More Than Your Definition: A Black Woman's Declaration of Self

A challenge to move beyond divisive rhetoric and address our community's true crises

I highly encourage reading my previous post (Talking White) for context as to why I felt the need to go to my notes app at 3am on a Tuesday, and finally let out 35 years of frustration.

"BLACK ENOUGH"

I’ll never be black enough for ya’ll.

And after 35 years.

I’m absolutely content with that.

I don’t need you to give me black card.

My ancestors gave it to me at birth.

What is your plan to combat systemic racism and injustice?

I’ll wait.

Funny.

You’re not fighting for your people.

How could you?

You don’t truly love yourself.

Who hurt you boo?

I’m listening.

Let it out.

Release that

Anger.

Hurt.

And Trauma

So you can focus on an actual solution to the downfall of black culture.

My ancestors.

OUR ancestors.

Sacrificed their lives so that we could have more freedom

Than they could have ever dreamed of.

I imagine them crying at night

Dreaming of everything

That we take for granted.

Do ya’ll really fell the weight of that?

When they look down now.

I can only image the

Pain.

Heartache.

And Disappointment they feel.

You pay more attention to

Rap beef than the

40% of black children being sex trafficked

At this very moment.

Mainly our

Beautiful

Black

Innocent girls.

And because it’s so underreported.

That 40% is on the low end.

Ya’ll really can’t admit that you do not genuinely care about the true issues affecting our communities.

It’s fine.

Keep claiming to be so woke.

The culture is on its last breath.

Division.

Dishonesty.

Self-Hate.

Trauma.

Could it be programming?

Keep them DIVIDED AND SLAVES

For CENTURIES to come, he said.

Light Skin vs. Dark Skin.

Black Male vs. Black Female.

Willie Lynch Letters. And the Making of a Slave.

Ya’ll even made up new ones.

“She acts so white.”

“She bougie.”

So because your black “sister” speaks in proper English

She ain’t your “sister”?

Makes sense.

Forever.

Divided.

I don’t know about ya’ll

But I honor

And am eternally grateful for the sacrifices

MY ancestors made for me.

I honor them everyday.

my great grandmother, grandmother, grandmother & grandfather, grandfather, aunt & mother, uncle, and aunt

I would not be on this earth.

Without them.

I feel their love for me.

An unconditional love.

They love me for exactly who I am, as I am.

They have made me the

STRONG.

BLACK.

WOMAN.

I am today.

Keep doing you though.

Talking the same tired talk.

I’m done.

Fight whatever trending fight you wanna fight.

I know me.

I love me.

If I’m never black enough for you…

I don’t care.

What I care about is making a difference.

Most of all.

Making a difference for my future children.

To make the world

Even the tiniest bit better for them.

But you know what.

Since you’re so concerned with how I pronounce my words.

How about you put that concern into

Mass Incarceration. The New Slavery.

Prison Reform.

Legislation.

Gang Violence.

Child Sex Trafficking.

I need to know what ya’ll honestly care about.

Can someone please tell me?

Be honest now.

I’d appreciate it.

Don’t get confused though.

I’m not saying that I’m joining ya’ll.

I just need to know what ya’ll have really been concerned about.

Behind the mask of acting like ya’ll actually care

About the real issues keeping our people in the same system of oppression.

For centuries to come.

Respectfully.