Black Women Have It Going On

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10

Good morning to the rising sun in Colorado! As I prepare for this coming week, I find my mind in a tug-of-war. I’ve been wrestling with that old saying, ‘something is better than nothing,’ and it has forced me to look back at a Critical Thinking course I took decades ago.

Back then, I was desperate to change how I thought. I felt like my mind didn’t match my age; I felt younger, stuck in an innocence that wasn’t a choice, but a consequence. I didn’t realize then that my environment had stifled my growth. The ‘little girl’ in me had her innocence stolen, and my subconscious kept my adult self in limbo. Because of that, I moved through life naively and often fell prey to others. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t connect the dots to my upbringing.

This is why, when a friend suggested I write about Dr. Martin Luther King for Black History Month, I felt a quiet offense. What more can I say about a man whose life is already so well-documented? But more importantly, why must our history be confined to one month? To me, this month feels like a ‘crumb’ tossed to us to quiet our demands for true equality. Accepting it feels like agreeing that ‘something is better than nothing,’ when the truth is that Black people have added value to this world since the birth of mathematics.

This week, I am challenging myself to look beyond the crumbs. I am praying for clarity to celebrate myself and people like me—not just as a monthly gesture, but as a permanent force in history. Let’s pray!

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for the rising sun and the chance to think new thoughts. I lift up the ‘little girl’ inside me who was stifled for so long. Heal my perspective so I no longer move through this world naively, falling prey to those who offer crumbs. Grant me the clarity to see my own value and the value of my ancestors as more than just a monthly celebration. Lead me toward the ‘full life’ You promised. Amen.