Hi John,

I live next door to a Bluetooth-wearing consultant in his mid-20s (whom I’ve christened “Corporate Chad).”
Chad, on the other hand, has the HONOR of hearing me sing along in the shower—this month, to Beyoncé’s new, and absolutely incredible, song “ 16 CARRIAGES.” [[link removed]]
In honor of Black History Month, I want to celebrate the songs, the words, and the many accomplishments of Black women in the gender justice movement, and beyond.

“Her words are holding me tightly like a newborn.”
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This February, my colleagues put pen to paper—writing down moments of joy they are holding onto during Black History Month. I was especially moved by Fatou Keita’s beautiful reflections [[link removed]] .
Sneak peek below:

“As I planted myself in different corners of my nest, soaking in bell hooks’s brilliance, I was reminded the following about love.
* Love is community. In this love, I am fully wrapping myself in the love and care of my community, particularly my soul sisters, who all remind me of the love I desire within myself and the one I share with others. The kind of love that leaves my heart so full as I witness it between Celie, Nettie, Sofia, and even Shug Avery in The Color Purple.
* Love is anti-capitalist. This forces me to further release the “self-ness” notion fed to us in the capitalism system. That I am in fact weaved and nurtured in a web of community and in “each otherness.
* Love is solitude. I am finding comfort and safety in my own thoughts, giving them a place of sanctuary to be expressed, unrestricted. I am nurturing my conscious and subconscious thoughts and finding peace in my alone time with them.”

Read more of Fatou’s thoughts—and others’— here [[link removed]] .
When the Building Is On Fire, Black Women Are There
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Fatima Goss Graves, our President and CEO, reflects on Black History Month:
“It would be easy to end this Black History Month with only the list of harm in front of us. But because I know that it is Black women working to breach the harm racing into our communities, this blog is a love letter of sorts— a thank you to Black women for everything you (we!) do for this country and for our communities. ”

Read more of her powerful reflections here [[link removed]] .
Must Reads:
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Must-Dos:
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Feminist Moment of Joy

Now, back to Chad.

Or really, the many and very racist Chads—and Karens—who are outraged by Beyoncé’s country album (even refusing [[link removed]] to play her songs on country radio stations).

But, of course, Black people invented [[link removed]] country music , starting [[link removed]] with the banjo, an instrument that originated in Africa.
Beyoncé’s discography has [[link removed]] “long echoed a commitment to honoring and drawing upon music legends and Black history ,” and this country album will be no different.
Here’s to singing/sobbing/screaming in the shower, until all of the Chads move out!

See you next month,

Gemma Simoes Decarvalho
she/her/hers
Writer and Editor
National Women’s Law Center
unsubscribe: [link removed]