The Invisible Black Woman

So yesterday I shared that it was a low day, and today, in the spirit of some much-needed self-care, I’m gonna call it an early night. But before I go, I thought I’d stop by and share a little something I posted on LinkedIn. Because when you’re a Black woman who dares to take up space, to tell her story, and to celebrate her journey, sometimes you face more than your share of “feedback.” And by feedback, I mean messages that carry a whole lot of hate and a little too much audacity.

The climate lately? It’s been on one. With all the love and support (which I’m grateful for beyond words), there’s also been a sharp rise in a different kind of message—backlash, hate, the kind of comments that leave you shaking your head. Simply because I have the audacity to create this blog, share on Facebook, and post on LinkedIn. But you know what? That tells me something important: we’re doing something right here.

So, I’m sharing the message below here, too. Because sometimes, in the midst of all that boldness, a little PSA is in order. But, more importantly, while it might be part PSA, it’s also mostly a love note. At the end of the day, TIBW began right here on this blog and on Facebook and no matter what, those of you who have been here from day one will always be the OG Village and my first love—I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING!

So, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, thank you…

**This gon be half read, half love note, and fully worth it.**

Hey, y’all!

Just wanted to stop by right quick and give a shoutout and much love to The Village. Like, The Village, Village (IYKYK). Since The Village has grown significantly—and things have changed in this country to the point over half of y’all are smelling yaselves and feeling mighty, mighty bold—let me send out a quick love note and a recap for the newcomers… A little while back I shared a PSA about the trolls that love to visit our warm, breezy corner of the interwebs. We over here minding our grown business and loving life, but you know, the trolls get tired of being under the bridge and miserable all the time, so they always gotta come up for light from time to time. And since we all foiiiine, bright and shiny over here, they gon gravitate. This is me sending a big heartfelt kudos to ALL the residents of The Village that understood the assignment. Y’all ain’t given ‘em not an inch, not a millimeter, not a gotdoggone thing. And I’m so proud of us being over here, lifting each other up, living our best, beautiful, unbothered lives. If you’re new and wondering what I’m talking about, real short and sweet: we don’t feed the trolls over here. Periodt. We pay them dust. We channel our inner Maino and internally bop “Hi Hater [or whatever you prefer]” while we look at they comments with a smile. Imma be honest, most times, I LOL because that joint is straight laughable now.

Y’all, please feel sorry for the trolls. I sure do—but also, they validate we’re onto something over here, so let ‘em keep wearing themselves out like the petulant children they are. We gon keep being lovers of the bold, beautiful, and BLACK WOMEN over in this here camp. We gon keep centering and uplifting BLACK WOMEN over here. We gon keep bigging up BLACK WOMEN over here.

And, you know, if that’s hard for you to grasp and if my pinned PSA didn’t quite do the trick for you (ICYMI: https://lnkd.in/eFxqQWwD), here’s another reminder that you are welcome to leave at any point in time. This ain’t no Hotel California situation. In fact, please do. We’ll help you pack. 

BUT, we know you won’t because deep down, y’all love yourselves some BLACK WOMEN just as much and are just big mad we ain’t fooling with you neither today, tomorrow, nor forever into eternity and the end of time. 

Byeeeeeeeeeeeee! ✌🏽👸🏽💁🏽‍♀️