Womb - Fall & Winter 2014 Issue

ONE.DROP WOMB

p u b l i s h e d E V O L U T I O N

X

b y P R E S S

True story:

I’ve just crossed paths with an old college friend and her daughter, who is now 11 years old. While my friend handles something on the phone, I talk with Baby Girl. For the life of me, I can’t remember what I’m discussing that causes me to use the word “uterus.” But I do. And she asks, “What’s a uterus?” I place my hands over my womb and respond, “Every girl is born with a uterus. It sits right here. This is actually where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. Not in her belly.”

She is deep in thought when she replies, “Does it ever hurt? I mean, ever?” At this point, I realize that I may be stepping into the birds and the bees talk before my friend has deemed it time. So I mention something about a period and tell her that her mom can tell her more. Their bus comes and they jet out to catch it.

Does it ever hurt? Baby Girl stirs a question deeper and wider than the Grand Canyon. Yes, our wombs hurt. Natural causes and cultural abuses will double us over. But there is nothing shameful about a womb’s pain. There is nothing shameful about a womb.

I’d love to sit down with Baby Girl and tell her that her womb is a sacred garden and that she has the blessing and joy of tending to it.

That it carries her purest magic to heal, nurture, and dance ecstatically through her life journey. That it is the seat of her intuition and creatitivty. That yes, there will be pain, and that her womb already contains the necessary medicine. That it connects her to every other girl and woman in an inseparable way. That a womb is the surest sign that she was made in the image of God. This issue is in defiant praise of the Womb!

Giving thanks,

Kana Gaines Journaler

“And no one possesses pure Love, or they’d never know worry, pain, or fear of the dark places in consciousness. Pure Love would be the answer to all ills. Anyone who possessed it would have to be filled with light to a divine extreme. So instead we all have bits of love, and, therefore, need one another. Of course, this makes larger sense. Yet as individual and miniscule elements of this grand system, It is often bewildering and many of us never learn the rudimentary lessons of love, leaving us to wonder, “Why?

What’s the point.?”

We need your guidance.

SHE SHE vesâ—?sel 1 a : a container (as a cask, bottle, kettle, cup, or bowl) for holding something b : a person into whom some quality (as grace) is infused

We give thanks for the water, neglect the jar that carries it.

Celebrate the gift of life, demean Woman who bears it.

When all the bowls break / cups shatter / kettles scream / women less-than-love themselves / We will scatter wander thirsting through deserts drinking extinction Woman, if Life means any thing to you, love your Self first Furiously.

SHE

Doesn’t she deserve a seat, too?

SHE

She is at once the object and the subject.

She is seen and she sees all.

SHE

She knows that it is not always about her, but that she always plays an essential part.

RealRecognizeReal

Practicing Queen Culture Every& morning& I& enter& my& work& of1ice& building& and& greet& another& woman.& Her& skin& is& deep& and& rich,&peppered&with&ebony&moles,&and&her&natural& hair& is& ponytailed& at& the& nape& of& her& neck.& She& is& older& than& me& by& at& least& thirty& years,& perhaps& more,&since&black&surely&don’t&crack.& One&day&out&of&the&blue,&as&I&approached&her&desk& headed& towards& the& stairwell,& she& switched& from& her& usual& demure& greeting& and& said,& “Hi,& my& queen.”& Honored,& surprised,& humbled,& unsure& of& what& I& had& done& to& deserve& such& a& respectful& welcome,&I&responded,&“Good&morning,&Queen.”& Climbing& the& four& 1lights& of& stairs,& a& warm,& vibrating&light&surrounded&me.&Quietly,&a&spiritual& dialogue& had& grown& between& us& over& several& months.& First& manifesting& in& smiles,& then& greetings& and& goodbyes,& brief& but& growing& in& familiarity.& These& culminated& into& a& beautiful,& simple& exchange.& Recognition& of& royalty.& Now& every& morning& I& look& forward& to& our& customary,& “Good& morning,& Queen”& exchange.& Queen& culture& is&certainly&better&than&coffee&to&start&the&day.

What’s your sister culture? Quiz Take this short self-quiz to gain insight and suggestions about your sister-to-sister interactions.

1. When I notice an unfamiliar woman looking at me, I usually: a) Stare back at her. b) Quickly look away. c) Smile and greet her.

2. When I give compliments to other women I feel: a) Weird. b) Polite. c) Sincere.

3. My homegirls are; a) Better than other chicks I know. b) Nice, but unstable. c) Beautiful wildflowers.

2 or more A s

2 or more B s

Concubine Culture

Cinderella Culture

Consider how competition and insecurity drive our interactions with other women. Perhaps a part of us believes that there s not enough love to go around. As girls, we had to fend for ourselves, even when we felt like someone should have protected us.

Let s work at spending 60 seconds in the mirror every morning showering ourselves with compliments and encouragement. Give it at least 7 days.

If we struggle to find words, let s just begin with I love you.

Consider how our encounters with other women can be shallow and mistrustful. We have been hurt or neglected by women, even our mothers and friends. As a result, we do not trust them or ourselves. Let s start out with one small, challenging task that scares us (like trying that hairstyle that seems way too daring or planning that solo adventure). When we complete our task̶regardless of the outcome̶let s spend an entire day celebrating how we ve trusted ourselves. And then let s do it again.

2 or more C s Queen Culture

We ve only reached this point after years of jealous, insecure, and superficial interactions with other women. Our honest reflection and inner work have paid off, yet we recognize that we re works in progress. Most importantly, we accept our imperfections with a loving tenderness that allows us to embrace and celebrate other women as our sisters. Let s be conscious to fully forgive and accept our own mothers and other women relatives, as these relationships usually remind us that we have much more emotional healing ahead.

O t h e r m o t h e r i n g : excerpt from an article by Briana Perry

Reflecting on the Shared Nature of Black Motherhood

Despite the stigma and challenges that have

women-centered networks of bloodmothers

historically surrounded their motherhood,

and othermothers, and othermothers being

African American women have shown

women who assist biological mothers by

resiliency. In order to counter the negative

sharing mothering responsibilities.�

images, they have worked to develop creative networks of support, including the system of othermothering. As defined by feminist theorist Patricia Hill Collins, “othermothering is organized, resilient,

Othermothering was a system that enslaved women developed in order to help each other with mothering since they had no form of assistance from the society in which they lived. While slave women were working,

othermothers, which included aunts,

not representative of all. Sadly, African

grandmothers, and other women outside of

American women were not expected to

the familial structure, took turns helping to

replenish society in the same manner as the

care for each other’s children. African

White women who passionately worked to

American women continue to utilize this

change this view of themselves. African

structure in contemporary society, especially

American motherhood has historically been

if they are single parents. Othermothers often step in to offer parenting advice, financial support, and childcare services to a group of women who still lack societal recognition and support.

I am among an array of indivduals who are

This calls for us to acknowledge the power relations that surface in the phenomenon of motherhood.

products of othermothering. My grandmother regulated and because of this, if they offered support while my mother labored as choose to vehemently express their a single parent. This assistance included experiences, such as first lady Michelle babysitting, teaching lessons of selfObama, this can not be categorized as a reliance, and providing financial support. As limiting act that goes against the work of the old adage states, “it takes a village to second wave feminism. Yes, women should raise a child,� but this is most relevant for not be solely defined by motherhood, but if a African American mothers who need each group of women have never been fully other because they live in a society that recongized as mothers, then this calls for us trivializes their experiences with to acknowledge the power relations that motherhood. Though the intentions of surface in the phenomenon of motherhood, women involved in second wave feminism with some categories of people being were warranted because women do deserve empowered to nurture and reproduce while to be exposed to opportunities outside the others are disempowered. realm of motherhood, their experiences were

Can’t we all just…live together???

Lots of folks weighed in on a conversation about the pros and cons of “communal living,” which was defined as shared living spaces, resources, and responsibilities (i.e. othermothering, roommates, extended family, etc.). Here’s what they had to say…

Living communally definitely required that I be less individualistic and focus on the needs of the larger household rather than myself. Sometimes it was really hard, but then when others would reciprocate, it felt like communal living was the only way to go! —Lisa C.

Communal shopping is nice... Also nice to have a like minded community. Little more difficult to have privacy... Lots of compromise... Which can be or plus or minus... Not much room for egos.—-Nathan G.

My mother lived with our family 19 years until she passed. I know economically, emotionally, and spirituality for our family it was truly a blessing to us. It really benefited my kids to come home to hot meals and someone to help with homework while I was at work. -Binky W.

Coming out of a very large family I have experienced this type living to a degree. Although the collective aspect of it was a definite pro , upon reaching adulthood I came to value my independence as well as the peace and quiet of my privacy. —Khaos

For me the biggest pro would be splitting the bills 3, 4, 5 ways instead of just 1 or 2 ways. This gives the entire "community" the chance to save and have the funds to do away with communal living if that’s no longer what you want. I see this lifestyle as a stepping stone to a stable and less crowded lifestyle. — Joi M.

You don't have to have a single leader, the collective can lead, but you'd have to good leadership and organization to make it work. And.. there all kinds of people so you'd want to have a way of fostering harmony between them. —Michael I.

Rules can often be stricter in communal living than in nuclear families. “Tuesday is your day to clean the bathroom and harvest the fresh crop, no exceptions!” —Carter M.

I think pros include learning larger lessons about sacrifice, unity, comprimising, synergizing, collaboration, patience, and acceptance! The cons include possible lack of privacy which for adults could possibly prevent intimacy with spouse, vulnerability especially of youth to dysfunctional members of the community (e.g.thieves, sexual predators), and having to carry the load for members of the community who unapologetically keep coming up short.—Diallo M.

Kendra Murray Lucas talks science fiction & self-discovery

When you Google the defintion of “ confidence , ” I ’ m pretty sure Kendra’s image pops up. She’s one of Nashville ’ s leading salseras (female salsa dancer), a career woman, newlywed , and self - published author. Here, Kendra talks with One.Drop about writing her eBook, Winning at Dating: Great Advice for Women on How to Meet And Keep a Great Man and shares some of her secrets to maintaining a clear channel for creativity.

OD: I’ve seen you do so much, managing a dance team, choreographing, having your career at Vanderbilt, being a newlywed.

What’s it like to have so many spheres going and to keep yourself healthy and sane mentally and emotionally.

KML: It is a challenge. I just try to listen to what my body is saying and what my random mind-thoughts are saying. If my body is tired and sickly, I’ll just take a weekend off and nuture myself. I also schedule time for creativity even if I’m not inspired. So it’s a balance of listening to whatever spontaneously inspires you and scheduling time to do it.

OD: Have you written in the past or was this your first delve into it?

KML: Oh yes. I originally wanted to be a novelist. I’ve written three different novels that are incomplete. I just couldn’t figure out how to end. And writing non-fiction is a lot easier for me than fiction. Because it’s the truth, you just put down what you think and hope it’s valuable to somebody.

Whereas fiction…it can be anything you want to…it overwhelms me a little bit.

OD: That’s been one of the biggest hindrances for me personally. It’s so wide open, it’s like, “Where do I take a step?!

What are some other challenges that you’ve had in your creative process?

“One extra possibility sparks off like branches, new ideas and ways to get through those blocks.”

KML: I was working on a sci-fi novel called Beneath the Surface. When I was trying to transition from the middle part to the ending, I couldn’t get the punch, the powerful transition that I wanted to take it all the way. I feel like finding those transitions is the hardest part of any creative process. A lot of times having an outside inspiration helps me get through those challenges. Even just one extra word, one extra possibility sparks off like branches, new ideas and ways to get through those blocks.

OD: Have you always had this creative selfawareness or has it developed over the years?

KML: It’s definitely developed over the years.

When I was younger, I had to schedule creativity. It would take at least an hour before I would get on a roll with any sort of creative process. Through time it came organically.

It just flows.

so the base of me is still Christian oriented.

But I believe that the purpose of religion is to create a person similar to Jesus so that we can build a heaven on earth. I use other methods to talk to God. When I’m using tarot cards or a pendulum, I’m asking a question because I want guidance to help me along my path so that I’m helping us all move closer to a type of Utopia.

OD: Do you ever use your spirituality to inform your creativity?

OD: What are some things that you discovered about yourself as you were writing the book?

KML: That I’ve changed a lot in the past ten years. We’re never who we are, really, from eighteen to thirty. I was really shy, even at twenty. It was really hard for me to achieve new friendships. So through my experiences, I’ve learned that all my fears were unfounded.

That a lot of the things that were holding me back were really my own issues. And that takes a while to get through. You really have to talk yourself through your own drama. You always have to go a little bit higher than you think you’re capable of.

You’ll rise to the occasion.

KML: I don’t really separate the two. I feel like all creative ideas are coming from a higher plane that we’re all pulling from.

Sometimes you listen and sometimes you don’t. So it just goes in a circle until you pay attention.

“You always have to go

a little bit higher than you think you’re capable of. You’ll rise to the occasion.”

OD: I’ve been learning tarot and I know that you do as well. In the South especially, it’s not always understood. What’s that journey been like for you?

KML: Oh that’s an interesting one, and I don’t know the process myself. My religious beliefs are very eclectic. I grew up Catholic,

OD: Oh my god! I wonder how many things are hovering over me wondering, “Is she ever going to listen to this?!”

KML: That’s how it works!

I feel like everything you want in life is a creative process. If you want anything new, it’s a creative process. And you have to enjoy that process.

OD: Since the first time I’ve met you, you’ve shined with confidence—on the dance floor, hosting events, and so on.

KML: Girl, I’m so terrified of all of it! I tell myself, “You’re not going to improve unless you put yourself out there.” And I just keep going. I think that’s what confidence is; it’s not that the fear isn’t there. It’s just that you

recognize it and you work through it.

OD: What is your One Drop?

KML: Hmm…What is your One Drop?

OD: Mine is impulse and adventure. It’s the breeze, the wind.

KML: One drop of daring. On the inside I’m scared of everything, but there’s this tiny bit of me that’s like, “Kendra, you can do anything that you put your mind to.” It’s that one drop of daring that has made me doing everything that I’ve done.

See

Sankofa

Released in 1993, Sankofa is still beating the competition when it comes to slave films.

Ethiopian filmmaker, Haile Gerima wrote, directed and produced this classic film. Told from the mouths of enslaved Africans, it carries the seed of ancestral hopes, dreams, and tragedies. Granted, any film that portrays such a brutal and personal story is sure to have you feeling bristled and offended, but this one comes with some redemption!

When Mona, an African American fashion model working on the coast of Ghana, stumbles into the past by about 200 years, she transforms into Shola, a house slave in 18th century Louisiana. But doesn’t realize that she’s really from the future. Instead she is consumed with her dreadful and beautiful reality. Part of the beauy comes from her stormy romance with Shango, a rebellious West Indian transport played by Mutabaruka.

Rebellion, birth, murder, poisoning, and African JuJu keep this plot unfolding in continuously unexpected ways. The film is a balanced portrayal of the slave experience, exploring how the enslaved responded to oppression through both violent and subversive means. It will leave you feeling humbled, proud, and inspired by the struggles, triumphs, transcendence, and power of your Ancestors and, therefore, your Self. Asé!

See Sankofa or see it again!

L A F R O F U T U R I S T I C T What happens when sistas write science fiction? We get re-imagined into alternate realities. Infite possibilites. Octavia Butler forged a fiery and unforgettable path in this genre. Contemporary Black women writers are taking the lead in the scifi arena. Check out two of my favorites, old & new:

What would you do if you woke up in the year 1820 and could stop the rape of your great-great-great grandmother by a white slave owner? What if it meant that you would not exist today in 2014?

Octavia Butler’s Kindred is a scifi/adventure/romance novel that will have you on the edge of your seat like you’re in the front row at the iMax. www.octaviabutler.org

Crossing the threshold into womanhood is always a no-turningback experience. Imagine that when that happens, you realize that the fate of your people (a tiny island’s worth) rests with you. How do you deal? No pressure. Racing the Dark is an exotic and fast paced debut novel by contemporary science fiction writer, Alaya Dawn Johnson. www.alayadawnjohnson.com

E R A T U R E !

32nd Annual

AFRICAN STREET FESTIVAL PHOTOS

Every September for the past 32 years, a spirit of celebration, remembrance, and fun takes over for an entire weekend in North Nashville during the African Street Festival. This year the celebration’s theme was South Africa. It was the first festival since the death of President Nelson Mandela and the significance was not lost on the people.

The festival boasted an increase of 50% in the number of vendors as a few thousand people, black, brown, and beige took over Hadley Park from September 19th to the 21st.

Imagine: You can find everything from variations of black soap and shea butter to Gil

Scot Heron CDs and South African smoothies.

Lively energy throbs through the crowd, spiraling upwards in cool expressions and warm tones. Lamb sizzles on the grill, speakers thump reggae, jazz, or hip hop depending on where you’re standing, conversations bounce back and forth in Pidgin, Creole, French, or Southern Black Twang. All the while, ceremonies proudly honor Ancestors, Elders, and the Youth.

Here are some of the moments I managed to capture of this dynamic celebration of Mama Africa!

WORKIN’

VIBIN’

GRUBBIN’

JAMMIN’

ABOVE: Leaders of the African American Cultural Alliance, Kwame Lillard and Sandra Brown. These two are the head cornerstone of the African Street Festival. For information on volunteering, performing, or being a vendor at next year’s festival, visit www.aacanashville.org, email info@aaca.org or call 615-942-0706.

We’ll trust our own journey this time. Two birds soaring above will speak and we will trust the language that no one ever taught us.

AsĂŠ