You deserve it all

I saw a post the other day that said:

Hip-hop wants women to hold their men down, but not hold them accountable.

And baby listen… Issa fact.

My people, hear me, and hear me well…

You deserve it all. The career. The love. The family. The peace. The life.

I do. You do. We do. He does too.

But black women deserve so much more.

For generations, black women have been called strong, and we have worn that title as a badge of honor. We have identified, and defined ourselves by it, and we’ve allowed ourselves to believe it.

We’ve allowed ourselves to believe and equate endurance and struggle with love.

But there are no rewards for self-sacrifice.

No medals for those who endure the most.

Stripped from the arms of our mothers we’ve internalized the struggle.

We’ve identified with the narrative of our hardships.

Even in our relationships.

Torn apart by those who claimed possession, and rule over us black love and black relationships have suffered.

And they suffer still.

There is so much underlying pain and struggle in our connections.

So much history.

But…

We deserve relationships that are not marked solely by our ability to endure suffering.

We deserve love.

We deserve magic.

We deserve softness.

We deserve each other, and as a people, we have to do and Be better for and with one another.

Because…

We deserve a life and love that is healthy and conducive to our healing and overall wellness.

Love