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Black Woman Magic

WE MATTER!

By Blair WelcomePublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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My sister and I. Dallas Texas
"The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman." Malcolm X

Americans get to make sure that black women know and understand their worthiness. Black women are the mothers of all creation. All civilization emerged from our wombs. Cosmic energy emerged from the Earth as well as our wombs.

"Juneteenth isn't just about celebrating the end of slavery in Texas. It's a necessary reminder that 154 years later, Black Americans still feel the harsh reality that the fight for racial equality in our country is far from over. I'm in that fight all the way." Elizabeth Warren.

I recently had the honor to be a part of a music festival in Austin, Texas. The festival (WEPA music festival) is a Cumbia Root Festival. The majority of the musicians are from the country of Colombia and even though some live north, south, east, and west, the music they create brings them all together. I felt bewildered that every Colombian man and woman looked me in my eyes and expressed their appreciation for me. I thought to myself, what makes me so special that these people want to praise me? In the country of Colombia, 70% of the population are Afro-Colombians. Cumbia was created by Colombians of African heritage. They chose to rise from their slavery, create instruments to express their pain while singing for their rights for freedom, and are celebrated as the highest form of human beings in Colombia today. That is the reason I was praised... because to Colombians of Spanish descent understand there is no separation between humans and they hold people with darker skin higher than any race.

I was moved, emotional, and asked myself does this really exist? Am I really this worthy? In America, the only time (and I am hopeful) I have felt worthy of the color of my skin with people that is not my immediate family was the day I met 20 people that cherished my existence. At the age of 7, I wrote a letter to my classmate saying that I wanted to be friends with him. I was humiliated with his words: "I can't be friends with you because you are black." A child, a child, said these words to me. I have been told "At least I am not black like you," "can you crip walk and hula hoop at the same time?" "you are my only black friend," etc... I am not sure why and it is not my business to change those that have chosen the paths of ignorance. My only question is what is it that makes certain people feel in their hearts that I am not enough? If I stood next to another human being and our skin was removed, we would possess the same organs, veins, bones, everything would be the same. Why does the color of my skin make me feel I cannot walk down the street pass a cop without anxiety or keep my head down when I walk past most people?

SAY HER NAME:

  • Charleen Lyles- pregnant and killed by police in Seattle Washington
  • Shukri Ali- mentally ill and killed by law enforcement in Georgia
  • Deborah Danner- also mentally ill and killed by a police officer
  • Rekia Boyd- hanging with friends and shot to death... Chicago
  • Mya Hall- took a wrong turn in Maryland
  • Miriam Carey- also took a wrong turn. Washington D.C.
  • Aiyana Stanley-Jones- a child, someone's baby, and 7 years old killed by an "accidental shot." Detroit
  • Nia Wilson- 19, brutally killed on a train because a white man wanted to kill a black person that day and chose her. Oakland.

I fear I am not safe or protected by our judicial and law enforcement systems. I fear that if I am in a social setting such as the state of Wyoming and I am the only person that is black on a ranch, I may be killed. I fear for my brothers and sisters (biologically and figuratively). I fear for my life as a black woman every day and it is devastating. "Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody's going to die." I was not born to hurt you, to make you feel you are unworthy, or shame you for who you are. Every BODY and human is beautiful. Every person is here for a purpose. Every black person in the world matters.

"We hold these truths to be self-evidentthat all men are created equalthat they are endowed by their creatorwith certain inalienable rightsAmong these life, liberty andthe pursuit of happinessunless you're loud and blackand possess an opinionthen all you get is a bulletA bullet that held me at bayA bullet that can puncture my skintake all my dreams awayA bullet that can silencethe words I speak to my motherjust because I'motherA bullet – held me captivegun in my faceyour hate misplacedWhite skin, light skinbut for me not theright skinJudging me with no crime committedreckless trigger finger itching toprove your worth by disproving mineMy life in your handsMy life on the lineFred HamptonTamir Rice. Rekia BoydReggie GreenSpared by a piece of papera student IDthat you had to see beforeyou could identifymeand set me supposedlyfreeLifelibertyand the pursuit of happinessfor some of us maybeThere's nothingself-evidentabout it."Reggie- Dear White People

It is time to start raising our black women up. It is time to start treating all woman and especially black women with respect. No matter where you come from, how you are raised, or what you do, your skin color should not be a factor. Humans are humans, we experience the same emotions, our hearts beat, our lungs breathe, our eyes blink, and we will all die... I want to die knowing that I am worthy enough to walk down the streets with my head up and my heart full from my community. This day will come. I believe it!

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About the Creator

Blair Welcome

My mission in my lifetime is to connect with you as I tell my story. I wear many hats and my experiences in the world today get to be heard. I am an artist thriving to be an impact in the world.

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