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#WednesdayWisdom
"I am not a quitter. I will fight until I drop. It is just a matter of having some faith in the fact that as long as you are able to draw breath in the universe, you have a chance." — Cicely Tyson
Morning Musings
I feel like it was mere days after I was talking to my friend Pam about wishing I had the confidence of Chloe and Megan Thee Stallion back when I was in my early 20s.
If you're unfamiliar, Chloe Bailey, half of the R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle, has been living her very best life on Instagram lately starting with the #BussItChallenge.
Well #ModestyTwitter was none too happy with baby girl's posts and caused Chloe to get on Instagram Live over the weekend to defend herself. You can read the transcript in the Beauty IRL newsletter (and be sure to subscribe while you're at it). But this is what stood out to me, because same:
"I feel so confident when I get to tap into the sexy side of me because all the people who know me personally… I'm really such a nerd. I'm really to myself and I'm really, really shy. So it's honestly taken a lot for me to show the world who I really am inside.."
One of the reasons I love pole fitness and chair dance classes so much was because of the strength and sensuality it instilled in me. Not to mention the community of brave, beautiful badass women supporting one another. I felt strong, powerful, confident and, dare I say, sexy -- much like how I imagine Chloe is feeling now. And if you can learn to love your body -- every curve, every dimple, every stretch mark, every roll -- at a young age, then YES!
I've seen too many Black women and girls shamed because of their bodies. Society sexualizes Black girls as soon as we come out the womb. And then when we decide to embrace and showcase our sexuality, we're supposed to feel shame? Says who?
Why can't we as a society just let Black girls live, literally and figuratively? Why can't we be carefree, have fun and shake a little ass? That's all I want for Black girls honestly -- the freedom to just BE.
Chloe said it best, "I think it's so important and so special when a Black woman can be strong and stand in her power in every single way." Same, girl, same.
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
I recently did a Q&A with Women Unite!, a Chicago-based nonprofit. And I wrote my first piece for Hunker, a Q&A with New York-based architect Nina Cooke John.
Oh, and author, activist and poet Mahogany L. Browne (you may remember I interviewed her earlier this year for Shondaland), wrote the nicest post about me. brb, I'm fangirling...
Upcoming Events
Feb. 3 (TONIGHT): Cooking with A Taste of Amore. Join me and my college roomie/food blogger friend Dore at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on IG Live as we make shrimp scampi (feel free to grab the ingredients and follow along).
Feb. 5-7: Unapologetic Reset. Join me and my girl Rachel Symone Gilliam for Unapologetic Reset, a virtual retreat featuring more than 30 wellness sessions. Use the promo code LOREAL10 for $10 off your ticket.
Feb. 17: Creating Your Journalism Backup Plan. I'm teaming up with Wudan Yan and Jenni Gritters of The Writer's Co-op for a panel about switching out of journalism. I'll be sharing how I parlayed my newsroom skills into a successful career in nonprofit PR.
Feb. 27: How to Land a Literary Agent. I'm hosting a masterclass for Permission to Write, an online community for Black writers and writers of color, all about the process of finding, vetting and signing with a literary agent.
Links I Love
1. Cicely Tyson Has a Secret About Living Life to the Fullest. Rest in peace, legend. We love you. (New York Times)
2. I Sincerely Appreciate Black History Month and Here's Why. Growing up, my sister and I had to listen to Lady Sala Shabazz's "Little Known Black History Facts" on the Tom Joyner Morning Show before we could get out of the car for school. Thank you, Daddy, for making sure we were well informed. (ZORA)
3. The Extraordinary Power of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Instagram Live. I've been apt to tune into AOC's IG Lives every now and then (and again) and how she's using the platform is truly remarkable. (Variety)
My Latest Obsession
I joked on Twitter and Instagram about wearing Black-themed tees and sweatshirts all month long, but I just might do it. This one is from My Pride Apparel.
Now Hiring
Community Assistant for Therapy for Black Girls
Director of Media Strategy for Climate Nexus
Finance & Operations Manager for Positive Women's Network
Science Communications Fellow for Shedd Aquarium
Executive Director, Cleveland for Thrive Scholars
Director of Marketing for OneTable
Communication & Content Associate for Heartland Alliance
Program Manager for Blavity
Thank You!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who bought me a coffee last week. I'm truly touched and humbled by your generosity. Much love and many thanks to:
Martice, Tiana, Pam, Jenny, Morgan, Sarah, Janese, Jeff, Courtney, Alison, Caitlin, Alice, Harleen, Chloe, Hannah, Nikki, Lizzie, Brittany, Rimsha, Katie, Traci, Crystal, Stephanie, Bené, Pamela, Heather, Courtney, Katie, Nneka ... and a few anonymous peeps as well!
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