Especially during these Trumpocalypse times I feel I need black women in my life. Lots and lots of black women. This is a sentiment I've always held, but my spirit is craving it harder than usual. I believe it's because this evening was spent with some magical ass black women who I received the privilege of healing with. Brown Paper Zine is a beautiful, powerful, and vulnerable space that reinforced my need to surround myself with those like me whether in queerness, femme-ness, and goddess-ness: black women.
Brown Paper Zine held their first Women's Healing Space Writing Workshop at MoCADA in Brooklyn. Walking in we came into a safe space, filled with colors, pillows, snacks, and smiles. We did various activities that involved us writing, meditating, opening up to each other without our words and just helped us heal. this space was predominantly a black woman space, which definitely helped me process and recover, as I still take in what the Trump era is already looking like.
I got to hear black women encourage each other. I got to hear black women guide each other. I got to hear black women express themselves judgment free. To laugh. To smile and hug. Most importantly I heard their writing. Writing we didn't know we'd be sharing; they were just personal thoughts. Yet they were amazing and left me wanting to hear more. This was something I haven't experienced in a while if ever.
So often black women organize build collectives, yet we rarely get to surround ourselves with each other regularly. There's always men and white folks. It feels so good to be amongst ourselves. It feels different and good. Reflecting on my personal life I experience this a lot. While there are valid reasons I'm not around as many black women as I'd like to be, I know I can make a conscious effort to change that. Today I did so I definitely can tomorrow.
I have a friend from high school that is in New York and before today we've only hung out once. She writes, is big on hair, style and is just a great black woman. As I was hanging with her for the next portion of Brown Paper Zine events, which was a film screening, I was thinking "why haven't we hung out more?"
I am always seeking intentional relationships and I just know not enough are with black women. I want to be around go getters who can feel what I feel through our hugs and words. Excitement runs through me as I think of the other dope black women we met today and connected with. I'm looking forward to growing and sharing with them, as I build sisterhood in my life.
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