The Invisible Black Woman

Hey y’all. I’m down to the wire on this one, but it’s been a day. In case you missed it or you’re new to this corner of the interwebs, welcome! Real, real quick: I wrote a post Saturday, the post took off, I came away with some things. Thing 1 is here: “…for all us to eat”. Thing 2 is here: The reason is because

Here’s thing 3: let your “you” flag fly
There ain’t nothing wrong with having an online persona. Really. But my greatest impact is because I am who I am. One of the things that pulled me out of many a pit as I have been “going through” was connecting with Black women who went through similar issues or have come out on the other side. I felt seen and most of all, not alone. It made me realize that it wasn’t all in my head. I wasn’t being super sensitive or difficult. These things were really happening.

So when I began chronicling my journey, I promised to do so with transparency and integrity. To me, integrity isn’t just about honesty but about sharing my story and my voice. And the only way to truly share that is to do it in the way only I can. That means I’m not above starting a sentence with “And,” “But,” “Or.” I also love me a fragment for dramatic effect. I also have no problem switching up the vernacular if what I write calls for it. I write how I talk. That may not work for everyone, but I’m not trying to reach everyone, just the people who need to see this that are placed in my writing path.

Maybe you are struggling with getting started because you—like I have said to myself more times than I care to admit at the moment—are listening to that horrible roommate that lives in your head telling you all the things you aren’t and can’t possibly succeed in. Comments like, “Nobody cares what you have to say. Nothing you’re saying is special. Who’s gonna read that? You, really? Please don’t bother.”

I have to tell my bad roommate to shut up. A LOT.

Let me invite you to consider the fact that who you are and what you’ve experienced is unique to you. That means that no two stories are alike and there are a whole bunch of somebodies out there waiting for the story you have on the inside of you to help pull them out of the dark hole they might find themselves in. Who cares if it’s imperfect, corny, or weird? I promise you the person who needs to hear what you have to say won’t even care about that.

Also, last I checked, we all have different preferences and tastes, so everyone is not for everyone. Those that vibe with what you bring are gonna rock with you. Those that don’t, won’t. Personally speaking, I’d rather spend time connecting with people that like the fact that what they see is what they get.

That’s all I got for thing 3. Thing 4 coming at you tomorrow. G’nite!