Happy birthday mama Hurston! Your words are the best I’ve read all day. ❤

“Prayer seems to me a cry of weakness, and an attempt to avoid, by trickery, the rules of the game as laid down. I do not choose to admit weakness. I accept the challenge of responsibility. Life, as it is, does not frighten me, since I have made my peace with the universe as I find it, and bow to its laws. The ever-sleepless sea in its bed, crying out “how long?” to Time; million-formed and never motionless flame; the contemplation of these two aspects alone, affords me sufficient food for ten spans of my expected lifetime. It seems to me that organized creeds are collections of words around a wish. I feel no need for such. However, I would not, by word or deed, attempt to deprive another of the consolation it affords. It is simply not for me. Somebody else may have my rapturous glance at the archangels. The springing of the yellow line of morning out of the misty deep of dawn, is glory enough for me. I know that nothing is destructible; things merely change forms. When the consciousness we know as life ceases, I know that I shall still be part and parcel of the world. I was a part before the sun rolled into shape and burst forth in the glory of change. I was, when the earth was hurled out from its fiery rim. I shall return with the earth to Father Sun, and still exist in substance when the sun has lost its fire, and disintegrated into infinity to perhaps become a part of the whirling rubble of space. Why fear? The stuff of my being is matter, ever changing, ever moving, but never lost; so what need of denominations and creeds to deny myself the comfort of all my fellow men? The wide belt of the universe has no need for finger-rings. I am one with the infinite and need no other assurance.”

-Zora Neale Hurston 1942 autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road.

“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at the sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.”

Zora Neale Hurston circa 1928

For more information-https://www.facebook.com/events/727611237316333/?pnref=story

https://www.facebook.com/events/727611237316333/?pnref=story

For more information-https://www.facebook.com/events/780919131945248/?pnref=story

https://www.facebook.com/events/401714646663362/

If the majority of the women accusing Bill Cosby were of color the allegations would still be disturbing, trauma still there, the shame too. Bill Cosby is like one of the few blacks that ever “made it” and has “made it almost perfectly, for so long with no flaws, no deceptions”. He’s earned respect internationally as an icon that is very powerful (the golden child). It’s sad because I feel like people of color, in my own community would rather him remain untarnished, untouchable, or to believe a lie just to hold on to some level of respect that is only theres by association, instead of accepting that he raped 15 women. Or this innocent until proven guilty shit. So basically if he’s found guilty all of those that supported him will simultaneously turn their backs?

Rape happens to babies, children, teenagers, adults, and elders. Imagine telling your 8-year old baby girl that she should never talk about granddaddy raping her because it would ruin the family name? Or questioning why she let grandaddy do that to her in the first place and that she must be “fresh” because it happened? And as she reaches her 40th birthday, father urges her to always stay silent because grandaddy is such a respected man, a god fearing man, family man in his community and her telling on him would kill his pride, and ruin him for life, and the family too while all along she has no pride from dying inside when it happened, scarred human flesh that can’t be intimate without fear. We would rather protect what has made us respected and dignified in the eyes of others instead of facing painful truths. My family was always been good at holding secrets, secrets that were painful and shameful and hurtful. We kept them cause we were raised that it was nobodies business. I’ve dedicated my life to exposing my families secrets. Those secrets won’t hold me hostage anymore. My life is too beautiful not to be free. Stop victim blaming. Bill’s got too many accusations and so little time. -Gracie Berry

The moment her smile gives you goosepimples and how her eyes trail yours sending warmth-surging to tight, moist places. You meet up at your favorite restaurant and she tells you all about her emotions. How you are so brave, and much more compatible than her partner, and she can see clearly now. She tells you that’s she’s unhappy and leaving is only a matter of time. Time. She convinces you with those eyes and that smile that she is finally regaining control and that you are to blame. She lays it on thick saying that she needs you now more than ever. The walls cave in on you and that shot of Jameson burns all the way down because you’ve heard it before-it always ends badly-it always ends the same way. To stay or to leave those are your only choices. In the foyer of your favorite restaurant-you kiss her forehead as dapper as your suit. You bid her peace and many courageous days cause for you, “a matter of time” has run out.

-Gracie Berry

#workingonsomenewstuff

It’s great that parents teach their children to be fearful and cautious of specific dangers, such as fire or crossing the road. In these instances, anxiety can be useful, because it helps protect them from harm. However, children can learn to be fearful of situations or objects that adults find threatening. This video is a great example of understanding and overcoming fear because we need to trust our babies more. I witness parents strongly motivating their children to avoid certain things when in fact its their own fears being projected. For example, fear of heights, water etc. The parent remains in close proximity here, yet allows the child to experience falling, problem solving, and self-reliance in a supportive environment. I admire this so very much! ‪#‎ridethefear‬ #nofear #sogirlrillavintage

Heart,
Gracie

Click link to watch full video of baby skateboarding-https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152556930584025&fref=nf

When people say, they can’t complain, bothers me. To me the phrase implies a since of martyrdom. As if waking up to a world that directly traumatizes, devalues, mentally and emotionally diseases, fragments us should be satisfactory just because we survived another moment? I mean this most auspiciously, your silence will end your days as swiftly as they’ve started. I say, COMPLAIN! Don’t let a soul cover your mouth. COMPLAIN! To expand your value because your pain has a right to be here! COMPLAIN! For all of the voiceless. COMPLAIN! To build awareness. COMPLAIN! Because you can. Honestly, the most change ever eradicated in the world has been a result of those who complained. Imagine if Malcolm, Gandhi, or Kwame Ture didn’t complain-we would be even more whitewashed and afraid. Their complaints made us whole and aware of our wholeness. -Gracie Berry

Want black liberation at it’s beautifullest? Check out my girl BFly Denai @ http://www.blackshesus.com/ Black folks alive on this planet needs healing, lovin’, reflections of themselves in mirrors of them. 🙂

Had a dental exam today for a bothersome tooth. The dentist took x-rays then after looking at them says, root canal. I’m like huh?! He then projects them onto a screen and of course I ask them to show me where the damage is. He talks in circles anf finally says, well, I really don’t see much. I’m going off of the symptoms you’re having.” Huh? You won’t be getting my $1,040 and healthy tooth pal. No way! I’ll take my prescription to go please. Oh yea then he comments about the art on my face-something about it being “in” right now and that his wife does it. I said, sir my family and culture inspires this art. It’s always “in” where I come from. Ugh ‪#‎whataripoff‬ ‪#‎dontbelievethehype‬ ‪#‎capitalismandhealtcaresucks‬