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Embracing Our Blackness


 



The title of this blog post is a double entendre and we are going to explore both meanings. Firstly, it means embracing the actual colour of your skin. Secondly, it means embracing the fact that you are a black woman, no matter your skin colour.

 

For years, being black was shunned upon. Being black and dark in skin colour was even worse. Our ancestors walked through hell for us. They endured endless humiliation about their race, skin colour, hair, how they spoke & body features. The sad part is that all of this is still very much prevalent in present day South Africa. It might not be at the same extent, but it still does exist. 27 years later and we’re still subject to such discrimination.

 

We cannot control how and what other races think about us, but we can control how and what we think about ourselves. What we’re not going to do in 2021 is inflict self-hate because of other people’s opinions. We are BOLD. We are BEAUTIFUL. We are BRILLIANT. We are BLACK.

 

There are many ways we can embrace our Blackness, I will provide 5 ways we can all embrace our Blackness.

1. APPRECIATE OUR CULTURE

We as a community of black women should embrace our Blackness and who we are. Take pride in our differences because there is no monochromatic way to be a black woman. Love and appreciate skin you’re in, the hair you have and the culture you come from. Other cultures are not going to teach our people about our culture. It is up to us to restore the rich history of who we are.

2. FORGET THE HATERS

Who cares what other people think? Not a single black woman in 2021. Self-awareness and self-worth are everything. Self-awareness allows you us to understand what we can and cannot control. When we are secure in who and what we are, nothing can faze us. We are daughters of Queens. A strong lineage of powerful ancestors who command respect.

 

3. Black is Beautiful

Black women are BEAUTIFUL. Black women are ART. It is not our duty to force ourselves to appeal to mainstream beauty standards. Beauty comes in all shapes and forms and there isn’t any that is superior to the others. Our self-care should include self-love & acceptance.

 

4. Being Black Enough

Steve Bantu Biko once said, “Being black is not a matter of pigmentation- being black is a reflection of a mental attitude.” Now think, are you intelligent enough to think for yourself? Do you stand up for what is right? Do you call out your perpetrator friends? Do you care about the progress of your people? Are you sharing opportunities or are you a gatekeeper? Are constantly learning and unlearning about your blackness? Are you doing what you can with what you have to dismantle oppressive structures? I.e. at school, work, society. There is more but for now answer the question, ARE YOU BLACK ENOUGH?

                                       

5. Your voice matters, let it be heard.

You do not need the title of ‘Activist’ to speak up on social issues. We are all activists. Calling out a group of men catcalling you is an act of activism. It does not have to be on your Instagram bio. Our voices combined are what will help us in the end. If we do not speak up, our silence will impact any prosperity of a brighter future. Imagine if the woman of 1956 didn’t speak up, what would be of us today? Remember, silence is not revolutionary.

 

As usual, please feel free to comment down below: What does embracing your blackness mean to you? If you haven’t, please subscribe using your email address to receive a notification every time I release a new blog post. Please continue sharing blog information with your family and friends and let us grow our family because there is a not so new anymore table in town and everyone has a seat with their name on it.

 

Love,

A Determined Black Woman.

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