I have spoken and written often about how I didn’t own my body until I was all of 31. It was my 31st birdthat in fact. Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love” was playing and I was undressing for the night and the lyrics, “No complaints with my body, so fluorescent under these lights,” punched me in the chest. I was like, “Oh no girlllll. Life is a funny thang girl.” (Shoutout to Gina Devereux for being my inner voice for years). 😩 Not only did I not own my body - the church, my family, society, and past lovers all owned my body. “Can I have some of my own self?” - My brilliant sister in Boom @sonyareneetaylor started an important movement years ago called, #TheBodyIsNotAnApology. I suggest you get your life and follow her work. - I have been apologizing for my body since I was 4. 😬 - As a #blackWoman, society makes me apologize for having a #WrongBody because these thighs... unique. - The Church makes me apologize for my body because it is for bringing God praise but also 👀 I am a woman. (Be Bless y’all. Be bless.) - My family makes me apologize for my body cause I’m always considering whether or not I will bring Shame to them because no one in my family has ever been naked before. We got here by the power of the Holy Ghost and Prayer alone. 🙊(This isn’t an outward judgement but its there in those Facebook likes and the times when there are none 👩🏾💻) - Mens be making me apologize for my body cause... timeout... Who made up the saying, “Lady in the street but a freak in the bed?” Who raised you trashity trash people?” Lol! 🤔😂 But at 31 I decided... It’s my body. There is nothing to be ashamed of. It is good in Gods sight. And the fact that folk can look at it, criticize it, judge it, sexualize it, criminalize it, tear it apart, whatever... is none of my business. || This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. - A #HipHopWomanist #Benediction #PreachEb #TheFreePeopleProject www.ebonyjanice.com https://www.instagram.com/p/BnbiCQxFtSq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16pubt8d593uz