(Source: hudawashere)

blipsters:

“Race Pride’ in me had to go. And anyway, why should I be proud to be a Negro? Why should anybody be proud to be white? Or yellow? Or red? After all, the word ‘race’ is a loose classification of physical characteristics. It tells nothing about the insides of people. Pointing at achievements…

Is it possible to not be deemed crazy if you realize in the early pages of a book that at some point it has to end and wanna cry hysterically about it?

My thought over ‘On Beauty: The Novel’ … *le sigh. 

thebrownggrrlzproject:

The title of this was paraphrased from a quote that I found by Toni Morrison while browsing the web on a hot day, some time last year. When thinking about my next piece to write, it seemed almost crystal clear that it was time for me to express my self in a way that I am not used to doing so.

I wish I could describe the feelings that I feel sometime. 

The feelings that what I am doing as an artist, a writer, and an organizer isn’t good enough. Like I have miles to go before I sleep. Like I have a lot more to learn before I can even begin to call myslef a writer or artist or organizer. 

I look at my accomplishments or goals that I have met in less than 7 months and I feel like it isn’t enough - like I should’ve made bigger goals or something. 

I look at my fellow artist, writers, and organizers and feel like “why am I not in that place in my life”. 

I shouldn’t compare myself to another artists journey, ability, knowledge, experience - but damn, when will my time come? 

I feel like I pour so much energy into books, writings, organizing, and creating and I am showing nothing for it… 

im ranting & anxiety filled. Goodnight. 

The title of this was paraphrased from a quote that I found by Toni Morrison while browsing the web on a hot day, some time last year. When thinking about my next piece to write, it seemed almost crystal clear that it was time for me to express my self in a way that I am not used to doing so.

Over the course of the past two years I have made it my duty, my job, my hobby, my love, and my life to make sure that I speak out through the various mediums that I have been blessed with creativity in (painting, film photography, organizing, and writing). Most importantly, the last six months (during my hiatus from school) have put me in a place and space to be a sponge – to absorb and learn everything around me in the alternative ways that it was being presented (via internet, books, personal conversations, MSNBC, workshops, and so on.)

I have grown in ways that I couldn’t imagine if I hadn’t taken this time away and off from school and my (then) daily routine. I have shared, learned, and connected from and with womyn and sisters of colour that I look back on and want to do nothing but give them praise and thanks for.

We all know that this life of activism can be one of isolation and loneliness if you don’t have the luxury or tools or mutual radicalism with someone around you. 

“I have love and support from a team of women who all identify with me as individuals who feel displaced in this white-supremacist-capitalist-patriarchal (and heteronormative) society. I think that this is crucial for any of us who consider ourselves as activists and that one without such a crucial component to their activism can face the possibility of feeling isolation.” – Huda Hassan

I am an introvert – I find pleasure in creating my nest (furniture, book cases, art, flowers, tea – you know, whatever is used to decorate a home to your liking) and spending a ridiculous amount of time there. I find pure bliss and pleasure to travel in my mind, from the comfort of my desk or couch with a book in hand. Maybe it’s because I am always working and when I am not I prefer to stay within my own space but mostly because I only like to get out when it pertains to art, food, or activism (and that in itself could be millions of different things) which leads to the question of how I defer from isolation within activism.

I have gotten my love and filled my void of loneliness in a way that I am not sure has been done or talked about before (or at least I have yet to hear someone step forth and say differently).

I have gotten that crucial component of activism from what I like to call my cyber sisters. These womyn have given me the privilege of learning their stories and experiences and use this in a way to complicate my story and experience of truth. These womyn have taught me how to self care and self love; how to write and analyze. They have taught me how to be an ally to my fellow queers. They have taught me alternative meanings to words that I thought were never meant to be fiddled with.

These womyn took it upon themselves to keep me from feeling remote on my journey to activism, artivism, and love and let me know that I was not facing the hardships of being a womyn of colour alone with their personal blogs, organizations, and emails.

“Keep speaking out as the experts of your own experiences, tell your truths, step back and allow others whose voices are not often acknowledged take up more space. Know that there are multiple narratives that all exist at the same time, the truth of another should complicate your own, but not invalidate.” – Kim Crosby

“I’m under the realization and belief that WOC who dedicate themselves to combating and challenging their role as women of colour in this society benefit greatly from female relationships. The female friendships I have formed in the past few years – the women who are like sisters to me – have helped me to learn to love, not just them, but to approach new friendships with open arms and trust. They have provided me support in various situations, particularly in regards to my identity. They have helped me find answers to questions that I couldn’t answer, and, with their love, made me feel at strength when difficult, traumatic and racist experiences have occurred in my life. They have spent hours listening to my perspectives, correcting me when I’ve been wrong and provided me the support I’ve desired and needed when I’ve felt at war with this society.

But most importantly, they have assured me that I am not alone with any of the difficulties I have faced as a woman, or a woman of colour.” – Huda Hassan

I have learned:

1. Resistance, Writing, and Femme Visibility from Kim Crosby
2. Writing, Photography, Hard Work, and How to be a Cosby from Huda Hassan
3. Facilitation, Organizing, and Music from Amanda Parris
4. Wisdom, Cooking, and Strength from My Granny
5. Writing, Self Love, and Literacy from Toni Morrison
6. Perspectives, Feminism, and Consulting from Rebecca Walker
7. Body Positivity, Word Play, and War Paint Visibility from Dainty Smith
8. Friendship and Compassion from Chantel Rose
9. Life from My Mama
10. Self Care, Perseverance, and Mental Stability from My Art

“You need a whole community to raise a child…” – Toni Morrison

“And so instead of harping on the monochromatism and classist nature of Girls, support the artists, producers, and creators of colour and consciousness who are centralizing their experiences — our experiences— in their work. Support UgandaSpeaks, and writers like Chimamanda Adiche Ngozi and Teju Cole; films like Pariah, Gun Hill Road and Restless City; shows like Awkward Black Girl and East Willy B. Help lift up all of the underground artists, writers, thinkers, producers, workers, organisers and creators who produce alternatives all the while remembering that we, youth of colour, are not invisible. We may not figure in the imagination of pop culture makers and all may not understand our struggles, but we do not need to be delivered to relevancy by anyone other than ourselves. White eyes are not the only one’s with insight; white voices are not the only one’s that sound; white ears are not the most important receivers; and white actions are not the only one’s that count. We are not invisible children, for at the very least, we see ourselves.” – Sharon Cromwell

This is my community.

Community is where you make and create it to nurture and nature in a way you see fit for you. I have created a community within my mental space and within my work life – within my home. I have created a community that uplifts me when needed, cries with me, laughs with me, loves with me, and every thing else in between from the comfort of my phone and of my lap top.

“I fell in love with you when I first met you…” – My Granny

So, in my previous post I reblogged a photo of Zadie Smith and a bit of info about what 30 Days of Zadie Smith is. I am one who has never read any of her writings (essays, fiction, non-fiction, novels, short stories, etc.) but I am always open to reading works of different writers - especially those who are womyn of colour. 

So, for the month of June I will be reading her book, On Beaty: A Novel, and blogging about while also reading Safy’s entries and others ( them, them, them, them, them, & them.) who have decided to join in on this addicting indulgence. 

For the info click here. 

fatwasandfanboys:

If you don’t know what I am talking about, read this first.

People participating in 30 Days of Zadie Smith include Britt, Faith, Dylan, Maria, Ifrah, and some other people who’ve said they’d participate (on a smaller scale).

A lot of people have asked what the “rules” are, to…

This is what I will be indulging in!