Hi John,

“Love is profoundly political. Our deepest revolution will come when we understand this truth.”

I was going to start this Valentine’s Day newsletter with an impassioned soliloquy about the romance of receiving an elaborate Edible Arrangement.

But on this day of love, I think it’s much more interesting to consider what that word means not just on an individual (fruit-laden) level—but on a collective, societal one.

When we love someone, we care for them, support them, and affirm them. That’s exactly what our gender justice movement is trying to accomplish for all people—but especially for Black women, who for too long and to this day have been unprotected and overlooked.

bell hooks

“When I look in the mirror, I think to myself how proud I am to be who I am, a Black woman.”

To celebrate Black History Month, my colleagues have put pen to paper (or keyboard to Word Document) to write love letters to Black women who have been integral for progress in policy, in justice, and in joy—all of which deserve to be celebrated and honored.

Read their beautiful letters here.

Black Women Hold Themselves Together Because They Know If They Break, Other Things Will Too

For centuries, Black women have been holding up their families, their communities, and this country.

Because that’s exactly what they’re expected to do—without a moment of rest.

“There is not a single Black woman in my life that doesn’t do it all, with a smile.

The thing is, we shouldn’t have to.”

In this powerful personal essay, NWLC media associate Jessica Baskerville lays out a vision for a more just world in which Black women are finally able to embrace nurturing, healing, and rest.

It’s a love letter to her grandma. It’s a love letter to every Black woman who has ever put herself on the back burner. But most importantly, it’s a powerful reminder that we should love people not for what they can provide us—but for who they are at their very cores.

Must-Do's:

Or, as bell hooks put it, “Love is an action, never simply a feeling.”

• Donate to SisterSong, a reproductive justice organization committed to amplifying the collective voices of Indigenous women and women of color.
• Support the Black Artists + Designers Guild, which aims to build a more equitable and inclusive creative culture.
• Don’t let Congress ignore our families, who still need—and continue to be denied—affordable child care.

Must-Reads:

• “‘Protect Black Women’Isn’t Just a Catchy Slogan—It’s a Demand, and We Deserve Nothing Less.” (This is one of our most-viewed blogs for a reason).
• Love Abbott Elementary? Gush alongside us here.
• Justice Hector LaSalle’s record includes curtailing the New York Attorney General’s investigation into anti-abortion centers (fake health centers that trick people out of abortions). Now, he could soon become the Chief Judge on New York’s highest court—if the state Senate confirms him.
• Okay, you have to listen to this one. But it’s the persistent Patty Murray refusing to let her fellow Congress members forget about child care relief.

• You know when you get a Dum-Dum, and there’s a mystery flavor. That’s what this recommended read is. Could be cherry, could be fruit punch, but will be worthwhile either way.

(Not Very) Frivolous (But Very Meaningful) Fun

I don’t ever fully understand poetry, but I’m always moved by it. And no one wrings out my heart more than Lucille Clifton—a prolific Black poet who (unlike me) “is noted for saying much with few words.” See what I mean in the excerpt below.

“Come celebrate with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.”

Feminist Moment of Joy

It’s About Damn Time… I talked about Lizzo.

Her effervescent music has overtaken my apartment’s Spotify playlist—entitled “noise complaint fuel.”

Because you can’t just listen to Lizzo. You have to blast her, spreading her sonic sunshine far and wide (even to khaki-wearing Jerry, the complainant next door).

At this year’s Grammy Awards, Lizzo won Record of the Year. Her speech was an outcry of joy and love and positivity—and a celebration of the iconic Black artists, Prince and Beyoncé, who inspired her career.

My favorite part of Lizzo’s speech, however, was a line that echoes the sentiment expressed in Jessica’s personal essay: “I’d like to believe that not only can people do good, but we just are good, we are good inherently.”

This Valentine’s Day, whether you receive an Edible Arrangement or not, please remember your innate goodness—which cannot be given or taken away, even by someone you love.

Chat soon,

Gemma Simoes Decarvalho
she/her/hers
Writer and Editor
National Women’s Law Center