I view these types of images as the emergence of an Icon for our time (an image worthy of veneration or placement on an altar) and an archetype of the "Goddess of the Underworld". Not to flatten or take away from the fierce and unique individuality of each of these incredible Black women. But, I think we (maybe I mean Black men... But, in fact all of us) should recognize a sacred aspect to these images. In a culture almost pathologically "positive" it makes sense to me that She would make Her Presence felt (She always does). But, our culture tries so hard to hide all evidence of the difficult, darker side of life. We don't have to kill to eat. Our "meat" appears in our clinically lit and sterile supermarkets shrink-wrapped and de-boned. Our warriors wield joysticks. Our movies pile up mountains of corpses without a hint of gore. We don't even encounter the smells of life. The list goes on and on. And our main Western Abrahamic religions try to erase all the ferocious and even terrifying (read Non-White) representations of the Divine Feminine: Oya, Yemaya, Marie Laveau, Kali, Vajrayogini. In fact, these representations are often ignorantly seen, and I might say even sacrilegiously, as evil or "Satanic". I have given this particular contemporary emanation or aspect of The Goddess the name The Dark Queen. I know. How creative of me. But, I believe that She reminds us that all aspects of Life are Necessary and Beautiful. It is time that we celebrate, ennoble and lift Her up; and all of our goth and punk sisters who, maybe even unknowingly, emanate a part of Her Nature. We (Black men) need to show deep respect and reverence for the Dark Goddess in whomever She arises (trans, rainbow nation, whoever) but doubly so when She appears in the guise of a fierce and uncompromising Black woman! So, if as I do, you too believe that this is an image of the Divine, then as I am, you too have become a Disciple of The Dark Queen. - rp ✊🏿
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