A Message to Black Women—

I want to check on all the Black women out there. I know y’all tired— but are you holding it together still?

Honestly I don’t know what I want the answer to be. I know you are being strong becuase, well, what else would you be? But on the other hand, I wish you had free rein to unleash all the wrath i just know you have built up. Maybe you want to scream? Maybe you want to cry? Maybe you want to cuss? Break things?

Or perhaps you’ve simply relinquished control. Perhaps the toxic relationship between you and this nation has reached its threshold and you’ve simply let go. Whatever they want, they can have. Perhaps it’s all above you now.

All they had to do was vote for the Black lady— but they just couldn’t bring themselves to do it. They couldn’t vote for the Black lady and now the world is on fire but I’m guessing that is now above your pay grade.

A crazy man has taken to the White House and now the crazy man is doing crazy things. Now everyone wants to be quiet and act like they didn’t know it would go this far. And Black women— I’m guessing you probably feel like “we told you all what would happen if you did not vote for the black lady and you did not listen so you made your bed and it has nothing to with us.” And you know what? That is incredibly fair.

This unrequited love toward a nation that never loved you. The silent maintenance. Keeping everything afloat. Sans the recognition everyone knows you deserve. What do we do about it? What can we do about it? How do we hold ourselves in the face of continuous injustice, especially of this magnitude?

I really don’t know the answer. Truly. I have no idea. But I know you can’t quit. I also know that’s not even your nature.

I know it isn’t much, but know and believe that I hold so much space for you all. Every Black woman across America. I pray the Lord’s strength on all of you. I pray that He orders your steps, guides you, holds you, consoles you, and keeps you. I send out love and light and positive energy.

I’m unsure how all this ends but I know it doesn’t end with you. You are the essence of this God-forsaken country. The thing without which the nation would cease to be what it is. You are the backbone; the fragrance of this society.

Hold your head up— not that you aren’t already.

Just know I see you. I appreciate you. I love you.

With love,

Ananda