Black Women in Formation

The last few weeks of my life have been somewhat disheveled.  So I have a few blog posts that I am behind in sharing and this is one of them.  I originally intended this to be a black history month post, however because black history month is the briefest on time, I ran out of it!  I was lightened and delighted to learn that March is women’s history month.  And today is International Women’s Day! So though my post is “late” it is still very much appropriate.  Here you go:

I’m so so proud to be a black woman.  No matter how much of an attempt there is, or has been, to minimize the exquisite beauty and genius of black women, there is an infinite number more of heavily outweighing images I have seen that has shown me the truth. If I included every black woman who has left an imprint in history, this compilation would be unending. I tried to squeeze as much as I could in a short video and I still don’t feel like I’ve done you justice!

Naomi Campbell’s walk is its own entity, totally mesmerizing. So is Tyra Banks’ ability to tell a whole story with her eyes. Alek Wek is the beauty that teaches the world about beauty. Maxine Waters is a whole mood, a whole mood sis. Coretta Scott King is strength, the pillar of an entire existence. Nikki Giovanni is light. Maya Angelou is insight. Kathleen Cleaver is raw dopeness…

And the list goes on and on…Dr. Mae Jemison, Rhonda Walker, Shonda Rhimes, Aretha Franklin, Twinkie Clark, Lexi, Whitney Houston, Cicely Houston, Solange (Solange can do no wrong. She is a cultural princess), Tina Turner, Nancy Wilson, Dorinda Clark-Cole (her voice is gospel), Tasha Page-Lockhart, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Erica and Tina Campbell, Yolanda Adams (listen Yolanda is a singing beast, my absolute favorite), Beyoncé, Queen Latifah, Kelly Rowland, Brandy, Rihanna, Toni Braxton, Ciara, Missy Elliot, Erykah Badu, Lena Horn, CeCe Winans, Diana Ross (glamour personified), Patti Labelle, Jill Scott (the flavor, the sauce honey), Sarah Jakes Roberts, Tammy Franklin, Kim Porter, Nicole Kobi, Tika Sumpter, Tracee Ellis Ross…

Lupita Nyong’o (I secretly want her to be my BFF), Serena Williams, Surya Bonaly, Dominique Dawes, Misty Copeland, Florence Griffin Joyner, Kerry Washington, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina King (I just love her), Taraji Henson (Ok, I just love her toooo), Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union, Nia Long, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Halle Berry (she fine), Angela Bassett (she fine toooo), Phylicia Rashad (goals, goals, goals on every level), Charnele Brown, Zuri Hall (also who I secretly want to by my BFF), Tiffany Haddish, and Oprah.

Michelle Obama is the cake. And the icing perfectly spread on it. And the skillfully created sugar flowers that you want to just hold on to forever. She is everything. Intelligence, poise, class, style, everything.

Like I said, my list could go on and on and on… Nina Simone, Rosa Parks, Anita Baker, Kimberly Elise… I see you and all of my life I’ve been obsessed with you. Walking like you, singing like you, speaking like you, thinking like you, dressing like you, wearing my hair like you, dancing like you, praying like you, slaying like you, writing like you, drawing like you, acting like you, being like you. You are EVERYTHING!

I don’t know if it’s “magic” in so much as it is divine impartation. But thank you for every single bit of inspiration. You are my brilliant, gorgeous, rich (and very sexy) history. You’ve caused a whole lot of conversation. Here’s my tribute to you. You are life! Happy (belated) Black History Month, happy Women’s History Month, and happy International Women’s Day! I love you!

Photo credit: Micaiah Carter/ Instagram