Show Them What Crazy Can Do
The ad I can't stop talking about with all my friends
Hey friends!
I don’t know about you - but in my lifetime - I have been called a lot of things. And not just the attributes I would like to brag to you about - funny/smart/creative/passionate/you get it. Labels were hurled on my body and at my mind and got way deep under my skin with intent to keep me from growing in power and influence. I mean there are some obvious ones because I am a Black woman in the US. Some really ugly and dehumanizing insults and threats to my dignity and humanity have been directed my way. But that wasn’t about me- not about who I am. That was about the legacy of white supreme, the racism of that person or institution. That was about them, not about me.
But when they call you ‘divisive’ or ‘unholy’ or ‘crazy’ - it sure feels personal. Like damn, maybe it is about me.*
*spoiler - its still not.
Last week I was treating myself to some extra scrolling time and came across this ad on Halle Barry’s instagram.
Now this ad came out a few years ago, but watching it alongside Halle’s words stirred something fresh in my spirit. “Today, I wear that label (crazy) with pride,” she wrote. My eyes lingered over the word *pride* - maybe because it’s Pride Month, maybe because it feels a bit scandalous to lean even further into the label, to delight in it even - I’m not really sure.
Halle had publicly been referred to as “crazy” more times than I can count. It’s not hard for me to imagine how that label has impacted her life, her sense of self. Because labels impact us whether we want them to or not. What I’m working on is to be empowered by the ones I choose to wear, and to challenge the ones others try to hand me. Im remaking the words in my own image- to serve my humanity, my personality, my desire for justice.
What labels have others put on you? How do you feel about them? What’s that journey been like for you?
A FEW MORE THINGS FOR YOU THIS WEEK…
I had such an incredible time on my friend Ashley’s podcast - check it out here!
This essay on Black families raising white kids was really fascinating.
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting ready to celebrate Juneteenth on Monday!
Headed to Evanston, IL for the weekend and if you haven’t checked out this documentary about the reparations work in their community, you should!
A WORD…
“Sometimes people try to destroy you, precisely because they recognize your power – not because they don’t see it, but because they see it and they don’t want it to exist.”
bell hooks
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've been living under the 'shy good girl' rock my whole life. Thank you for the reminder that it's just a label. The journey for me has been about reclaiming the part of myself that exists purely, without any preconceived ideas or judgement. And remembering and returning to that part of myself again and again. Thank you for sharing, as always
Relearning this lesson right now... every time I think I'm past this one, it rears back up... people pleasing is such a hard habit to quit! I'm learning to embrace, rather than try to shrink, my passionate, "too emotional" self. It's easy to say, "I'm not for everyone", but losing people is hard. I have to remember that keeping them by staying small doesn't serve either of us in the long run.