This Is Not Up For Debate
As most of the nation looks in anticipation for tonight’s Vice President exchange between Kamala Harris and Michael Pence, I write to tell you that this blog post is not up for debate. It is uncontested. Black women matter. Indeed, I am a coach and might I add the obvious, I am a Black woman. As such, the personal is political.
Black women matter in every corner of this earth. Black women matter on the frontlines and as they work from home. Black women matter as they are raising children and parenting those they birthed and didn’t birth. Black women matter as you’re designing your organizational strategy and coordinating your board meetings (we are more than coffee makers and calendar assistants). Black women matter with or without a presidential election. Black women matter every single day. We have indeed birthed this nation.
With much gratitude to a foremother of mine, Denise Materre, VP of Alumnae Relations at Smith College, my reflections on our excellence were featured in the latest Smith Alumnae Quarterly. While the focus of the article speaks to the inequities in the suffrage movement and expands upon my callout of the role of white women in repurposing their privilege, the part that I want to further drive home is this is not a drill. I say this as a former stepper (yes, I was on the step team in high school) that this routine has the whip appeal but it’s not for sport.
As my sister in disruption, Sheena Collier says through her work in Boston, this is a fierce urgency of now. I am a gifted visionary and advisor; I project into the future. I push clients beyond to see beyond their current circumstances. The fire in my writing and conviction in my pen make this look easy. I just want you to know, it’s truly the God In Me that you see. That is not up for debate.
Tea Break: I am tired! Yet, as I was reminded this morning in prayer, I can’t grow sluggish in my faith (Hebrews 6:13-14).
These past few weeks I have been stretched. The birthing of this academy has forced me to:
Be still
Be patient
Create with the Creator
Lean into those uncomfortable spaces
Pause on communication (direct or indirect) that isn’t serving the building process
Be relentless
Labor with love
Thank you Denise for imparting , “we need your voice” in our introductory conversation two years ago. Thank you to all of the women that I have grown to know through my platforms; a special shout-out to Brandy Grant whose timely podcast episode speaks to the inequities behind the veil of progressivism and dare I say, leadership development. Thank you to my clients, past, present and future for entrusting me to authentically guide you as I am being led myself. I matter, we matter, this work matters, faith matters.
What matters to you?
What do you need to give voice to today?
Who needs to hear it?