Black Woman, Play.

“Play” for Black women is an act of faith. An act of trust.

Trusting that the world is safe enough to laugh

Trusting that we are not the foundation on which the Earth rests

That the world won’t fall apart if we rest

And if it does, it’s not our fault

Play is an act of surrender, of yielding

Surrendering the need to earn our worth through hard work

Accepting that we are enough– that we are worthy

That our joy is far more important than money, toil, labor, acceptance, other people’s comfort in exchange for our own

Play reconnects us to the child we had to leave behind.

The child we had to protect.

The child that was no longer safe

We become a safe space, a safe home for her

Play teaches us to be grateful in every moment for everything

To see beauty and value in all the magic around us

Play is an act of worship

Play is opening and using the gifts given freely

Creativity, peace, joy, healing, connection, renewal

Play is acknowledging the creations of our Creator

The world becomes a playground to explore 

A place to imagine, to scream, dance, leap, to pretend, to dream,

To skip, draw, overturn stones, dip our feet in streams, 

Kiss fragrant petals, interview crawling creatures, sing the songs of bladed grass

Watch the clouds form, drink the rain, whisper to the sun

Play is not desert

Play is a matter of life and death

Play heals the wounded soul, mends the body and frees the spirit

Play gives life

Play gives wisdom

Play gives courage

Play is communion

Play is the closest to God we’ll ever get

Play is the closest we’ll ever get to touching God