6.0 walks along the glossy wood floors of the dance studio.

Her gorgeous booty-length lock swayed gently, filling the room with the sweet aroma of

nature's blessing scalp oil. In the wall of mirrors, I see a collection of

curvy black bodies. Sys O's son leads a group of 10 male drummers who play as

we follow Sys O's lead through stretches, warm-ups and choreography across the

floor and in groups as we cheer each other on.

Zuri Adele, known for portraying Malika Williams on the popular show Good Trouble, spends

parts of her childhood feeling isolated, but as she grows up and immerses herself in

newfound circles, she learns to connect to her ancestral past through performance and

ritual. In this week's story, Zuri shows us how by embracing our unique place in history,

we are able to trade our isolation for connection. In the series we combine immersive first-person

stories, breathtaking music and mindfulness pumps so that we may see our lives reflected

back to us in other people's stories, and that can lead to improvements in our own

lives. From weight to what, this is a meditative story. I'm Rahen and I'll be your guide.

The body relaxed. The body breathing. Your senses open. Your mind open. Meeting the world.

I feel the soft carpet underneath me as I snuggle into my sleeping bag. Through the big sliding

glass door at the living room, I see the backyard of my friend Elizabeth's house. Their patio

and pool are just visible in the moonlight. I'm 12 years old at a birthday sleepover.

Elizabeth's mom calls over from the kitchen. Okay, girls, time to turn the TV off. On

cue, we finish our popcorn and start getting ready for bed. I scan the room, noticing the

sea of identical blonde and brunette haircuts swaying around my classmate's shoulders.

It feels like the calm before a storm. Almost everyone here is white or Asian, except me.

...