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.”
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.”
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.
Sneak peek below:
“As I planted myself in different corners of my nest, soaking in bell hooks’ 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.
When the Building Is on Fire, Black Women Are There
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.
Must Reads:
- Thirty years ago, “a group of Black women gathered to discuss the unique needs of women of color and poor women that were not being addressed in the women’s rights movement, which has historically been framed by the interests of middle-class and wealthy white women.” Out of that discussion came the Reproductive Justice framework. Read more here.
- Women rappers are taking over—and we’re celebrating.
- Okay, I’m still not over these two amazing blogs from last year:
Must-Dos:
- Donate to the Ohio Women’s Alliance, “a Reproductive Justice organization providing programming, resources, and education for women, femmes, gender-expansive folks, and youth throughout Ohio.” .
- Donate to Mothering Justice, a grassroots organization that “provides mothers of color in America with the resources and tools to use their power to make equitable changes in policy.”
- Donate to the Yellowhammer Fund, which “provides funding for anyone seeking care at one of Alabama’s three independent abortion clinics.”
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 to play her songs on country radio stations).
But, of course, Black people invented country music, starting with the banjo, an instrument that originated in Africa.
Beyoncé’s discography has “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
