Black women.
Scripture calls her “virtuous.” Poems declare she’s “phenomenal.” History books verify that she’s the “OG” of OGs – the Original Genesis, mother of the universe and Original Giver of all life.
But what say you?
Like it or not, we are a society enamored with fame. We give way more deference and respect to those individuals whose names grace textbooks, and whose images adorn movie posters and TikTok videos. And when talking about Black women, we’re the same way.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Sisters like Mary McLeod Bethune, Queen Nzinga, Daisy Bates, Queen Mother Moore, Anna Julia Cooper, Nina Simone, etc., sisters who have left such an indelible mark on the world that even within this racist matrix, their names are known to textbooks and college lecturers – they deserve all the shine they receive.
But if we’re honest, even the most famous of Black women have been done a grave disservice in terms of the meager coverage and the meager conversations they are involved in, as their contributions to the world continuously take a back seat to the contributions of others.
So, even the most well-known Black women of history deserve way more flowers than they currently receive.
Then, there are those history-making sisters whose names get mentioned once every blue moon, but neither society nor “Blackworld” really know enough about them because they and their accomplishments keep getting kicked to the curb. Hello Mary Ellen Pleasant, Yaa Asantewaa, Callie Guy House, Abbey “Aminata” Lincoln, Gloria Richardson, etc!
We must do better.
And one way to start is by celebrating the history-making sisters in your life.
Yes, I’m talking about your mamas, your big mamas, aunties, ma’dears, K-12 teachers who saw something in you that you didn’t see in yourself, volleyball and track and hoop coaches, dance instructors, neighbors who always looked out for you, and on and on… till the break of dawn.
Maybe if we start showing more love, deference, and appreciation to those women in our personal lives whose names will probably never make anyone’s college textbook, we can grow an appreciation for the virtuous, phenomenal, life-giving Black women in every corner of the globe, be they “famous” or not.
In fact, let’s start right now.
Take a moment to reflect on a woman (or women) in your life who made a difference for you personally; a woman (or women) you would label virtuous, phenomenal, and life-giving. And at your earliest convenience, find someone and share your reflection. Share it with your spouse, your children, your friends, co-workers, etc. Make a social media post about your person or persons. Let’s lift up these sisters the way they’ve been lifting us up since the beginning of time.
If you need an example, here’s one:
When the wifey and I lived in Detroit and were expecting, one of the ministers of our church (Fundi Rahada) literally drove us to the hospital for the blessed birth. Our daughter, Maisha, was born that day, July 25. And July 25 just so happened to be Fundi Rahada’s birthday, as well. We already had mad, crazy love for Rev. Rahada because she’s a gem, a blessing of a human being in how she moves in the world and offers service to those in need. But the way she availed herself to our family – on her own special day – speaks to the beautiful soul that she is.
That story, that one example of Fundi Rahada’s heart, more than likely won’t make the history books folk will read 100 to 1,000 years from now, but it will stay alive in the annals of Walker Nation because we’ve told that story to Maisha, who’s now 22-yrs-old, and told it to our other children, and to friends. And because I preach every now and then, multiple congregations have heard her name.
Truth be told, I’ve been overly blessed with Black women who have done phenomenal things for me personally and for the causes most dear to my heart. So, I could give many, many more examples (my wife, my mom, my high school homeroom teacher Mrs. Nelson, etc.). And I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not alone.
So, let’s decide right now to start a new tradition in Blackworld; to use Women’s History Month as a jump-off for sharing our personal stories of the sisters in our own lives we are determined to celebrate. And let’s continue to share their stories all year round.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll accidentally stumble upon the level of honor, deference and respect for sisters of the Pan-African, trans-generational diaspora that we should have been rocking with all along. For, Black women truly are the “Pearl of Great Pirce.”
