exploring desire, pleasure, wellness and art

‍Slumber is an erotica magazine that features sensual artwork and writing from the BIPOC perspective. It is all about exploring desire, pleasure, wellness and art. As a part of that vision we want to create a safe space for Black people and communities of color to delve into the vulnerability inherent in sexual expression.

What does pleasure mean? How is it prioritized in our culture? Slumber is a new publication from Umber dedicated to exploring pleasure—sensual, emotional, and spiritual—through the lens of Black and Brown communities.

For too long, conversations about pleasure have been silenced or stigmatized in our communities. Slumber shifts that narrative, embracing intimacy, desire, and wellness as essential elements of liberation and self-discovery. As Miami-based photographer and visual alchemist Saddi Khali puts it:

“Pleasure might be the number one motivation to live a longer life. People who feel good want to stay around to feel that way as much as they can. I think we are just beginning to realize we are deserving of pleasurable lives, that feel good without having to feel bad afterwards.”

Photography: Bethanie Hines

This publication features bold storytelling, sensual artwork, and insightful conversations with artists, advocates, and thought leaders redefining what pleasure means in our lives. From sex-tech pioneer Andrea Barrica, author of Sextech Revolution: The Future of Sexual Wellness, to Brooklyn-based visual storyteller Poochie Collins, who states:

“Pleasure is part of me reconnecting with self as well as an exploration and rediscovery of my body. I feel that pleasure plays an important role in the health and wellness of the mind and body.”

For years, what happened pleasantly behind closed doors stayed there, often due to discomfort and the absence of liberating spaces. Slumber is here to change that. To liberate oneself is the ultimate act of freedom. Pleasure invigorates, heals, and enables us to live more fully—permeating positivity into every area of our lives.

“There has been a huge void in sex-positive media, owned and created, from the perspective of Black people & communities of color.”

As a one-time offering, Slumber magazine features advocates and conversation starters in the world of pleasure–specifically for people of color. Pleasure expressionism is what Slumber wants to achieve by breaking down those barriers relative to pleasure and encouraging real compassionate dialogue to spur a path of healing, well-being, and imminent positive fulfillment that can happen when intimacy is taken seriously.

In our Slumber Lucid Dreams Issue we went deep inside the dreams of desire to become active participants of our fantasy. Through a tapestry of sensual visual art, erotica fiction and sex-positive narratives, this publication explored and embraced our inherent sexual desires without shame.

Cover design by Mike Nicholls, product photo by Jenny Zhou