Dear young Queenie, 

I wish to hold you warm and close with these words of truth and wisdom. With these words, I pray you learn LIFE and survival because, although this world is not made to keep you, you are a keeper of this world, and you must create a safe space for those who can survive it. Now, Queenie, listen up, as I explain to you how to navigate life in between your blackness and your femininity. 

Primarily, there is always a question of identity present and you must remain aware of that. When asked who we are, we tend to inadequately answer with a what: an emotion, an occupation, a title, a name. As intelligent beings, we have yet to describe a qualifying set of words that answer this question. Indeed, Queenie, you are more than what any word can be a metaphor for. Indescribable. Priceless. All that and a bag of chips, plus a dab of hot sauce. You are these and more. Still, on this earthly plane, you will identify as two things: Black and Woman. Though you may feel like they are two different things, they are still categories under which you fit and must learn to accept, love, and nurture. 

Queenie, you'll find power in being a woman, but not before you find power in being Black. Some may argue the point that perhaps you should be a woman first and support womankind, and that is okay too. Embracing your femininity as a natural-born woman means reaching goddess status, and there is no being more beautiful, strong, and capable. Falling in love with your mind, body, and soul is key to understanding what makes you a force. Commanding your wiles and carrying yourself as a virtuous woman is an intoxicating experience and you, my love, have exactly what it takes to love yourself into your greatest form. Embracing what it means to be Woman is developing the tools to uplift, mobilize, inspire, and lead an entire nation of men, women, and children, even if that nation is your own lineage. Still, Queenie, there is no denying the blackness in your DNA, and that means something entirely different than what it means to be Woman. 

Being Woman means nurturing yourself and educating your family. Being Woman means knowing men like you know women (but don't let the guys know!). Being Woman means exercising wisdom and discernment. It means understanding your power and then knowing when and how to use it. Being Woman means embodying every emotion on the planet and walking in the envy of man. Being Woman means being the living, breathing archetype of everything from countries to cars. Being Woman means holding the sun in your smile and the stars in your eyes. Being Woman means caring for the mounds, canyons, rivers, and plains that landscape your body. Being Woman is standing in virtue, respect, and nobility. Being Woman is knowing Love, but it is also knowing what it means to be hated. Being Woman is being objectified and subject to misuse and under-utilization. Being Woman means being doubted. Being Woman means not being good enough...ever.

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