Audience is filling up! (Taken with instagram)

Plastered all over campus. (Taken with Instagram at Redcay hall)

It’s cold here. (Taken with Instagram at Angell Collge Center)

I made it to Plattsburgh! (Taken with instagram)

The last construction job my grandfather worked on. Built in 1968, he was a foreman on the complex that houses state offices, The Egg (a theatre), the state archives and the always awesome NY State Museum. (Taken with Instagram at Gov. Nelson Rockefeller Empire State Plaza)

My pops, AKA Cool Marvin-ski! He brought me a “runaway to freedom” lunch during my stopover in Albany. It’s at least 5 lbs. and has everything I liked as a kid including apple juice. Yum! (Taken with Instagram at Governor’s Mansion)

(Source: only-the-unloved-hate)

Day 266

I’m so grateful to be on the road, headed to SUNY Plattsburgh to screen and discuss The Black Girl Project. I got up before the chickens to male sure that I stuck to my Lenten resolutions (that’s what they are, right), to do yoga, meditate and journal for 40 days straight.

Someone tried to clown me for participating in Lent and I had to semi-snatch their wig (which I gave up for Lent, along with cutting and shanking folks). They tried to use that “Christianity has been harmful to Negroes” line and I had to check them.

I had to explain that I am not Christian anymore, but I was raised African Methodist Episcopal, the first established denomination for free Negroes. Then I broke down Richard Allen (the founder), why the altars in AME churches look like anvils (he was a blacksmith) and so on and so forth. I am in love with the history of AME and the fact that my great grandfather used to help establish AME churches around FL and GA in the late 1800s. They were taken aback by that, because as we know, Negroes in the late 1800s weren’t doing much at all.

Then they tried to break out the “all religion is patriarchy” argument and while I agree that a lot of organized religion is full of power structures that place women in secondary roles, there are denominations that are progressive. When I pointed out that AME has long had women reverends and even a woman bishop (shout out to Vashtie McKenzie), they didn’t know what to say.

I don’t take issue with folks critiquing stuff, because I do, but don’t come at me unless you know specifics and don’t dare question my personal relationship with the Most High, who is not some white dude chilling in the clouds—this I know.

My utilization of Lent is deeply personal and for me, signals the beginning of a new year. It’s a time to reflect, power up, and engage in any course corrections that are needed.

I’m kinda getting tired of “Conscious Negroes” trying to come at folks, particularly when they do not know of what they speak, which is a whole lot of times. This bandwagon hopping and group mentality will get you knocked out. Just because you’re “natural”, wear red black and green all the damn time, eat twigs and berries and rail against the man DOES NOT make you the arbiter of Blackness or Black consciousness.

I’ve been working on not holding my tongue anymore and being authentic in any and all situations. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to get in some practice.

Booty Who? Booty What? {Conversations With Tiny Smalls}

My organization, The Black Girl Project, is having a fundraiser on March 24th. Y'all should buy a ticket and come. We do awesome work and want to do more.