It was around this time last year that my friend K. introduced me
to Warsan Shire. I listened to her poem, “For Women Who Are Difficult to Love,” awed by the
gripping soul-grabbing effect of her words. "You can't make homes out of human beings. Someone should have already
told you that." Since then, pieces of Warsan's poetry pepper
my social media feeds. Her words speak truth, give inspiration and share
wisdom. In her, I found a voice that accurately embody the nuances of life
and love, heartache, and womanhood (inside and outside of societal constructs). Warsan Shire’s poetry intertwined with Beyonce's Lemonade, provided a double
dose of insight into what a woman's journey, namely a black woman's journey, through life and to herself
can look like: vulnerability, courage, pain, authenticity, resilience, forgiveness, beauty, surrender and strength.
There’s so much that I can write about Lemonade, and there are
pieces that I am still processing. For me, the standout feature of Lemonade
is that it unabashedly celebrates black women and girls. The braids, textured
hair, brown skin, beauty, grace and dignity on display are breathtaking. There is Serena Williams dancing in her chocolate-hued “thick
sista” glory and gorgeous model Winnie Harlow – who bravely showed the world
that her difference is beautiful. There are women staring directly at the camera, almost daring you to question their humanity.
Throughout the video we see pain,
we see love, we see redemption, but most importantly, we see sisterhood. As
Beyonce takes us through the stages of grief, we see her constantly surrounded
by black women supporting and uplifting her. Isn't that so true for many of us?
How many times have we relied on our sister friends to carry us during
difficult times? How often do we glean from the wisdom of those who came before
us? "My
grandma said nothing real can be threatened. True love brought salvation back
into me. With every tear came redemption. And my torture became my
remedy." Societal beauty
standards, love, race, racism and relationships bring so many complexities to black women's lives. Telling
our stories is no easy task; though the shallow depictions of black women often displayed in mainstream media would have one believe otherwise.
Lemonade is a breath of fresh air (or a refreshing drink) in that it highlights the dynamism, mystique, nuances and real
life complexities of black womanhood.
Cheers,
Nika
Cheers,
Nika
