For Sis: Healing Through Solange

When I say A Seat at the Table came right on time, I mean it came right on time. It seems as if Solange knew that the United States was about to implode and she swooped in like a first responder.

My awareness of the corruption, hate and oppression in America became acute under the Obama administration. These things weren't new. They used to dwell just beneath the surface but they have begun to spring up like weeds. It seems since we gained the first black president of the United States we have suffered devastating assaults to the black community: an increase in murders committed by civilians against black folk, an increase in the horrors of police brutality, and the blight of an ever failing justice system. It's shocking to realize that the birth of the BlackLivesMatter movement occurred during Obama's presidency.

Then we suffered the campaign and election of the Tangerine Nightmare. With it came an increase in hate crimes, divisiveness, violence, sexism, bigotry and white nationalism. This country is practically screaming to people of color "We will break you."

I mean we all knew that there were segments of this country, our government, that hated us: those who lived to have generations of prejudice and racism flow through their family lineage. We knew those people would forever fight us for the freedoms that had already been established, for the new liberties we seek to enjoy. However, it seems that with a renewed hope and fervor, our enemies are launching a wicked campaign to eat us alive.

Fighting this campaign is the most tiring and depressing obstacle I have faced in my life. We are expected from others and ourselves to take up arms, to defend and protect our oppressed bodies. But sometimes just attempting to exist is too hard. Sometimes getting out of bed is too hard.

We organize. We march. We fight.

Rinse. Repeat.

And when we can't. When we're drained. When we're too sad. We sit on the sidelines. We watch those fighting in the streets for [insert atrocity here] and we feel sick for not having the strength to join rally #289,939.

In a time where it feels a sin to do nothing and a sickness to press on, I'm so grateful for A Seat at the Table. It's my healing. It's my renewing. It's my refreshing. When I feel heavy, I turn it on and I hear the nightmare I'm living confirmed and my love for blackness affirmed. I can sing my anger and frustrations. I can listen to a voice other than my own tell me I'm important, I'm beautiful, I'm strong, I'm valuable. I can listen to an album made explicitly for me in this great time of need. When I'm feeling all alone and like no one else understands me, I know Solange does. I fall in love with her every time I hear her voice.

For Sis

She says Rise 

and you do

Says you'll be Weary

but The Glory's in You

She sees the Cranes

She knows your Mad

Like Dad

Tells you to let it go

Says, no

Don't You Wait

She teaches you

What Tina Taught

Says don't them Touch

The hair you got or bought

In This Moment

You wonder 

Where Do We Go from here

Then your dear

Offers a gift

For Us By Us

She tells you not to

Cross the Borderline

Cause you have So Much Magic
Funky Junie classic

Don't let them have it

And they'll try to take

Better hit 'em when they flock

Hit 'em on the top, with a bop

Your shots are clean

Cause you're a No Limit solider

Still, you can use her shoulder

She says you don't need the world

To Wish you Well

You don't need their Pedestals

She taught you how to Scale

You were Chosen