Black women can’t catch a break
The disrespect toward Black women is as blatant as ever, and this week’s headlines are Exhibit A. Take Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, for example. People are actually calling for her resignation over the devastating fires ravaging the city. I missed where she had some kind of magical Thor abilities to make her responsible for high winds. The strained city budget she’s been warning about for months played a role in fire preparedness, but somehow, folks like Khloé Kardashian feel entitled to pile on. And let’s talk about Khloé’s hypocrisy for a moment: she and her siblings were just named among LA’s worst water wasters, guzzling 333,000 gallons a month, despite Mayor Bass pleading with residents to conserve water for crises like this.
But it doesn’t stop there. The lies and disrespect are flying, and people believe whatever nonsense they read. The hypocrisy is almost unbearable. The same folks calling for Karen Bass’s resignation are the ones who voted to put a man back in office who bungled a pandemic that killed over 1 million people in this country, who was caught on tape lying about the severity of that pandemic, who spins a new lie every waking moment, who literally altered a hurricane map with a Sharpie and who now hesitates to send aid to California because Governor Gavin Newsom doesn’t like him. Y’all wanted him back, but Karen Bass has to go? Are you freaking kidding me???
It’s exhausting. I try hard to be optimistic about where America is headed, and to believe we’re capable of better, but moments like this make it nearly impossible. It’s not just the double standards—it’s the blatant disregard for fairness, truth, and accountability when it comes to Black women. We’re expected to lead, clean up messes, and save the day, but when something goes wrong, we’re the first to be thrown under the bus. America, do better. Please.
Michelle is many of us
Michelle Obama is all of us. Her decision to skip the 2025 inauguration sends a powerful and clear message: Black women are done absorbing the nonsense. For far too long, we’ve been expected to “go high” while others drag us down. Well, in 2025, we’re embracing something new—peace over pettiness. And if that means pulling a Trump and skipping the ceremony altogether, so be it. (Let’s not forget, Trump didn’t bother with any transition of power, including attending President Biden’s inauguration.)
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, along with their wives, are reportedly slated to attend. It’s worth noting that Hillary Clinton showed up in 2017 after her devastating loss to Trump in 2016—a moment of grace and resolve. Meanwhile, Trump and Melania skipped Biden’s inauguration in 2021 altogether, yet here we are, with everyone expecting the Obamas to take the high road yet again. Barack, ever the statesman, will be there. And that’s fine.
We even saw a moment of public civility between Trump and Obama during Jimmy Carter’s funeral, with the two former presidents sharing a laugh despite their stark political differences and animosity. It was a rare instance of diplomacy—one that Barack is always willing to uphold. But Michelle? She’s choosing something different.
It’s unclear why Michelle Obama is opting out of Trump’s inauguration, but let’s be real—who can blame her? Let Barack be the diplomat. Black women are over it. We’ve carried the weight of grace and compromise for far too long. It’s time for rest, boundaries and making space for what serves us. And if Michelle skipping the inauguration is her way of reclaiming peace, we’re standing with her.
Beyoncé Hate is Unreal
Speaking of grace and leadership, major props to Beyoncé for postponing her big January 14 announcement out of respect for those affected by the fires. But she didn’t just stop at thoughts and prayers—she put her money where her heart is, donating $2.5 million to support relief efforts. And yet, social media still found a way to hate, with folks having the unmitigated gall to criticize her for not giving enough. Seriously? Beyoncé can’t catch a break.
Good thing she doesn’t lose sleep over what some keyboard analysts think about her philanthropy. She’s far too busy preparing for whatever game-changing moment she’s about to deliver next. That said, we’re all on the edge of our seats—what’s the Queen cooking up now? Whatever it is, we already know it’ll be iconic.
Stay tuned, stay informed and as always, let’s keep holding it down for each other.
