Black AF

I’m 52.  Which means I probably have more years behind me than I have in front of me.  What it also means is that when I say certain things in front of certain people (i.e. my kids and people their age) I get the side-eye.  Like I’m not supposed say things like “lit” or “yaaas” or “slay” … for the record, I never say “slay” and I wish no one would ever say it again in life.  Ever.

I mention this because of the title of this post.  It’s something that would come out of the mouths of millennials – which I am not.  And also for the record, I don’t want to be.  Millennials, for the most part, suck.  Sorry. #notsorry

This post is not about my old azz.  Nor is it about millennials.  It’s about being Black.  Not only being Black but also loving being Black.  I don’t think there has been a time in my life where I have loved who I am – a Black woman – more than right now.  I am seeing more and more positive images of Black women/people and it makes me want to see more.  Make no mistake, I have always had a very healthy dose of self-esteem but this is different.  Because I’m not only feeling good about me … I’m feeling good about US.

I see things like Queen Sugar and Insecure and it reassures me that we’re not all a bunch of real housewives or basketball wives or some other brand of ratchetness. 

 

 

 

 

 

I watch Viola Davis and the entire cast of Black Panther and I get goosebumps.

 

 

When I look around me, I see my family, friends and associates making moves and keeping it positive. 

For a while I was depressed about how every single day I would see something on the news or social media about yet another Black person being killed by police.  The killing was bad enough but then add to that the fact there were no consequences.  Where are they doing that?  Anytown, USA that’s where.  I had to stop scrolling through my news feeds to escape it.  Then I remembered that hiding from bad situations does not make them go away.  So, I had to purposefully and intentionally seek out positivity to force out the negativity.  Don’t get it twisted, I’m not going through life blind.  I see what’s going on.  My point is that in this world, especially now with our current administration, it’s important to seek out the positive in order to create change.  Only light can drive out darkness.  Only love can drive out hate.  I’m choosing love.

I’m no activist and you will probably never see me at a march or a protest rally.  But if I see a sista with a bomb twist out, I’m going to smile and compliment her.  Recently, I rolled up on two non-Black men running down one of my Black co-workers behind her back and I shut it down immediately.  I support Black films by actually seeing them in the theater.  I saw Get Out, Girls Trip, Fences and Hidden Figures (Sidenote:  I draw the line at TP moves, eff that).  These are small things but doing small things consistently is better than doing nothing at all.  What am I saying? I'm saying that I believe that I can make a difference in my little corner of the world by being positive and calling out wrong when I see it.  I'm saying that Black people can and do get along. I'm saying that we can and should lift each other up.  I'm saying we do not have to participate in foolishness.  I'm saying we matter and we should act like it. 

I’m not angry.  I’m not a militant but if you come at me wrong I will (figuratively) fight you.  I am unapologetically Black AF.