Saturday, January 16, 2016

A Week of Black Girl Amazing

In a week that could have shaken confidence, we paused to celebrate the already amazingness of black women,

It is all connected to remind the collective black girl that she doesn't need a hashtag to remind her of her excellence. She is a survivor, an innovator, an entrepreneur, an educator, and a thriver.  She, the collect black American girl, has had to stand strong in herself despite arrows thrown at her from every end.

So it is in that spirit that there are a few black girl moments that I celebrate this week:

The classy beauty of Mrs. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States who has exhibited the most elegance in the eight years at the White House. She has shown continued support of her husband and her daughters. There hasn't been a First Lady like her in a very long time. None of the Republican candidates' wives can hold a candle to her.

Another celebatory moment was the appointment of the twin black women as judges in Birmingham, Alabama.

Then there was the cover of Essence magazine featuring a young woman who raised her voice for not only black lives, but that the voice and presence of black women be heard in the movement that started in Ferguson.

Educated black women have always been a presence and in one week, three organizations that have had almost three hundred years of service that effects lives, all celebrated Founders' Days.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., founded in 1913, has always been involved in social justice and using the laws to move the penduleum for black lives.  They marched for Women's Sufferage and have stood for black lives in Baltimore, they are Presidential candidates (Shirley Chisholm) and Senators (Carol Mosley Braun) and otherwise involved in the work of service for mankind.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, founded in 1908, opened wide the door of collegiate sisterhood by becoming the first black Greek sorority in the country. At a time when black women were entering college at higher numbers, elevating education as a  high cause, and finding that the connections of a sorority were denied them, these women did not let it stop them. They created the first for women of color and are filled with amazing women including one of my favorite writers, the late Dr. Maya Angelou, the elegant late Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., founded in 1920, is celebrating her Founders' Day today with 96 years of gracious scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood. The only sorority that is constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc, they exhibited collegiate family and connection for many young women across the country.  They have quietly gone about their work, most notably in decreasing premature births and helping children have a healthy start in life. One of my favorite writers, the late Zora Neale Hurston, the late actress, Esther Rolle, and my son's performing arts dean at Alabama State University, Dr. Tonea Stewart, are all dovely women who are committed to making the world better.

Black girls are already amazing. I'm raising two of them, one a future Marine Biologist and another a future Fashion Director/Trend Strategist. They are both holding report cards received this week that are well above a 3.5GPA for their middle school studies. Each one is going to Carnegie Hall in March and have other friends who are thriving in their excellence, seeing their beautiful selves as amazing, without need to qualify or apologize.

We keep striving, stepping over obstacles, climbing mountains, and not looking back at those who said we couldn't.

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