I was just reading a post that almost upset me, but got me to thinking…. I don’t think the average person understands how innately powerful and influential black women really are. I’m not talking politics or voting or any of that organized and controlled stuff. I’m talking about the thing most racial collectives and other groups secretly and possibly unknowingly fear. It’s like primal–they can sense her power.
While I was typing this, it occurred to me that during slavery, black men were used, abused and slaughtered in record numbers, no doubt. But the women were mostly kept and exploited for other, more intimate purposes like nursing/nurturing the master’s children, subbing in for his carnal pleasures, tending to his house and kitchen duties. Life-sustaining, comfort and keeping type duties. Forcibly conceiving, carrying and birthing his bastard children, theoretically diluting the blackness. Why would he want to breed with the undesirable thing? Touch the detestable thing? Nah, that ain’t it.
Even today, some of them look at us like chocolate-coated, warm caramel guilty pleasures and secret treats they’d love to sample. Have you ever felt that gaze upon you? I know I have. Why do you think that is? Cause we are the goddam blueprint! A lot of us have figured out our power, and have begun using it for good. Teaming up and such. Some have yet to acknowledge or understand the power we hold, but if and when we all do, … Gurrrrrl!
Of course the united black family has always been a potential threat to the way things are, but let’s not minimize the fact that though formidable and strong, the black man alone is not enough to drive the fear or create the change. It’s that rib that completes the unit and makes it an unstoppable force.
But to the original point I came here to make, I’ve noticed a toxic pattern in these social media streets. Any time somebody wants to go viral/be noticed/get immediate and widespread attention, they take aim at black women in SOME disparaging way, and let the 💩 fly. I’ve been scrolling, looking for my inspiration, but there’s more poison than promise out here, so I gotta go elsewhere for my daily dose of goodness. Don’t believe me? Check the podcast streets.
We’ve become something like a punchline out here. However, I refuse to defend, be offended or otherwise engage with the headlines because I see the game. Here’s the “winning” formula: Choose one of the most influential groups on the planet, say something inflammatory about them–at the risk of sounding completely ignorant–and watch your engagement across multiple platforms shoot up out of this world! The responses, the outrage, the news, the shares…the algorithm be out here doing the wave! Then before the dust settles on that post, fake apologize. Ooh and cry. You’ll blow up AGAIN because of all the people who are big mad. 🤯 Wow. 💰 🤑 💲 💵
Roll tape. Run it back. Scroll ahead. It does not matter which platform; it’s happening everywhere, frequently. But watch how often the target of the conversation is black women. Then notice how there are zero repercussions, consequences or cancelations. With the exception of black men and black children, inflammatory comments or attacks on any other group WILL get you canceled.
I say again, a lot of us have figured out our power, and have begun using it for good. Teaming up and such. Some have yet to acknowledge or understand the power we hold, but if and when we all do, … Gurrrrrl!
From the Mind of Tonya D Floyd, Author