In the last two weeks i have been asked more than five times by different people “what is the purpose of these posts?” or “what is the whole idea behind them?” or some variation of these questions.
My nutshell answer is :to celebrate young Black women.
The long of it is this: I often feel the whole world comments about a lack of strong Black female role models. I want to disagree with this, and state that the lack only exists in the awareness. We do not celebrate one another enough or more accurately we have a fixed measure of when we should celebrate a Black woman who is doing more than survive.
We (read mainstream media) wait until someone can no longer be denied. When her star is the “brightest” one, only then do we deem her fit to be celebrated. I believe if we get into the business of celebrating one another at every juncture we will create an awareness of the ocean of Black female role model that exist.
On the daily more women than the mind can hold are going out there and doing all they possibly can, sometimes even the extraordinary, to live the lives they dream of. This is something that cannot be denied because, it has not reached the predetermined measure of what success looks like. Because, some days is just being able to get out of bed and go about your day, hanging from the belief that it will all get better and you will ultimately reach your goal.
This celebration of young women doing what they can with what they have is not only to serve as encouragement for them to keep going BUT, to serve Black girls and other young Black women who feel stuck. I believe it is more relatable to read or experience a woman who is within your mists living their best life, or working hard at it, than it is to draw sustainable inspiration from the female celebrities who grace the covers of magazines every month, and double features during Women’s Month. We need to start spreading the message widely to every woman doing her best each day, you are enough! Magazine and television features should not be the standard that we hold ourselves to. We can aspire to be celebrated on a grand scale, because then our message(s) reaches a wider audience but, we should never view it as a measure of our worth or purpose.
We need to celebrate one another as women. In word and in deed. When life is good and when it throws curve balls and plot twists. We, as Black women, are our best allies.
I am determined to celebrate at least 100 women and hopefully create an avalanche of this kind of appreciation for one another.
Stay tuned for more amazing women. Nominate a woman you feel should be profiled. Heck nominate yourself, and let us chat and celebrate all that you are doing, all you aspire to be and the plot twists which have lead you to where you are today.
Remember, you are enough, at every juncture in your life- you are ENOUGH!
girlsmattersa 