biggest advocate for both yourself and your community. We have to advocate for one another because we can't leave that up to systems that benefit from our oppression.
RI:
How are you celebrating this year?
TDH:
Hopefully with some cookout food and my people. I'm sure that there's gonna be something happening in Brooklyn that I will be at. But I know for sure that I want to be surrounded by good people, good food, good music and good vibes. I just want to be surrounded by my culture and everything Black.
RI:
How are you practicing self-care these days?
TDH:
Self-care means having boundaries. Boundaries allow me to be present. And being present is the highest form of self-care. It’s easy for me to over commit and underdeliver because I want to say yes to everything and everything feels exciting to me all of the time. But I have to also be realistic with myself and make space and time to rest, recharge and chill. I’m also finding joy in the mundane. There’s joy in sameness and routines. A perfect day on a work day, for example, means I woke up early, I got to the gym, I cooked for myself, I ate all my vegetables, I drank a ton of water. I also enjoy going for walks and cleaning while I have candles and music going. These kinds of days allow me to be present. Being present means I’m not trying to escape from anything. It means I’m not in my head or constantly anxious.

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