We major. We magic!

Get on board.

Thank you for moseying over to my blog. You made it this far, so thanks in advance for reading!

I'm 32 years old, which means I came of age during the Nickelodeon era. I had a sister who was 13 years older than me who was in college during the Afro-centric phase of the early 90s. A Different World was in its prime, Martin was entering the mainstream followed by Living Single. Spike Lee, John Singleton and the Hughes Brothers were dominating the silverscreen during this time, too, showing the mainstream what it was like to be a black person in America. 

In short, THE 90s WERE DOPE, BOIIIIII!!!!!! (yikes)

I was very conscious of my African heritage, knowing I descended from kings and queens, and not just slaves. From kindergarten until my college graduation, I fought hard to make sure my history and culture was not white-washed, refusing to be brainwashed by polished Western history.

Still, no matter how woke I was, I still sometimes succumbed to the Western beauty norms. I had my hair relaxed from age 8 until 23. Fifteen years of my life dedicated to straightening my hair just so I could  "look like a white girl." That was the ultimate compliment, apparently. 

Shit got old, of course, and I started to embrace my natural beauty. Turns out, I have great hair! Turns out, we all do! Who gives a shit — it's fucking hair! Live yo life!

Anyway. That being said, I'm very happy about this Black Girl Magic movement. Some folks are perplexed as to why we are so confident in our melanin-laden beauty, but fuck 'em. This movement ain't for them, and it never needs to end. As a matter of fact:

This rings too true for me. I spent all of high school thinking I was unattractive, mainly because a lot of black dudes of lighter hue called me ugly because I was dark-skinned. I grew up in Nashville, so some people were just lost. Shit happens. I definitely believed them once I realized I never got asked out. I guess I was ugly, I thought. But then I noticed that the same ones calling me ugly were always up in my face, trying to crack jokes and get my attention. 

TURNS OUT THEY WANTED ME THE WHOLE TIIIIIIIIMEEEEE!!!!!!! 

Ha. Suckas.

Once I went to college, more and more dudes were talking to me, but I was too awkward and uncomfortable in my skin to notice.

Long story short, and a decade later, I am not about that self-deprecation life. I love myself and am beyond proud of the person I have become, and I keep on striving to be better. 

Oh, and yes: we definitely are magic.

Til next time.