Hey Reader!

Writing is so much fun when it flows. 🥹

I'm knee deep in writing my next book right now and I have to tell you… this book is going to be SO GOOD. Wednesday night found me up at 1:20am, hyping MYSELF up (my favorite pastime) for the words that were coming through. I was writing lines that were making ME excited. When the inspiration hits like that? You gotta catch it. You gotta honor it. I was in flow!

Also, I think this next book is even better than Professional Troublemaker. I'm trying not to overpromise, but God is doing His BIG ONE with this project. Sky Daddy is SHOWING OUT!!! 🙌🏾

So many experiences I've had over the last three months have affirmed why this next book is so important and timely. The divine orchestration? Chef's kiss.

Even in this busy season, this work is giving me LIFE. It's reminding me why I do what I do.

Anywho, lemme talk about what else has been on my mind. 👇🏾
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RANT

The white woman urge to claim victimhood must be studied.

Earlier this week, I posted a reel talking about how I’ve thoroughly enjoyed how white women are dragging TF outta Taylor Swift for her latest album (which I didn’t listen to cuz: no. why.) 😒

And white women CRASHED OUT in my comments and DMs.

One woman even accused me of hating white women so much that I’m probably happy about a fatal accident.

I want them to get a GAHTDAMB grip. Cuz IS IT METH?!? Are y’all okay? You’re not okay.

The one thing about white woman fragility is that it’s never too far behind. They’re always proving that WICKED was a documentary.

What I want folks to recognize is that The person who BOUGHT and OWNS the URL WhiteWomenTears.com (ME. I own it) is probably not the one you wanna whine to about hurting your feelings. 🗣️

All of this while I wasn’t even the one saying what they could be mad about. Regardless, all of this led to an IG Stories series I did, about the ways in which white women terrorize everyone, including each other. I saved it as a highlight on my profile. Check it out, cuz it’s worth your time. 👀👀👀

I've been traumatized by the ways white women operate. I've designed my life in a way where I don't have to be in so many intimate settings with women I cannot trust. There's someone I worked with who moved so underhanded and with a lack of integrity and then tried to claim victimhood.

The damage that white women have done to Black women, Black people, is immeasurable. The ways they do not get held accountable because people keep looking at only white men as the villains…

Caucasity is a drug. And as they’re crashing out about people critiquing Taylor the Billionaire Matron Saint of Mediocre Mid Music, they ought to be using that same energy to battle fascism. 😒

Forever weaponizing tears, as everyone else deals with the aftermath of the floods they create from their eyes.

Again, please take a look at that series. The countless stories people tell about times they have been abused, terrorized, bullied by white women. It is devastation.

The time has come for us to stop being silent about it too.

Like the late, great writer Zora Neale Hurston said “If you are silent about your pain, they'll kill you and say you enjoyed it.”
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REFLECTION

Black women deserve to be defended vigorously.

As I shared stories of times white women have been bullies, and others did too, one thing kept coming up: people felt wounded over and over again, and felt alone in it. Or they felt powerless to do much about it. When they got fired because a white woman went to HR and lied, no one spoke up for them. 😤

Black women, especially, felt the rage of how they were left on an island to fend for themselves by folks who witnessed the cruel treatment they got, whether in school or work.

I wanna affirm that WE ARE WORTH DEFENDING.

And in this moment, I’m noticing Black women being more outspoken about the treacherous treatment we’ve been receiving from a world that is constantly using us as punching bags for its misery, which was not wrought by us.

I feel like we’ve been the adults in the room of the actual world and that’s why we do not punch back. But we’ve definitely earned sending some upper cuts to a few jaws. YET WE KEEP IT CLASSY. 💅🏾 Everyone is welcome!

Black PEOPLE in general, need to have real accomplices (not just allies. Allies ain’t strong enough). Or rather, co-conspirators (the ones who will put something REAL on the line and be in the fight with you).

While Beth-Ann was fighting for Taylor’s honor, WHERE WAS THIS ENERGY FOR KAMALA HARRIS? 👀Where was this energy for MICHELLE OBAMA? Where is this energy for JASMINE CROCKETT who is constantly being attacked?

Black women, Black people deserve to get the same protection, defense, and grace instead of constant criticism, scrutiny, and silence.

If you're actually paying attention about what's happening, you'll see that Black women standing up for ourselves isn't divisive. It's not mean. It's not bullying.

It's overdue. 🗣️

What we're modeling right now is that we will no longer shrink ourselves to make others comfortable. We will no longer absorb abuse in silence.

Behind every Black woman who shows up boldly and consistently is a real human trying to leave this planet better than we found it. And that work is exhausting when you're constantly having to defend your right to simply exist with dignity.

But you know what? Still, we rise (shoutout to Mother Maya Angelou). 🙌🏾

We're rising by refusing to play the game anymore. We're rising by matching energy. We're rising by protecting each other the way we've always wished someone would protect us.

Reader I want you to hear this. YOU ARE WORTH DEFENDING.

I mean, I did write LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER DEFENDS HER NAME. This is an idea that is near and dear to me because people take the idea of us being the bigger person too far, and think that somehow, ignoring harm is always the answer.

The high road we’re told to walk on can have thin air. Sometimes, we do need to honor ourselves by holding people loudly accountable for their abuse and violence.

You're allowed to say "I will no longer accept this treatment" and actually mean it.

This shift we're in? It's uncomfortable for people who benefited from our silence. The people who’ve been able to get away with harm for way too long because they feel protected. It’s done.

What we're modeling for the next generation of Black women and girls is that their dignity matters. That they don't have to shrink. That defending yourself isn't wrong, it's righteous.

So if people wanna stay mad because Black women are finally matching their energy? Let them stay mad. 🤌🏾

We're building from a place of pure courage, protecting ourselves and each other first.

That's worth every uncomfortable conversation, every unfollowing, every white woman's tear. 🗣️
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RECOMMENDATION

Gift a Patreon membership to a Black woman.

After all the foolishness of this week, I got a bunch of messages from folks (a lot of them being women who happen to be white. There is indeed a difference), asking if they can add to my virtual collection plate.

Listen, y’all. These social media platforms ARE. NOT. SAFE. And as someone who is an immigrant… A Black woman who is visible enough to have a whole Wikipedia page that I didn't create 😩(and frankly makes me hella uncomfortable), I’m getting more and more strategic about where I speak freely.

And right now, recognizing that my work is under attack. Building virtual community I can always exist in is important. A year ago, I created my Patreon, not knowing how truly dangerous things were gonna get. But everything in divine timing, right?

Sooo my Patreon is that. It’s also a space that is my LIBRARY of best work, life and work hacks and reflections. I’m proud of it because it does feel SAFE in there.

Anywho, I invite you to join the space. But also important, I invite you to gift an annual membership to a Black woman. How to do that?

1. ​BUY A GIFT MEMBERSHIP HERE.​
2. REPLY TO THIS EMAIL WITH THE GIFT CODE.

Me and my team will then give these away to Black women who wanna join but don’t have the budget.

Here are three reasons why NOW is the time to join and help someone else join:

1. Transparency without algorithm. On Patreon, I can speak more freely about what's actually on my mind. The nuanced conversations we can't have when everyone's watching.

2. Practical resources for these times. I'm not just venting over there. I'm sharing emergency preparedness lists, safety strategies, resources for navigating increasingly unstable times.

3. Community you can trust. The people in my Patreon GET IT. It’s multicultural and multigenerational. It’s honestly an antithesis to the madness that has been happening this week. The women in there, who are of all backgrounds know what it is. The vibes are immaculate.

I'm seeing how mainstream media is staying silent on things that SHOULD be headlines. I'm seeing how quickly things can shift. How dangerous it's getting to be visible and Black and opinionated.

And I'm preparing. I'm moving smart. I'm moving with my people. And I want you there.

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Here's what I'm wondering:

When was the last time you defended yourself as vigorously as you defend others? What would it feel like to match that energy for your own dignity?

With defiance and purpose,

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P.S. That 1:20am writing flow I mentioned? That’s what happens when you BUILD a writing habit. Word Work: The 30-Day Writing Challenge is happening now and it’s been so transformative that we’re doing it again in November. If you’re ready to finally start that book, that journal practice, or just get the words OUT… join the November waitlist. Your words are waiting. 💫​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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