Black woman are beautiful. No ifs, ands or buts. No exclusions or exceptions to this fact. Young, old, tall, short, fat, thin, from the darkest hues to the lightest hues, We are beautiful. Black woman are beautiful. I am so tired of seeing myself and other sisters being disrespected. Brother Malcolm’s speech “On Protecting Black Woman” is the best summation of my feelings. It’s a combination of hate from other sisters, hate from black men, and hate from everyone else that completes the recipe for the degradation of black womanhood. Now, I’m not saying that everyone has to marry a black woman. I’m just saying that we need to do better as a community in regards to supporting and celebrating black women. Also, I am in no way saying that black woman can’t defend themselves. Most importantly, I am not saying that all black men hate black woman or that all people hate black woman.
Unfortunately, the truth can not be denied. Describing the black experience in America as difficult is definitely an understatement.Adding gender to the equation both intensifies and magnifies the pain. We are condemned for being to overpowering, too loud, not submissive enough.We are too unrefined when we wear appreciate our natural textures. We are condemned when we get degrees, wear extensions, desire nice things, make too much money and date outside of our race for being uppity and white.We are bitches when we don’t smile at every man that comes our way with some lame tired game. We are defined as welfare queens, thots, and rachets. We are least likely to get married in comparison to women of other races. We are more likely than women of other races to suffer from illness and disease. Black beauty is too often correlate with having light/ fair skin. We’ve been told for so long what we are. No one asks us who we are. We are ferocious. We are unmatched. We are kind, loving, strong, and sensitive. We have value. We can’t continue to be the backbone and the doormat.
“Our crown has already been bought and paid for. All we have to do is wear it” -James Baldwin
Here’s to the rejection of the objectification and portrayal of black women as hyper-sexual beings. Here’s to the celebration of black female sexuality according to our individual terms.We are educated. We are revolutionary. We will not be dethroned. Our voices, stories, and overall existence will not be silenced. I’m not condemning women of other races. I’m simply stating that black women need to be treat better. We have to acknowledge history. We have to acknowledge the institutions and systems that thrive of the deformation of black women. Systems and institutions thrive off of the conflict between black people. We are forced to thrive in a eurocentric, male dominated world that critiques our every move, ever single choice. My main point is that we are beautiful. If you don’t know now you know sistah!
Nora Zaneta 