What We Think Black Women Owe Us: In Defense Of Black Women
As we move on into shaping or reshaping society, communities, neighborhoods — the schools we see children head into with thoughts of education seeking to build equity in this country, I am researching, conversing with, exploring the roles of Black women. I am building foundations of knowledge, insight, truths of what I know Black women, the women who raised me, to be. The women who are the cornerstones of our lives; who are the original matriarchs, the warriors even at times when a patriarchal Africa seemed to be fully ruled by (African) men.
Today, Black women, of whom I have always loved, respected, adored, are asked of way too much in a world which is becoming smaller, centralized. The Black women, whether she is in the United States, France, the Caribbean, Ghana, South America, or Jamaica is being asked to continue to be Super Women while too many are not seeing her as a human being. We want all of her, or nothing, a lot of people today. We want the Black woman to be any and everything.
For past reflection, and reference, this is one of my earliest pieces of writing I dedicated to Black women entitled Sacred Womb-man originally:
This poem was inspired by this book, which has impacted my being and my thinking from a woman’s perspective:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/universoulove/sacred-woman-music-and-poetry-embodied
I watch my sisters, my nieces, my cousins be tremendous in taking care of children, as well as going to work or holding down the complete family structures they belong to. They do not brag, they do not ask for much, a person’s company or ear from time to time can be often enough for them. But they must be Super Women. The people who pull, press, or drag them in tough directions are greedily needing them to be Super Women. Black girl magic needs nurturing. Black girl magic needs time to breathe. Black girl magic can only be Black girl magic when it has a supportive, helpful environment to refresh or to reset.
But we do not see that — society. We want the tired, the tortured, the tried Black woman to always be at her best. Despite society’s needs of Black women, these incredible human beings keep on going. There is no stopping a Black woman when she cares, when she loves. It is the most beautiful thing when you see them in action with this focus. I have seen it in my mother for a long time. I can only hope I have given her half the love, the care back to her she has provided me. Black women continuously deserve so much more than this world is giving to them.
Black Woman’s Equal Pay Day just passed on August 3rd. It is still a time to reach deep into this world’s conscious when it comes to economics to pay the Black woman what she is truly worth. This does not mean going broke to do so, but honoring Black women for all of what they bring to the table: their life’s experiences, the discrimination, the college degrees and Phd's they pursue, sexist or racist experiences they have in the workplace. Companies owe it to Black woman to create equity for all they bring to the table, all of the things they continue to invent, all of what they design, all of what they patent.
As a connector and as an advocate on LinkedIn, it is an honor, a pleasure to meet Black women on that platform. A lot of them are doing amazing things as business owners, entrepreneurs, engineers, coders, writers. Reading their bios or visiting their websites has taught me a ton in the past few weeks. Black women are accomplishing more than we give them credit for. They are doing it in ways we cannot ignore. A big shout out to the Black women athletes who competed or medaled at the Olympics in Tokyo! I was proud to see all of them being who they are in the midst of challenge, pushback, oppression, shaming.
Black woman, we owe you everything, and then some. We owe you time, attention, hugs, shoulders to lean on, tissue for your tears of pain or progress, understanding, gentle words, kindness, respect, room to let your hair down or to just be when you need it. The world is your mirror. We should be able to look back at you reflecting the beauty, the power you posses. This world, a lot of it, owes you apologies. It owes you sympathy. It owes you empathy. This world should be writing songs for you. This world should be writing books about how amazing you are.
You do not owe us more than you have already given us. What we think you owe us is wrong. You have given of your heart, your soul all we need to be who we are. We can think all we want to. We can want. But your giving has strengthened entire villages, communities, neighborhoods, cities, states, countries. You have earned a break, a breath, a seat, a walk in the park, a vacation. We owe you these wishes, thoughts, liberating language which empowers you, holds you, takes care of you.
