editor’s letter: the womxn movement

“I thrive on obstacles. If I’m told that it can’t be told, then I push harder.” — Issa Rae

Where would the world be without the power, magic and divine majesty of Black womxn?

My entire perspective on Black womxn was shaped, guided and molded by my mother — Dr. Cleota P. Wilbekin Esq. As her name implies she was a force to be reckoned with — a Black woman born in Des Moines, Iowa, who was a music prodigy and tennis star in high school, graduated at 16, majored in music, went on to get her Masters in Music, Ph.D. in Sociology, and a JD. My Mom went to law school in the early ‘60s while she was pregnant with my older brother Erik. Yes, a married, pregnant Black woman attending law school in the 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement and Women’s Rights Movement. You see my Mother was a Boss!

So Black womxn have and always will be Super Heroes in my eyes, in my mind, and in reality. Womxn have the power to make things happen when there is a standstill. They keep trains on the tracks when there is no coal in the engine, no visibility on the horizon,  and no clear destination. Womxn hold our communities together when we are under attack and disenfranchised by white supremacy, patriarchy, and transphobia.

“I know intimately the struggle of trying to live your life and be yourself while feeling the pressure of an entire community on your shoulders.” — Janet Mock

Black womxn get the damn job done while supporting their families, multitasking, problem-solving, community building and organizing, working two jobs, and moving through the world with style, grace, and power that is unparalleled. They make the world see them, hear them, and take notice in spaces and places that often times objectifies their bodies, demoralizes their existence or ignores them altogether.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” — Dr. Maya Angelou

This month, we celebrate and honor the Black womxn who are revolutionaries and radicals intent on changing the ways of the world by any means necessary. We salute the Black womxn who are fighting for equality and equity with intention and verve. We shine a light on their divine feminine ingenuity, imaginations, and innovation to audaciously make this world a better place.