Let’s be honest, I know that you (at least I personally did) grew up struggling with styling my hair in “alternative” ways. It’s been fried, permed, and badly dyed. Sew ins have been over worn. I didn’t know much about wigs. So you can imagine how grateful I am to have someone like Go on the scene bringing light to our natural alternative selves!

What should we call you?

Go.

Do you identify as alternative?

Definitely.

Were you born and raised in Florida?

Yup! Born in Dade. Raised mostly in Broward. I’m a Florida Baby!

Are you vegan?

Yes, I’ve been vegan for about 10 years now. I absolutely love it.

Do you speak French? (In reference to her pinterest boards)

Haha, yes. I speak Haitian Creole fluently, as my family emigrated from Haiti, so I’ve spoken that since I was young. I picked up French in high school and really fell in love with the language. I try to immerse myself in it as much as possible to keep me sharp, that’s why my pinterest board titles are in French and my phone settings are also in French.

Have you thought about pursuing being a hairstylist as a career?

I’m currently starting up my traveling hair braiding business here in South Florida where I’ll offer Jade Braids and Knotless Fairy Braids, with a few other hairstyles. I’ve started taking models slowly and I share my work on my art page (@toxicmomsclub on Instagram!) I don’t plan on making this a full-time career, but it is a passion of mine that I hope I can continue to do adjacent to my career.

What do you have to say to Black alts that think it’s mandatory to straighten their hair?

I think they need to be exposed to the wonders of Black hair. My content is a great place to start, as well as my friend Solar’s (@shesasolarbeing) content. Black hair was low-key made for alt hairstyles. Liberty spikes, bantu knots, braids, fros, all very alternative. 

Have you ever thought about modeling?

Oof, I have. I’ve modeled in the past and I always enjoy it, but I took a dip into the the world of modeling as a career and I didn’t like what I saw. I will definitely continue to do it as more of a hobby and form of self-expression, but as a career that’s dead, lol. 

Did doing a split dye on your hair damage your curls? Any tips for anyone wanting to try?

It didn’t really damage my curls. I used the box of hair dye that is made for dark hair, where you mix the color with developer and it lightens and colors your hair at once. Also I applied conditioner liberally before applying the color to help retain moisture. 

You’re very vocal about your activism. What are your plans going forward after the recent election results?

Thank you, my activism is definitely part of who I am. My plan is to continue to do what I have been doing, just with a bit more fire under my *ss. I’m studying for Law School Admissions right now and finding ways to connect with my community through grassroots organizations, as well as reading socio political and economic literature on theory and application. 

Can you give us your favorite philosophy quote?

When you know how to listen, everyone is the guru

Ram Dass

Yes and it actually ties into my answer to the previous question! It’s more spiritual than philosophical but, Ram Dass wrote, « When you know how to listen, everyone is the guru » Basically, all of the answers you seek are available to you, but you have to be open minded enough to see the knowledge in places that others may overlook. 

Many individuals these days call themselves alt, gothic, punk, etc. without having the ideals to match. Do you think this could lead to the loss of what it means to be alt? How do you think we should go about purging them from the community?

Yeah, there are a lot of people who like the aesthetic for visual reasons but lack the knowledge of what the alternative community stands for. Alternative refers to a method that differs from the norm. Norms we see today such as capitalism, individualism, and patriarchy are opposed by the alternative community. We are very pro-human, pro-equity, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment. Those who don’t truly align with these ideals will naturally be removed, I think. The bible scripture, « They are like chaff that the wind blows away » comes to mind when I think of them. When you stand for nothing, you fall for anything. So when the next fad comes along, there they will go. You know?

People always say that it’s rare to see an alternative Black person or that the alt Black community is toxic so it’s hard to find friends.. How do you think we should fix this issue?

I think we in general need to be more open-minded when it comes to the alt community. Alt is a mindset, some alternative people don’t present outwardly as such, but once you begin to converse with them you see that you are cut from the same cloth. 

Do you have a message for the little Black girl who loves wearing black and wants to skateboard, but keeps getting shamed?

You live your life for YOU and YOU alone. Jesus was perfect and he was still crucified. (I’m not Christian but I still think Jesus was a real person). I bring up Jesus to say that even if you were to assimilate and suppress your true self, there will always be people who want you to change. So there is ultimately no point in trying to please them. As long as what you’re doing isn’t causing harm to anyone and it brings you joy and comfort in this life, you keep doing you! The people who can truly appreciate you will naturally find you.

Unfortunately, footage of this interview was corrupted and lost. we apologize and will do our best to prevent this from happening in the future.