The Little (Black) Princess

Sister Toldja dubbed yesterday "Happy Black Girls Day." I cried.

I grew up in the '90s with a legion of black women telling me to take pride in myself, love myself, and uplift other little mocha girls, chocolate girls, brulee girls, and bronze girls.  Some days it was rough because I was often part of the "have nots" but I always knew when I got home to Nana's, I was loved.

Fast forward to now.  (Wo)man, little colored girls got it rough(er). Booty meat commericals, video vixen self help books, and the constant reinforcement of paralleling the black female body to unsatiable sex cravings floods a little girl's mind and spirit at an alarming rate.  And our little girls are becoming little women, not by choice but by circumstance.  That's a bad look.

I know I'm probably not saying anything new, but I do want to add my little piece.  Little black girls are becoming an endangered species.  These little women become grown ass women who often question their capability and power to impact the world because they do not fit into this little bubble of black femininity that is spewed across black and American popular culture.  They often give up on themselves and tell their little girls to do the same.  This is a vicious cycle that hurts my heart because I've seen it in action. Beautiful, talented, young girls who dream of Mathematics or Engineering, Writing or Performance Art, that crush their own dreams because no one has told them they are worthwhile and capable of making their aspirations reality. 

So what the hell do we do?
1. Stop thinking you aren't what a little girl needs. 
2. Your lived experience is her Mapquest.
3. Even if you aren't related, you are connected.
4. The smallest token of affection can push a little girl's dreams to infinite possibilities.

Even though yesterday was "Happy Black Girls Day" it should go year 'round.  I sent the little princesses in my life a note (it can be a text, email, handwritten, whatever) and it said "Precious One, You are loved. You are capable.  You are empowered. You have a destiny. You are priceless. And I got your back no matter what."

So, to my little black princesses Ayana, Charity, Janiah, and Jaci Lynn I got your back. Happy Black Princess Day.