Right-Side-Up
Moving Towards Living Right-Side-Up
Over the last few years, I’ve found myself grappling with what it means for me to live Right-Side-Up.
Melissa Harris-Perry in her book Sister Citizen reminds us that “When they (Black women) confront race and gender stereotypes, black women are standing in a crooked room, and they have to figure out which way is up. Bombarded with warped images of their humanity, some black women tilt and bend themselves to fit the distortion” (18).
Sojourner Truth used her voice in public spaces to advocate for women’s rights and for them to get things “right side up.” But before Sojourner spoke and lived into her truth she had to grapple with what it meant to live Right-Side-Up for herself. That meant changing her name, walking away from an illusion of freedom, charting her own paths as an entrepreneur, living into her truth, and embracing different rhythms as she sought true liberation and freedom.
Being learning from her life as a Black mother, preacher, teacher, and woman. Grateful for the great cloud of sisters that have gone before me. Women like Sojourner have been my guide as I’ve learned to take off the mask, the SBW armor, and stand more and more Right-Side-Up!
For me, that has meant embracing and loving all parts of me, especially my body that has gone through so many changes as well as embracing what it means for ME to be a grown-ass woman. After decades of tilting and bending to fit into distorted images of that others have created for me, I’m feeling more and more like my unapologetic and authentic self as I keep getting myself Right-Side-Up.
Defining Myself for myself feels so DAMN good!
Curious what it means for you to get right side up and who’s gone before and life is leading you on your own journey?
