#blackfeministfuture

[natalie-schmitt-349]

Maya Angelou:

Maya Angelou wrote a poem called “Equality”, and it resonates deeply with Black feminist futures. It paints a future that is truly equal, a future where Black women can excel and take care of themselves. A future where they are valued, respected, encouraged. Angelo has to deal with a lot of generational pressure to be this new leader and figure for the new generation to come. To fulfill this role is not easy especially when it’s a constant job there are no off days. She is always active and always engaged in the community and in the politics of everyday life. Some of the luxury of being able to ignore what’s going on in the world or as others have no choice Angela is a role model, and someone everyone should look up to.

[natalie-schmitt-349]

BRAVE OR NOT? They ask, whilst quoting Piers Morgan.. who shockingly says she was NOT and that she actually let down her whole COUNTRY for pulling out of her first event, the floor routine, when she got what gymnasts call “the twisters” during the 2020 Summer Olympics.

In her autobiography Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance, she dives into the state of her mental health and why she decided not to complete her floor routine when she was losing her spot in the air, despite immense pressure, and why she felt it was important to put her mental state before a possible medal. She set an example for Black women, she took the time she needed to rest herself when she felt it was dangerous for her to continue, and the outlash she received was astronomical. Intentional or not, her pulling out was a form of resistance against the impossible standards set on Black woman, and the responses she got affirmed the oppressive capitalist system we live under. Black women often feel they must constantly be productive to even be at the same starting line as non-marginalized folk. And as Piers Morgan felt the need ti comment, in his view, she mattered less than a medal. That she could have been hurt didn’t matter. That being hurt could have impacted her future gymnastics career or injured her permanently didn’t matter. It was her job to perform. Simone Biles showed immense strength by saying no, which is something few Black athletes are able to do, especially with the world watching and demanding more. It was the right decision—she performed superbly for the rest of the Games, and has continued to break records and awe everyone who sees her compete to this day. Black girls are watching, and see that even an Olympian needs to take time out, and it’s okay to do so even when it’s inconvenient for others.

[natalie-schmitt-349]

Look familiar?

Does this image look familiar to you? Yes? Well, that’s probably because it's referencing the iconic V-J Day Kiss! This is actually a fairly large painting done by Amy Sherald, an amazing and talented Black female artist currently working in New York City. The original photographed kiss was taken in 1945, after news World War II ended, of a sailor kissing a woman in Times Square. The image gained a lot of fame and spread fast, but unfortunately, the news came out soon after that revealed this kiss was in fact, non-consensual. The image stayed famous, but remained very controversial. Sherald’s painting of the two men carry very different emotions or feelings than the original photograph does. In her work, the man that is tilting backwards is holding his hat, which indicates he took it off and is therefore, allowing this kiss to take place. The man who is holding him from above, is holding his head gently, which, unlike the original photograph, conveys love and compassion. This representation of two black men sharing so much love and tenderness is vulnerable and very powerful, and also very rarely depicted. Black men and especially women are already underrepresented in the art world, let alone queer Black people. In the documentary “1619 Project: Race”, there’s an emphasis on the importance of using an intersectional lense when fighting oppression, that in order to fight, one must look at all of the issues rather than honing in on one, which is exactly what Sherald achieves.

[duxfemfac]

You bring joy in our darkest hours. You are @harrietsrevenge, our #ReproJustice inspiration and our #BlackFeministFuture. Happy Birthday and I love you my dear friend. 🎂🥰👊🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/CEiZfH3DBz0SLNjwNvazp7JCMfX3tEUlZZmCHk0/?igshid=15scvkbu72j27

[newvoicespgh]

#NewVoices for #ReproJustice is deeply honored to host Paris Hatcher (@harrietsrevenge), Founder of #BlackFeministFuture tomorrow, Saturday, March 26, 11:30a -1:30p! Paris will lead a salon called #FreedomDreams / #BlackFeminists Visioning Our Political Future for #Blackwomen and #Blackgirls. We have a few spots left. To RSVP, email [email protected]. #LivingHERStory #HERStoryMaker #BlackGirlMagic (at Bricolage Production Company)

[newvoicespgh]

.@WOCHERStory RSVP for #BlackFeministFuture Salon with Founder, Paris Hatcher, March 26, 11:30a-1:30p! This event is free and lunch will be served. Space is limited. RSVP now at [email protected]. Join on us for the @Demaskus play, #YouWouldntExpect at 2p. Use promo code NVP at trustarts.org or at the box office to benefit the #ReproJustice work of @NewVoicesPgh. #LivingHERStory #HERStoryMaker #BlackGirlMagic (at Bricolage Production Company)

[duxfemfac]

.@WOCHERStory RSVP for #BlackFeministFuture Salon with Founder, Paris Hatcher, March 26, 11:30a-1:30p! This event is free and lunch will be served. Space is limited. RSVP now at [email protected]. Join on us for the @Demaskus play, #YouWouldntExpect at 2p. Use promo code NVP at trustarts.org or at the box office to benefit the #ReproJustice work of @NewVoicesPgh. #LivingHERStory #HERStoryMaker #BlackGirlMagic (at Bricolage Production Company)