Let Black Women be Soft...

“If this idea of Black softness is to be a healing one, we cannot only say “let Black women be soft.” We must also demand that we make the world safe for Black women. If you are not seeing soft Black women, it is partially because we are perpetually unsafe. If you are not seeing relaxed Black women, it is partially because we are constantly at war. Are you my enemy, or are you my friend, and how have you shown your allegiance to the safety of Black women in your life? I don’t mean just physically. How are you keeping Black women safe emotionally, spiritually, mentally? Do you only support Black women being soft when it benefits you or when it is aesthetically pleasing to you? You cannot have our authentic softness without also our rage. You cannot have our joy and our playfulness without our sorrow and our grief. Yes, let Black women be soft. But also, let Black women be.”