BLACK LOVE: My Black Body is a Temple
It would be extremely tone-deaf, and disrespectful to my people and my ancestors, to not acknowledge the plight of racism that has burdened us for centuries, and that has been shaking American dinner tables since the televised lynching of George Floyd.
Witnessing this murder triggered so many emotions, memories and ideas for me. To uplift the artistic vision of the Black artists who directed and captured this work, I’ll discuss my culmination of emotions, memories and ideas that are related to self-love; in honor of another victim of senseless and racist police brutality, Queen Breonna Taylor.
If nothing else, I’ve been reminded that my Black body is a temple. And that I must cherish her, love her, and protect her. My body holds the power of birthing the next generation. My body holds my dreams and ideas that will elevate my people. My body hides treasures that won’t be unveiled for years to come.
But being a Black woman in America threatens this power, these dreams, this treasure. Being a Black woman means that the autonomy and agency I have over this Black temple is always challenged.
What message is sent to Black people when they are restrained and suffocated in the streets? What are you saying about the worth of the Black body?
What message is sent when a Black woman is resting her Black body in her Black home and is shot 8 times by the police, and NOTHING is done...for months? In many cases, years.
The complexity of white supremacy uses the execution of my Black brothers and sisters as a vehicle to reinforce the idea that my Black body is not worth life.
This is a lie. And the largest part of my self-love journey has been unlearning and unpacking all of these racist messages I’ve seen, heard, experienced and learned about.
The curves of my Black body honor Sara Baartman. My bosom holds the weight of my Black ancestors who were forced to breastfeed their oppressors babies. Every cell in my body uplifts the memory of Henrietta Lacks. My existence in this temple is an ode to my Black mother. And my Black body will not rest until justice is served for Breonna Taylor.
Black Love: My Black Body is a Temple credits: