Lessons

I have come to realize that the cost of living authentically is expensive because it requires me to take ownership of spaces that typically didn’t welcome my ancestors. It’s requires a responsibility that unravels in every action, word + deed. It requires discipline to stay before the Creator not to confess my limitations but rather to express my upmost gratitude. It also requires a burden that most people don’t desire to carry due to the obligation to ignite others to pick up their mantle + race to accomplish their purpose.

To be black, queer + a woman doing work that constantly reminds me + others of the 3 most obvious things takes courage to remind others of their responsibility + their power. I remember my mothers journey as she travailed daily to be seen, heard + validated. I recall her being the only black woman in homogenized spaces. I look back on the lives of my parents + so many other black + brown faces that desired a space to just “be”. Its complicated!

I am learning that we must study ourselves + the changes we desire to make not only in our families but in the world. We must earn the privilege to practice love in spaces that need the most care. We must get extremely clear about who we are + who we hope to be so that we can change the narrative that has been fed to us by people that never took the time to understand that love never diminishes the other but amplifies everyone.

This picture was taken one weekend after a session I did at Wayne College at the request of a beautiful brown sister. This is a view from her backyard as we laughed about her journey as a single mom. This moment is a reminder that passion + gratitude will take you far. Salut!