Justine & Elisabeth & Sophia

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

[blackgirlsgrow]

Drinks no my feelings

[blackgirlsgrow]

#pain and #recovery

[blackgirlsgrow]

Black Women, Black Mothers, Black Wives

I had to spend some time today in self reflection. My emotions around what's happening are multifaceted. 1. I am a black woman. What's happening is an assault on black bodies. 2. I am a black mother of black babies. What's happening is an assault on black motherhood because they are taking our children from us. No disrespect to fathers, but no one will mourn the loss of a child the way a mother will. 3. I am a black wife to a black man. What is happening is an assault on black marriage because they are taking our husbands and wives. The burden to hold up the children left behind is on the spouse. My emotions aren't just because I am a witness to what is happening. My entire being as a woman, as a mother, and as a wife are under attack. My revelation is not a surrendering, it is an awakening to what I am feeling and why. 4. I also have the added blessing and burden of preventing harassment and discrimination as my profession. In order to stop this hatred in the work and school environment, I have to listen to stories of hatred. Doing this in the personal space and the professional space has led to me feeling the way that I do right now. I am hurting. But I am blessed, because I work for a white Ally who respect where I come from. She is also a mother of a black baby. While she can't understand all levels of my pain, she has to recognize how it impacts her child. I am equally blessed to work with black people who can help me in my struggle. I was blessed by one of these highly educated black women, an educator and PhD, who asked to pray with me this evening. We have a lot of work to do black women, black mothers, and black wives. But in doing this work we need to first recognize 1) why we are doing this work and 2) that while doing this work we come together to maintain our self-love and self care. 1. Acknowledge your emotions. Forget the notion of the "angry black woman". Of course you are angry, everyone should be angry. 2. Recognize why you are in pain. Take some time to reflect on why you are crying or numb or apoplectic. 3. Engage in self-care today. Reach out to a woman who is like you. A black woman or a black woman + black mother or a black woman + black mother + black wife. Buck the idea that as black women we must be superwoman. Be strong tomorrow. Be vulnerable today. We are useless to ourselves and to the community if we are fully depleted.

[blackgirlsgrow]

BLACK PRIDE IS NOT WHITE HATE.

[blackgirlsgrow]

When Will Black Lives Matter to America / Standing on the Burning Platform

They just keep killing us. 12 year olds, 13 year olds, unarmed, running away, walking away, sitting in our cars, laying down on our backs with our hands held down, sitting in jail cells. There literally is no way to survive them. 6 months of training and you get a lethal weapon. Always a kill shot. Kill 13 black people in church and you get a bail hearing. Multi day standoff with your biker crew, and you get a jail sentence. We literally aren’t safe in our own homes – ask 7 year old Aiyana Stanley-Jones… Oops, you can’t, she’s dead. DOJ says they are targeting us. NO CHANGE. Catch them on camera – they get a pay raise. “How dare Colin Kaepernick protest. What’s his problem? He’s un-American.” Well, if protesting the genocide of black people is un-America, then I am proud to be un-American. We are days away from another hashtag. #WhenWillBlackLivesMatterToAmerica? #BlackMan #BlackWoman #BlackChildren #SayTheirNames #IAmSoTiredOfThisSHIT

[blackgirlsgrow]

I'm still trying to process #TyreKing. Now I'm participating in the collective Black mourning of #TerenceCruther.

[blackgirlsgrow]

#TheBlackWoman FIGHTER. FAITHFUL. FORCEFUL. FIERCE. FEMININE. We are so much to so many. We are so strong for so many.

[tdcyo]

[blackgirlsgrow]

Solidarity takes many forms.

[blackgirlsgrow]

"Horrifying Facts About Sexual Exploitation of Black Women During Slavery" This video is a must watch. As black women we have been beaten, raped, abused, experimented on, and disregarded as humans. White men, white women, and black men have all played a part in torturing degrading us. We need to know our history and what has been done to us. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UU7qSjZrpPA "The sexual exploitation of black women, which started during slavery, still exist today." Often we do it to ourselves. Black women know your worth and stop giving everything away. Don't display all that God has given to you. Modest is not a bad word. White feminism has taught us, "If you got it, flaunt it." That shit isn't for you. They weren't forced to flaunt themselves for breeding and rape. You were. Practice sled love.

[blackgirlsgrow]

This Self Love is Unbreakable

[blackgirlsgrow]

Ignorant SOB. We aren't the ones who hyphenated ourselves. The Trumps of the past did that. Love how they call him Trumps Surrogate pastor. WTF is a surrogate pastor? Ignorance come in all shades.

[blackgirlsgrow]

I AM A BLACK WOMAN. Mother of all generations.

[blackgirlsgrow]

September 2016 is dedicated to self care. Log off of social media. Turn your phone off for an hour a day. Sleep in as often as you can. Read at least 1 book. Walk 30 minutes a day. Dance wildly in your living room. Do whatever it takes to be at peace within.

[blackgirlsgrow]

No turning back....

[blackgirlsgrow]

[blackgirlsgrow]

"Black women shouldn’t be expected to fight for everyone else and themselves by themselves.”

[blackgirlsgrow]

Black.Girls.Grow

Black Girls Grow. Take inventory of your worth. Understand that there is a reason they covet what you posses. Guard your glory. Black Girls Grow. Your are the portal to new generations. You are the cheerleaders for your brothers. You are the prayer warriors over communities. You are the inspiration of culture. You are the keepers of our virtues. You are the shoulders that movements stand on. Black Girls Grow. Be more than they expect you to be. Be more than they have allowed you to be. Be more than you think you can be. Black Girls Grow. REST. HEAL. PRAY. READ. WRITE. WORKOUT. Invest in yourself. Be selfish for good. Be thoughtful with your inner thoughts.