For Colored Girls Who Are Never Enough
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Little known fact: When I was a freshman in undergrad, my residence hall put on a production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Isn’t Enuf. One of my hallmates dared me to audition for the play and I ended up being cast as Lady in Brown. It was a terrifying experience for me but still one of my favorite memories of that time. This post is inspired by that play, which is also a movie now.
This is an ode to the colored girls who are continuously told that they are never enough.
For the colored girls with skin the color of dark chocolate, caramel, café au lait, and butter pecan ice cream. For the colored girls with kinky, wavy, and spiral curled hair, that seemingly defies gravity. For the colored girls who rock purple, blue, and fire engine red hair, even though they’re told it’s unprofessional and ghetto. For the colored girls with thick thighs, big hips, and butts that sit a little higher who are told to lose some weight. For the colored girls with slender legs, tiny waists, and athletic physiques, who are told to gain some weight.
For the colored girls who are mathematic geniuses and yet it takes decades for their work to be acknowledged. For the colored girls who put pen to paper and create new worlds with their words. For the colored girls who share the deepest parts of themselves in books, music, television, and movies.
For the colored girls who pop their gum, roll their eyes, and bite their tongue to keep the peace on street corners. For the colored girls who count to ten in their heads when they really want to flip a table during corporate meetings.
For the colored girls who create movements to defend the lives of Black men knowing that no one will defend Black women. For the colored girls who learned early that they had to work three or four times as hard to get half as much in this world. For the colored girls who refuse to buckle to the system and do things on their own terms.
You are enough.
Your skin absorbs the sun and your melanin makes you rich. Your hair can do things that are appropriated regularly. Your thighs and hips sustained nations and your butts are coveted. Your athleticism wins medals and brings pride to countries that don’t deserve you.
You are enough.
Your sass is often imitated but never duplicated. Your ability to say everything while saying nothing is a skill others can only dream of possessing. Your determination to succeed can never be doubted. You tear down the status quo and make your own path.
You are enough.
Your intelligence put white men on the moon. Your writing genius took over an entire night on primetime television. Your acting ability carried stories that everyone doubted would make money. Your concerts sell out and your videos provide strength to your sisters. Your petitions and demands for change are heard even though people try to ignore them.
You are enough.
You are Dominique, Gabrielle, Simone B., Simone M., Jackie, FloJo, Allyson, Briana, Nia, Kristi, Michelle, Venus, and Serena.
You are Black Girl Magic.
You are Maya Angelou, Shonda Rhimes, Roxane Gay, Toni Morrison, Issa Rae, and Janet Mock.
You are Black Girl Magic.
You are Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Melissa Harris-Perry.
You are Black Girl Magic.
You are Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson.
You are Black Girl Magic.
You are Viola, Kerry, Taraji, Journee, and Beyonce.
You are Black Girl Magic.
You are Harriet, Sojourner, Mamie, Betty, Alicia, Opal, and Patrisse.
You are Black Girl Magic.
And you are more than enough.
Click the picture to order a shirt and wear your Black feminism with pride.
