So, I’m doing a thing. When I wrote this series in October, I didn’t think that anything else would come from it. I wrote it because this was what I felt and what I was seeing in the world. For that reason-/and with some shoving!—I … Continue reading Making Spaces And Troublemaking
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What started as a blog series is now it’s on book.
With transparency, this is the first essay I have formally published. And I am quite sure there will be others! In the dispensation of time were are in now, I am empowered by the words of bell hooks. She said there was no woman, especially no Black woman, whom has ever written enough.
It would seem as if, the right kind of Black woman can only exist if she is dead.
But yet, we live anyway–as long as there will be Black women, there will be Black women.
Audre Lorde said that self-preservation is a radical act. And I believe her — more now than ever. What has been expressed over the last 5 weeks, has shown how systemic the mistreatment of Black women and girls is! It is apparent how needed it … Continue reading Closing Thoughts: To Live In Spite Of
“Guard your heart, for this is the prize…” -BELOVED, Toni Morrison
Ancestors are closer than you think.
The world hates us and copies us. Dresses up as us, only to spit in our faces. And yet, we are not alone—and never have been!
What I find most fascinating in this era of White-obsessed anti-Black woman culture, is now vicious the world is to us, only to need our wit, heat, and fire to do what no one else seems to want to: care.
As with the Gospels, and other books that comprise what we know as the Bible, it is understood that this work is noted to have been written under divine inspiration, the retelling of witnesses and first hand accounts.
This, too, is how Black women have survived. This is how we have defended one another, believed other Black women are our sisters, and have learned to protect one another!
This is also how we have learned, how we have learned to leave record of our being, our mistakes, or suffering. Even if that be degrees in spite of, picking up second jobs to maintain, using wiles to make it do what need to be done, praying in showers or at altars, or pulling the pain out of their blood by ink.
Black women don’t ever cease to exist…as long as there is a Black woman who remembers her! As long as there is a Black woman who will remember her humanity, instead of prizing the level of trauma, dehumanization, neglect and abuse she was forced to survive!
We are the record.
We work to heal wounds they left with us, on us, and even in us when they had no other tools of peace, but only weapons of war!
We are making new legacy, living lives we have worked for —and yet, remembering not to revere pain, but prize power! Even if it is our own.
When our names are invoked when time ends here, don’t forget us! Don’t forget that we tried, we cried, and even lied saying, “I’m fine” when asked.
Sometimes we lied to keep going — because who could would believe us…if not our own selves?
Yet, we are not in this thing by ourselves…and never will be! The blood signed our names too.
Caveat: These are my thoughts powered by experience and living (and fighting to live) in a body both woman and Black. -JBH
“Damn shame—being a Black woman.”
-Mama Pope
This nation has a very weird necromancy with Black women. This nation will use us as fodder and battle cry.
Let us examine what happened to Carlisha Hood in Chicago, Illinois in July 2023. This situation is frightening as a Black woman who has children, daughters specifically.
It has been demonstrating all over social media (especially, TikTok) there is a group of Black men who would rather see us all dead, randomly or violently assaulted, than living without the weight of a partnership that is not healthy, loving, viable or supportive.
I have had many conversations on social media, angry men (Black and White), and I am at a loss as to why it is the world hates, tries to recreate us, only to continue to fail and doing so.
You hate Black women when we’re here, but…love Black women when we leave?
As a student of history, I know there is no civilization in the history of the world which has prospered when it has abused its women, has thrown away its women, or made it mission to kill its women.
I echo the sentiments of the social media creator, Navi Robbins—he said in June/July 2023, there deep anti-Blackness within our own community. On some level, he’s right.
This behavior and poisonous thinking has been ensconced so long, shared so long that it will take at least two generations to change.
I have not lost hope.
But, I would be lying to say I wasn’t afraid.
I Breathe Fire 