Fed-Up Black Woman 😡

Jun 17, 2020

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#WednesdayWisdom

"The work is offline. The work is online. The work includes presence. The work includes absence. The work is virtual. The work is in the streets. The work is in legislative halls. The work is in art. The work is in policies. The work is at the polls. The work is where we are." — Bernice King

Morning Musings

Does the world care about Black women? In short? No.

"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."

I imagine when Malcolm X included the above excerpt in an 1962 speech he never imagined his words will still ring true today, nearly 60 years later. Or maybe he did. Hell if I know.

But what I do know is that I'm fed up.

On Monday, when I learned about the death of Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, a 19-year-old Black Lives Matter activist, it felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Shortly afterward, I learned about Nakia Crawford, an 18-year-old high school graduate who was fatally shot. Eighteen years old. It's a damn shame.

I closed my computer and sat stunned, unsure of what to do next. I needed to get out. I needed fresh air and sunshine. And at the same time, I was momentarily afraid to go outside for a walk, in my own neighborhood.

After taking a few minutes to calm down, I walked to the lake. I was listening to Lemonade and walking along the pier when I wondered, for a brief moment, what would happen if I just kept walking and allowed the weight and waves of Lake Michigan to wash over me and drown my sorrows.

Obviously, I returned home. But not after sitting with my toes in the sand for a bit. As "Freedom" played, I watched two little Black boys playing at the shore and wondered, how long would they be able to enjoy this freedom? How long before they go from cute to threat? How long before the harsh realities of the world catch up to them?

Love,
L'Oreal

Virtual Happenings

June 19: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Joy, Freedom and Healing. Dive In Well hosts a weekend-long wellness event for Black people. (FREE)

June 24: Allyship 101. Women Unite explores what it means to be an ally and shares practical tips on how to be an effective ally. (Suggested donation $15)

June 27: I Climb the Ladder: Q2 Career Intensive. Watchen Nyanue presents a virtual summit to help you take control of your career. ($79)

June 27: BK Yoga Club Presents Recess. This daylong virtual wellness retreat includes yoga, sound bowl meditation, poetry and more. (Early bird, $10)

June 28: Therapy with Sista Afiya. Camesha Jones will share her incredible mental health work with Sista Afya and how she's offering therapy sessions for those in need. (Free)

Links I Love

1. The Literary World May Never Recover From #PublishingPaidMe. And, honestly, I hope it doesn't, in the best way possible. (Bitch)

2. How The Wing's Empire Was Built on Trauma, Racism and Neglect. Yet another reminder all that glistens isn't gold (and I say this as a former member of The Wing). (Jezebel)

3. Angela Davis: 'We Knew That The Role of the Police Was to Protect White Supremacy.' Enough said. (The Guardian)

Classifieds

RefuSHE’s Fashion Challenge celebrates the strength & resilience of refugee girls through fashion in a unique virtual runway competition. Join us on June 18-20, where you will vote to decide the 2020 winner by donating – every vote empowers!

Want to promote your business or event? Email loreal@ltinthecity.com for more info!

My Latest Obsession

To know me IRL is to know I'm a very literal person. So when I saw "Your Daily Drive" pop up on CarPlay while driving home from a doctor's appointment earlier this year, I equated the playlist with commuting.

Then subscriber Martice (hey girl, hey!) recommended the playlist after I'd talked about my shower soundtrack routine in a . I've incorporated the personalized playlist, which starts with NPR, plays songs based on your preference/history and various other quotes, poems, podcasts, etc.

It helps me stay up to date on national and global affairs, plus I can still twerk to Lizzo while brushing my teeth. I'm a fan. Now if I could just figure out how to get my horoscope integrated there as well...

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