Yesterday, we lost one of the greatest voices to ever sing. Aretha Franklin could not only sing across all genres, she could also play the piano, and most of all she was a soul speaker, one who was there in your darkest hour and your highest triumph. And I must admit, I feel as my childhood continues to slip away into the death that awaits all of us. But, this is not a sad tribute, this is a celebration because one of daughter's favorite singers is the Queen herself, which means she lives on.
Some of the first songs, I started humming in my grandmother's house was Chain of Fools, Respect and Precious Lord/Old Landmark from the live recording at her father's church in the heart of Detroit. Whenever I had my heart broken or my spirit crushed, I would turn to her records to soothe me back to my joy. Her voice rocked me to power and she would return the swagger to my step. She wore whatever she wanted and when she dropped that fur coat at the White House concert honoring Carole King, it is because she always had negative fucks to give. And Amen to all of that!
She was the light to all the invisible Black girls everywhere. She gave us power and relevance. She also inspired an entire generation and style of music, once she switched to Atlantic Records (because Columbia had no idea what to do with all of that). And then her voice became the life blood of soul music. Its steady heartbeat. And no matter if she originated the song or it was a cover, it always became an ORIGINAL once her voice stamped it. Not many singers can say the same thing.
I will always love you Aretha. My heart is truly sad, but I am grateful that I got to see you live and that my Maya loves your music just as much as I do. And I will play all of your music so that your spirit can continue to uplift mine. God has welcomed a true angel and I know that the choir is now elevated with a new soloist.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Eloquent Rage: overpoliciing of Black women
Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper is a powerful book filled with self reflection and insight of the many nuances and details that make up black feminism. The chapters speak candidly about growing up with white female friends, Black fury, the queerness of Black feminism, patriarchy and make hubris, and so much more. It is a book that should be read by men and women, and conversations about the content may just be the equalizer necessary to start an honest dialogue based in truth rather than conjecture. Here are some of the highlights from our summer book chat (and there will be another in the fall).
“Such an enriching experience, the book, Eloquent Rage was available, doable, moving and more for me, on many levels.” (Marie)
The book talks were comprised of all women and that made for even more honest and revealing chats. One of the themes mentioned is, “The pattern, in which Black girls are labeled and disciplined for acting ‘disrespectful or agressive’ with adults.” Alex connected this to when Cooper speaks about people reading her mere presence in the room (as a large Black woman) as agressive, and when she points out that, “folks are far more concerned with how Black women carry the baggage than with reducing the load hoisted upon us in the first place” (122). More conversations with the adults at school about this behavior is just as important as speaking with our students. And please stop thinking that a higher self esteem and self worth will ever erase the superpower of patriarchy.
Cooper spends much of the book connecting this work and ideology to her own life and relationships. It’s not all about individual choice. “If you buy 100% into the philosophy that your choices create your future, you’re blinded to the ways in which your choices arise from restriction, as we talked about yesterday—and you also end up feeling ashamed of yourself instead of getting angry about racism and patriarchy.” (Alex)
There is also a great deal of focus on relationships between women. The ability to embrace and truly love one another is a queer concept, and as Black women we have to fully take that in or else we will always have incomplete relationships with each other. “I did not realize how much distrust has been a part of the relationships of women (period). It is a major process to overcome. And we as children do not realize how much we are affected by our environments and societal influences and expectations” (Robin). This also spills over into into the chapter titled, Grown Woman Tbeology which speaks openly about sex and intimacy. The ability to give and receive intimacy and sex. This is also connected to Black female identity and worth. It is also linked to patriarchy and vulnerability. The first being the large noose constantly waiting for us and the other, which allows us to truly experience womanhood in a real, healthy, and authentic manner.
In the chapter, Orchestrated Fury, Cooper brings to light the overpolicing of Michelle Obama. How she was scrutinized for her wardrobe and always her tone. Is she angry? Why does she show her arms? The constant expectations for her to conform, knowing that no matter what she did it would never be enough. And the fact that she constantly defied expectations by always choosing to be her self while dodging the media’s bullets. “I thought about my sense of self and how I present myself in my profession of predominately white female teachers. Actually, I love wearing dresses. Like Michelle and her ponytail and it gives me a sense of power and direction. I feel that this power helps me to direct my young female students or students that identify female. They need to see a woman who is assured and confident. I want to share that confidence with my students” (Peggy).
All of these conversations and insights made me realize just how Black women are often silenced and rendered invisible. Despite the “strong Black woman” mythology, there is always patriarchy to render most success or any forward steps mute. But, the power is how we work with each other. Black women working and loving each other. And it’s also not a bad idea to gather with some other folks and pick up this book and have a necessary and vibrant conversation.
“Such an enriching experience, the book, Eloquent Rage was available, doable, moving and more for me, on many levels.” (Marie)
The book talks were comprised of all women and that made for even more honest and revealing chats. One of the themes mentioned is, “The pattern, in which Black girls are labeled and disciplined for acting ‘disrespectful or agressive’ with adults.” Alex connected this to when Cooper speaks about people reading her mere presence in the room (as a large Black woman) as agressive, and when she points out that, “folks are far more concerned with how Black women carry the baggage than with reducing the load hoisted upon us in the first place” (122). More conversations with the adults at school about this behavior is just as important as speaking with our students. And please stop thinking that a higher self esteem and self worth will ever erase the superpower of patriarchy.
Cooper spends much of the book connecting this work and ideology to her own life and relationships. It’s not all about individual choice. “If you buy 100% into the philosophy that your choices create your future, you’re blinded to the ways in which your choices arise from restriction, as we talked about yesterday—and you also end up feeling ashamed of yourself instead of getting angry about racism and patriarchy.” (Alex)
There is also a great deal of focus on relationships between women. The ability to embrace and truly love one another is a queer concept, and as Black women we have to fully take that in or else we will always have incomplete relationships with each other. “I did not realize how much distrust has been a part of the relationships of women (period). It is a major process to overcome. And we as children do not realize how much we are affected by our environments and societal influences and expectations” (Robin). This also spills over into into the chapter titled, Grown Woman Tbeology which speaks openly about sex and intimacy. The ability to give and receive intimacy and sex. This is also connected to Black female identity and worth. It is also linked to patriarchy and vulnerability. The first being the large noose constantly waiting for us and the other, which allows us to truly experience womanhood in a real, healthy, and authentic manner.
In the chapter, Orchestrated Fury, Cooper brings to light the overpolicing of Michelle Obama. How she was scrutinized for her wardrobe and always her tone. Is she angry? Why does she show her arms? The constant expectations for her to conform, knowing that no matter what she did it would never be enough. And the fact that she constantly defied expectations by always choosing to be her self while dodging the media’s bullets. “I thought about my sense of self and how I present myself in my profession of predominately white female teachers. Actually, I love wearing dresses. Like Michelle and her ponytail and it gives me a sense of power and direction. I feel that this power helps me to direct my young female students or students that identify female. They need to see a woman who is assured and confident. I want to share that confidence with my students” (Peggy).
All of these conversations and insights made me realize just how Black women are often silenced and rendered invisible. Despite the “strong Black woman” mythology, there is always patriarchy to render most success or any forward steps mute. But, the power is how we work with each other. Black women working and loving each other. And it’s also not a bad idea to gather with some other folks and pick up this book and have a necessary and vibrant conversation.
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