Reclaiming Our Space by Feminista Jones

Author:Feminista Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beacon Press

If we are to believe Stevie Wonder’s conception of magic, Black women hold the keys to every door throughout the universe. We are as magical as the poet’s endless rhyme and the galaxies in time. We fill you up without a bite and quench every thirst. If we are special, though, then why aren’t we more careful with ourselves? And why does the world often seem to be proactively engaging in efforts to deny us the right to exist proudly with such glowing essence? The moment Black girls and women believe in our magic is the moment we cease being the reliant workaholic mules, the soothing, nurturing mammies, the all-knowing sage advisers, the stress-releasing punching bags, the stationary props on other people’s sets—we believe in our right to say no without being convinced that saying no to others will translate into a lifetime of doors closing in our faces and opportunities fading away.

Hashtags like #BlackGirlsAreMagic or the more popular, abbreviated version, #BlackGirlMagic, serve as a call to action for Black women. They function as a reminder of our power and our unique beauty, internal and external. When Black girls and women make the news, breaking barriers and making history, we highlight their accomplishments with these hashtags. When Black girls and women show up, for ourselves and for others, we want the world to know this is who we are and how we have always been. We do not have to be supernatural or superhuman to be magic—we just need to be. The continuation of our mere existence is magical in itself, and the ways in which we are able to shine and thrive, against all odds, should be honored and celebrated. What started as a hashtag has transformed into a movement that has changed how we speak about Black girls and women, and the world is beginning to see us and appreciate us for all of our contributions to forward progress. There is so much that would not exist were it not for us, and sometimes we just need a reminder that we are, indeed, magic.

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