Just a proud brown girl with curls… BLM

Change will not come if we wait for some other person, some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

I was born and raised in New Orleans and I come from a beautifully diverse background that I’m very proud of and have lived most of my life that way.  In the past weeks, the current racial conversations taking place have forced me to reflect on the memories of my own life that seem to be on replay in my brain. Memories that maybe I’ve tried to ignore or even forget. In reflection I’ve come to realize that I’ve allowed people, even people that I have considered friends to have a free pass to say things to me about the black community that I now realize, I should’ve addressed because it did bother me. But instead I decided to keep quiet because I thought “we’re friends, I know they didn’t mean it LIKE THAT!” What I now understand about those moments is that they were a missed opportunity to have important and enlightening conversations with these individuals. 

As a black woman I have encountered clear and direct racism, quiet discrimination and untrue stereotypes based solely on the color of my skin. I never thought when I was a child or even into my late 20’s I would experience what I am seeing today. What I can say is that I am so incredibly proud of the GOOD shining through this situation. Seeing so many people show up no matter their background, race, or nationality has given me so much hope in a time that has felt dark and lonely for the black community. Even though there are struggles and obstacles I still face every day I am proud to represent what it means to be a successful Black woman who is proud to voice her opinions and viewpoints and what that means for the next generation of brown girls.  

I’ve learned so much about myself during this time and I’m continuing to educate myself so that I can be a better voice for my community and educate others, because I believe we can all learn and educate ourselves more on this topic no matter the color of our skin.  Know, being silent isn’t going to carry us forward. These conversations are uncomfortable but they are necessary!

We are Better Together!

What I can say is that I am so incredibly proud of the GOOD shining through this situation. Seeing so many people show up no matter their background, race, or nationality has given me so much hope in a time that has felt dark and lonely for the black community.

EVERYTHING! Seriously I love being a black woman for so many reasons. On the fun list it’s my skin tone, my curls , the sass I inherited from the women in my family, that I’ll look 25 for a long time, the fact that I can totally rock any variation of a red lip! Haha but on a more serious note..  I think the story that I inherently took on from birth being a brown woman from a beautifully mixed background is so powerful, the struggle, the courage, wisdom, and love that come with the generations before my own, I carry proudly! Even though there are struggles I still battle everyday, I’m proud to represent what being a successful black women who is proud to voice her opinions and view points and can mean for the next generation of brown girls.