back in black
Reach back to own who you are.
Black has always been associated with the most negative attributes - darkness, evil, death, etc. For me, “black” represents power. It represents strength. It is the master of all colors. Black as a race is a social construct created by racists to identify a people based on skin color.
With my roots being from the continent of Africa and having an upbringing that celebrated that, I have felt proud to be black, fully embracing all that comes with it - the good and the hardships. I realized though, that for some of my black brothers and sisters, they do not and have not felt the same about loving their blackness and standing firm in where they originate.
It is without doubt that the racist system that we have been subjected to has played a major role in any rejection of heritage. But there comes a point - a fork-in-the-road-moment, when you have to make a choice. Often, going back to the past will lead you to the right path. I chose long ago to embrace my BLACK - to express it, to elevate it, and to enrich it with the same power it gives me. ■
Top: Amazon; jeans: Old Navy; booties: Franco Sarto; earrings: Lulu’s; sunglasses: Max Mara; jacket: Old Navy