On Connection and the Quiet Ways We Say “I See You”

There are some things we just know.

The nod across the room. The dap between brothers. The way we make space at the table for one more.

It’s not loud. It doesn’t have to be.It’s connection. Deep, quiet, and unmistakable.

In Black culture, connection isn’t performative- its presence.

It’s how we move through the world with unspoken understanding.

It’s a shared language of gestures and glances that say, I recognize you. I feel you. We’re here together.

Take the DAP.

More than a handshake - it’s a code. A rhythm passed from palm to palm, born in the military during the Vietnam War as a way for Black soldiers to greet each other with pride, unity, and respect. It traveled from the battlefield to the block, and today, it’s a familiar gesture passed between family, friends, and brothers - rooted in love and mutual regard.

And then there’s the head nod.

That upward lift of the chin when you pass another Black person in a room full of people. That subtle signal that says, ‘You’re not alone here.’

It’s one of the most consistent, comforting forms of acknowledgment we have—quick, easy, and full of meaning.
But connection isn’t always silent. Sometimes, it sounds like:

“Okay, come through twist-out!”

“That color is everything on you.”

“You didn’t have to do us like that—but I’m glad you did.”

There’s nothing like a compliment from a Black woman. It doesn’t just land - it lingers.

It wraps around you, lifts you, carries you through the day. Because it’s never just about the clothes or the hair or the nails. It’s about recognition. It’s about saying, I see how you showed up today - and I honor it.

At Black Culture Candles, we carry that same spirit into every scent.

Black Love is the essence of connection. It’s sandalwood, orchid, and musk wrapped in warmth and care.

It’s the feeling of a close friend pulling you in for a long hug.

The sound of laughter echoing after a shared story. It’s rooted in our families, our friendships, our culture. In the beauty of how we show up for one another.

Connection is in the details.

A nod. A dap. A shared laugh. A compliment that feels like a hug. It’s how we root ourselves in joy, in presence, and in each other.

Take a journey through scent.

Let it remind you of all the ways we stay connected - effortlessly, joyfully, and always with intention.

- Lori