To The Strong Black Women in My Life

My mother was the first. She was the first strong black woman who paved the way for me. She showed me strength and grace, and how to seize every opportunity without a second guess. Her life was and is unapologetic, not settling for a folding chair but bringing the leather office chair to the table of her choosing. She saw pain and purpose and used all of it to turn it into success. She was the first, but not the last. In the last few years, without intention, I have been privileged to be in the same space among fierce and glorious black women. To say I admire them would not do it justice. They’ve continued to be what my mother envisioned for me as a woman and a woman of color. This letter is for those women.

To You, Queen,

To inhabit the same space is humbling. You walk into a room and simultaneously spark passion and silence. Your words engage and provoke thought for action and movement in a way no one else can. You claim the space whether or not you intend to, yet humanity owes thank to you in doing so. You’ve endured tragedy and triumph, hate and healing. But you rise. My sister how you rise. It is a beauty like no other to see your strength. It is not only beautiful but unique. Your strength comes from your story, your truth. But it also comes from the fire that burns within you. That fire paired with your rise, does something most won’t do. While you own your royalty, you look right and look left to see other sisters in an effort to lift each other. The queen in you sees other queens eliminating competition and choosing collaboration. You pave the way for future queens of color to take up your mantle in generations to come.

I am humbled in your friendship, and grateful for your extended hand to me, a woman of color lacking melanin, to rise with you. You saw me as a queen when I often don’t see that for myself. You embraced what my mother began in me, and maybe that is who you see in me. You are excellence in every way. You are the trailblazer, the pioneer, the inspiration. When I look at you, I notice who I strive to be. I see who I hope to continue knowing as you move forward to change the world.

So keep on. You don’t need a seat at the table, you brought the table and sent out the invites yourself. What you do from now on is a contribution only you can make, and everyone will have the privilege of experiencing your greatness through your powerful impact. Thank you for embracing all that is you. May your rise be strong and your reign be long. The world is yours.

Related posts:

The broken bones of yesterday. “Past Indiscretions” is published by Bruce Brachna.

You might be thinking why the person you call your friend betrayed you. And even because of this, no one will wants to have a person to call friend anymore. Some would rather have friends as their…

The Border32Fire near Dulzura is not the exception to the rule. We are having more wildfires that also grow faster. This is what in the business is called explosive growth. This particular fire is on…