Speak your truth.
LAURYN HILL as Rita Watson
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
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#muse #inspiration #sundaysermon #blackmagicwoman #audrelorde #blackfeminist #blackfeministpraxis #blackbooks #blackwomenauthors #blackwomanbibliophile #freeblackwomenslibraryMore you might like
“Know the function, the very serious function of racism which is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining over and over again your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language so you spend 20 years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms so you dredge that up. None of that is necessary.” - Toni Morrison
These days as always I find myself leaning in to the genius, creativity and clarity of Black women. In their words I always find solace and hope. They are living oracles who give me guidance on how to grow and thrive.
Madame Toni told us back in 1975 as Black artists, creatives, writers, thinkers, rebels, healers, Beings - our destiny and work is NOT to prove our worth but simply revel in our own humanity and divine nature. Move in and towards what affirms and salutes your wholeness in any way you can. 💕✨💕✨
We are at episode 6, aka the mid point of I MAY DESTROY YOU so I decided to do a video exploring three threads/themes explored in the series.
I also shared 5 books written by Black women that explore similar themes and threads.
Check it out, give me a like and leave a comment sharing your thoughts!! 💗
Something about the work of legendary award winning artist Beverly Buchanan turns me all the way on.
First time I encountered her work was @brooklynmuseum It was a gorgeous show that I visited repeatedly. It was love at first sight and I was basically SHOOK from my head to my toes. Those shacks!!! I realize something in me deeply connects to the themes of home/place and culture. Her conversations with Southern architecture feels like deep storytelling. I’m sad I never got to meet her before she passed in 2015 but her Spirit/work is eternal.
“I must always be/ building nests in a windy place.“
‘Portrait’ - audre lorde✨💕✨💕✨
Excerpt from “The Uses of Anger” by audre lorde
Excellent article on The Free Black Women’s Library!!
A litany for survival
For those of us who live at the shoreline standing upon the constant edges of decision
crucial and alone
for those who cannot indulge the passing dreams of choice
who love in doorways coming and going in the hours between dawns looking inward and outward
at once before and after
seeking a now that can breed
futures
like bread in our children’s mouths
so their dreams will not reflect
the death of ours
For those of us who were imprinted with fear like a faint line in the center of our foreheads
learning to be afraid with our mothers milk
for by this weapon this illusion of some safety to be found
the heavy-footed hoped to silence as For all of us this instant and this triumph.
We were never meant to survive.
And when the sun rises we are afraid
it might not remain
when the sunsets we are afraid
it might not rise in the morning
when our stomachs are full we are afraid of indigestion
when our stomachs are empty we are afraid we may never eat again
when we are loved we are afraid love will vanish
when we are alone we are afraid love will never return
and when we speak we afraid our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
So it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive. “
Black August Cocoon Collective/Week 3
Today marks the third session for my social art project in honor of Black August. We are gathering weekly to explore the safety and sustainability of Black women by engaging in self defense and physical training, yoga, writing, art making, writing, reading, self care, political education/conversation and zine creation.
Today’s read for reflection and activation provided by audre lorde from her poetry collection "the Black unicorn”. Looking forward to more growth and understanding. Shout out to The Laundromat Project and Brooklyn Movement Center for the support!!
✨✊🏾💕✨✊🏾💕✨✊🏾💕✨✊🏾💕✨✊🏾💕
Extreme gratitude to the kind soul who donated Gloria Naylor’s “Mama Day” and audre lorde’s “Sister Outsider” to the library!!
No name or return address to be found anywhere within its contents, please reveal yourself so I can give you your props!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I believe in living.
I believe in the spectrum of Beta days and Gamma people
I believe in sunshine.
In windmills and waterfalls, tricycles and rocking chairs.
And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts and sprouts grow into trees.
I believe in the magic of the hands.
And in the wisdom of the eyes.
I believe in rain and tears.
and in the blood of infinity.
I believe in life.
and I have seen the death parade
march through the torso of the earth, sculpting mud bodies in its path.
I have seen the destruction of the daylight, and seen bloodthirsty maggots prayed to and saluted.
I have seen the kind become the blind
and the blind become the bind
in one easy lesson.
I have walked on cut glass.
I have eaten crow and blunder bread
and breathed the stench of indifference.
I have been locked by the lawless. Handcuffed by the haters.
Gagged by the greedy.
And, if I know anything at all,
it’s that a wall is just a wall
and nothing more at all.
It can be broken down.
I believe in living.
I believe in birth.
I believe in the sweat of Love
and in the fire of truth.
And I believe that a lost ship,
steered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port. - Assata