"Black women can no more be defined by the cumulative sum of our pain than blackness can be defined solely by the transgenerational atrocities delivered at the hands of American racism. Because black folks are more than the stench of the slave ship, the bite of the dogs, or the smoldering of freshly lynched flesh. In both cases, defining ourselves solely by our oppression denies us the very magic of who we are."
--Joan Morgan
December 16, 2005
Joan Morgan
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7 comments:
I define Beryl by her survival and her accomlishments rather than by her pain and suffering, for the pain and suffering were inflicted by others. My accomplishments and my survival are a testament of who I am and from whom I came. I agree with Joan! We ARE so much more...Lord have mercy. We are babies out of slavery (just 140 years) and oppresion. What is going to happen when we have 3 centuries out? I pray that there is a Beryl descendant around to show the world!!!
Amen Mama Beryl!
That is a great way women should define themselves.
I blogged this quote by Booker T. last month
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that
one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."--Booker Taliaferro Washington
I also feel this is a good measurement, because many people "achieve" great things, but much of their ride was in a Jaguar or Bentley while others were pushing the hoopty--you know.
thats a great quote
This reminds me of the time that I went to lunch with the CFO of my company. He was telling me of his upbringing and he said, "I'm just like you, chele ... I came from nothing."
First of all, I didn't come from nothing. Secondly, the fact that this fool would make that assumption because I'm a Black woman just demonstrates his ignorance.
I am not defined by the negativity of the past ... it has been instrumental in making me who I am but I plan to allow the past remain in the past. I will let it be a reminder of where I was and where I don't want to be again.
I second that! We are more than we will every know.. and black women.. i can never define y'all!
i was going through my blog archives and found this and i thought about you....glad u had a merry christmas....
http://spelangel.blogspot.com/2005/02/god.html
Ooooh
Thanks Spel.
That was reeeaaal deep!
I was definately feeling that.
Thanks for thinking of me.
I pray your Christmas was merry.
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