Black Folk Don't Have Birthdays
And two things that made me cry this week
Hey Friends,
How are you? How was your long weekend? I spent mine hosting a lot of my family - including my 92-year-old grandmother. The last time I saw her was for birthday celebration. Our family celebration was supposed to happen at her 90th- but the pandemic destroyed those plans. Unlike hundreds of thousands of people that year, my grandmother was able to hole away and wait out the virus. So two years later, we finally celebrated her 90th.
When my grandmother turned 90 my brain kept churning that number in my head
- N I N E T Y. She has lived my whole life over 2 1/2 times.
We lingered over her celebration - looking forward to it for the years leading up and even now, saying her age with a twinkle in our eye. We know that time is a thief, and that for Black folk, its not our first experience with being robbed. Of our dignity, our calling, our inheritance, our worth, our humanity.
So what choice do we have but to spread out the celebrating? To lavish in the anticipation and execution of the time, declaring boldly to each other and to ourselves that IM STILL HERE.
FYI This is not always where I begin. I often feel like I’m running out of time - I have so many plans and dreams and schemes and what if the sand running through my little hour glass runs faster than I want? These days I’m trying to slow down, taking my cues from this poem by Steven Willis - to say yes to all pleasures - to take all the time I need.
Tell me - what does this poem bring up for you? Would love to hear!
A FEW MORE THINGS FOR YOU THIS WEEK…
LETS GO ARIEL!!!! This week has been marked on my calendar and it's finally here! Have you seen it yet? Who did you go with? Did everyone else cry too???
I might have also cried at the series finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
If you haven’t watched the 1619 Project yet - here’s your chance! No hulu required!
A ban on book bans? Thank you, Illinois!
A WORD
“If now isn't a good time for the truth I don't see when we'll get to it.”
- Nikki Giovanni
Stay wild and holy and free,
Austin
PS If you haven’t ordered I’m Still Here (Young Readers Version) - get your copy today!!
BOOKSHOP | AMAZON | AUDIBLE | TARGET | BARNES & NOBLE
I agree. Approaching my 79th, I prefer thinking of my life as a continuum. The signpost along the way is just a mile marker. It doesn’t matter much. It just is/was.
I love birthdays. I especially love mine and have always loved it since I was little. As a child, I would announce "IT'S MY BIRHTDAY MONTH" the morning of September 1st. It was always a grand month, week, and day. Some of my favorite memories are from my birthday. Every birthday seems to be a milestone and I can't help but soak it in when the day comes. There were a few years that I tried to downplay my love for my birthday and act like "it was no big deal" but those bdays always ended up being a disappointment. So now I embrace my love for my birthday!! I think my birthday has always been a reason for me to take up space in this world without anyone shutting me down... i mean they couldn't... it's MY birthday! I love my birthday and will continue to celebrate lavishly. And I will carry the quote "celebrate child. take all the time (and space) you need."
Thanks for sharing. <3