I'm bringing my blog back from its mini-hibernation with Happy Black Girl Day, brought to you by @sistertoldja, and other HBGs around the universe. I was so upset that I'd missed the last one, but with it every 2nd Wednesday now (because when you create your own holidays, you can do what the f*ck you want), I get 12 days to...be happy. And black. And a girl. Half of black history month but so much more! Joy!
I'm not sure if the day is set aside to be a black girl (tm), and just that, without the bullshit statistics and what not looming over over my head, or if the day is "black girl day" and the salutation is "happy black girl day!" Hmm.
Anyway, I like lists, and I'm going to commemorate each HBGD with a short list of related black-girl things. Unless I'm compelled to do something different.
List: Black girls who make me happy to be a black girl.
1. My momma. A given right? I couldn't stand this broad for a minute (you know, that rough patch between 12 until... well...) But I've gained a new appreciation for her as an adult. I can relate to her a little better, and all the things that didn't make sense then just click now. I'm also inspired by her life, and granted she's not that old, but I wanna go back in time and chronicle her early/mid 20s and compare it to mine. Our lives so different (my 25 is not hers, to say the least) yet our conversations are the same. On a completely different note, she's a much happier black girl than she used to be, attributed to ... meeting another black girl that makes her happy (shoutout to other mom, as I call her). Plus, having all your kids moved out the house helps a little.
2. black girl bloggers. To the girls who are just *wendy williams voice* doin it! Yes, we have opinions. Sometimes we have them with hands on hips and with a roll in our neck. But we can also have them while using big words, talking bigger concepts and under the biggest headlines.
I have a hard enough time keeping up with my own blog, but, imma shout out a list of my favorite black girl bloggers by their twitter, because that's how I found them(and imma give them benefit of the doubt and say they're happy):
@516jap: educational disparities(kinda like a big sister, definitely a very happy black girl)
@funkybrownchick: sex/dating (I actually met her in person before I read the blog, good times)
@abelleinbk: dubbed the "black carrie bradshaw" by some (and if so, I will watch every episode as long as the hypothetical show actually takes place in bk and doesn't end in cinematic catastrophe)
@0_omzjoy: my e-twin, who reflects on life and stuff, and really gets it spot on.
@inetespionage: health/fitness/eating (I was a bit of a hater at first, but I like this girl. She's putting in the legwork that none of us are putting in, regardless of size, color or gender)
And obviously @sistertoldja. Admittedly, I haven't read her blog much, but I'm working on that. I'm not a religious reader of any of these blogs (though I'm pretty up to speed on Belle's formspring, that kills time on the subway, plus I'm nosy like that) but I'd hope that my blog would evolve to bits and pieces of these ladies. Their work makes me happy. Happy me makes for better writing and more blog posts.
3. Janelle Monae: Where has this chick been hiding my whole life? Her sound is awesomesauce through and through. "Tightrope" has replaced "Touch the Sky" as my "I'm feeling awesome today" iPod song. I should actually buy some of her music, but the last CD I bought was AKeys' 2nd CD. No, Sade "Lovers Rock." Yeah.
Anyway, the new album goes hard, but so does Metropolis. I want more of her. Preferably live, this summer.
4. My founders: ah yes, those 7 young ladies who paved the way for what would be thee greatest sorority ever, Sigma Gamma Rho. I can't imagine that being a mid20s black girl in the mid20s was happy times, which made their unity so much more important and special. Sigma makes me happy to be part of something bigger than myself, and I learn as much about her as I do about myself, as I come up on 5 years.
5. Diahann Billings-Burford: Little did I know how much working under this woman (well, not directly) would affect my ideals of being a professional black woman. She holds the Chief Service Officer spot for the city, and from the bits and pieces I know abt her (degrees from top schools, owns a BK brownstone, married with children, used to run some charter schools, is also greek) I kinda stan for her. And I will go one step further and say she's my real-life Claire Huxtable. I'd like to think I can come up like her.
Ok this was way longer than I wanted. But, until next HBGD, imma try to stay a HBG by getting back into yoga. I fell off after 4 days and need to make that happen.
Stay happy black girls!
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