Why I Love #blackgirlmagic and Why You Should Too | Faces of Black Fashion: Why I Love #blackgirlmagic and Why You Should Too

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Why I Love #blackgirlmagic and Why You Should Too







Five days ago I posted a photo of myself and my girlfriends out at a party. In the comment box I typed “#blackgirlmagic.”  Admittedly, it is one of my favorite hashtags, and I have been using it quite frequently since this past summer.


When I created Faces of Black Fashion (formerly Black Fashion Bloggers), I wanted my blog to inhabit a space on the web that celebrated the often overlooked beauty and femininity of black women. I grew up surrounded by the beauty, elegance, grace, strength, resourcefulness, intelligence and vulnerabilities of black women. I have seen individual black women at their best and at their worst.  It taught me to love and embrace people with all their strengths and frailties.  As a black woman, I embrace the complexities, ironies and nuances of my own womanhood. I am deeply human and flawed but still deserving of love. I know that being celebrated does not require perfection. With this understanding of our humanity, I admire shows like  Mara Brock Akil’s Being Mary Jane. Mary Jane's character embodies  the full range and complexities of black womanhood. Mary Jane fills a space that is lacking in mainstream media's limiting portrayal of black women. The Black Girl Magic movement also fills and creates a space. With Black Girl Magic, we openly celebrate black women contrary to mainstream model where we are either ignored or marginalized.

Black Girl Magic gives us the opportunity to tell our own stories. It creates a space to give us the voice and visibility  to celebrate ourselves and our sister friends.  In her article for Elle Magazine, Dr. Chavers is correct in her assessment that taking on a strong black woman armour does not serve us, but that is not what  #blackgirlmagic does. Black Girl Magic highlights  everyday black women being loving and supportive. It is a movement that involve black women taking a stand to celebrate our inherent value, worth and humanity. It’s not a question of being “magical” or perfect, we don’t need to be either to deserve celebration. I want to see more black women and women in general declaring self-love and sisterhood. That’s powerful. Not only that, it’s beautiful. Here's to #blackgirlmagic

4 comments:

  1. Hi there, I personally don't like the word " magic".....but I TOTALLY GET AND AGREE WITH YOU. Thanks for standing up and being that influence for black women. The stereotypes,degrading remarks our media has "painted for black women has portrayed us in such a dark and misleading light. I too have had to stand in a space
    "fitness" and "faith" not religion ...huge difference. I've learned that when you decide to "stand up" -the more people you influence, the more you also will offend. However, what matters most, is that your motive was pure. That's all you can do. Keep it up. Love the hair color...let's keep showing the world that #blackgirlmagic

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    1. Thank you for such a thoughtful comment and thanks for showing the world #blackgirlmagic

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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts :)