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Tribute to Sandra Bland Life as a Black Woman: When Justice won’t Speak For Us
If We Remained Silent Welcomed Interruptions Following His Lead
RAE LEWIS-THORNTON Rae Lewis-Thornton is an Emmy award winning AIDS Activist, Life Coach, Award Winning Blogger, Social Media Expert, Author, Jewelry Designer and Tea Connoisseur. RLT has been living with HIV for 32 years and AIDS for 22. She lectures world-wide on the topic of living with HIV/AIDS, challenging stereotypes and myths surrounding this disease. Anniversary Issue|August Issue 2015
WomensElevationMagazine.com
in this issue
IN EVERY ISSUE 4 from the founder Speak truthfully & honestly, use social media to make a change
6 if we remained silent Where would we be if our grandparents remained silent? Where will we be if we do?
12 thank you We are celebrating 3 years of WE Magazine and we thank you for your continue support
16 life as a black woman We have to deal with the problems of being a woman, but also the challenges of being black
20 recipes These scrumptious recipes will leave your mouth watering
38 spiritual corner Welcome Interruptions - Following His Lead
FEATURES 18 in memory A tribute to Sandra Bland
24 rae lewis-thornton Rae Lewis-Thornton sits down to talk with us about the misconceptions, stereotypes & challenges surrounding AIDS
in this issue
contributors
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS Kara Frison WE Magazine contributing writer www.softwordsbrighteyes.blogspot.com
Aronya Waller WE Magazine contributing writer
Zalika Brown Food Contributor
Shannon Clark Graphic Designer www.srichardscreative.com
Stock art courtesy of freepik.com and freeimages.com
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From the Founder
DELISHA SYLVESTER This month we keep with the theme on enriching the minds of others, inspiring you to press on, and remembering those that have fallen. This issue is dedicated to Sandra Bland. She is a woman who has made waves across the internet for her resilience to share the truth regardless of who it may offend. She is a woman that lived and died while preaching her belief that her life mattered, that black lives matter. Her untimely death caused us to rise up and ask why? As we search for answers on what happened to Bland we are inspired by her words. We remember that she believed in the power of social media and how it could be catalyst for change. Therefore, we will use our outlet to reach out to the masses to speak truthfully and honestly, regardless of who it may offend. As always‌ Happy Reading
DeLisha
4 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
“I don’t fear death; I fear remaining silent in the face of injustice. I am young and I want to live. But I say to those who would eliminate my voice: I am ready, wherever and whenever you might strike. You can cut down the flower, but nothing can stop the coming of the spring.” — Malalai Joya, activist, writer and former Parliamentarian in Afghanistan
6 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
If We Remained Silent‌ By Aronya Waller
If we remained silent, where would we be? This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the March from Selma, and I wonder if either would have occurred if nobody spoke up. I speak loudly against police brutality, social inequity, and racial inequality. Yet, I know we have progressed since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and the 1960s. If Martin Luther
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 7
King, Jr. remained silent, would
the social injustice that was ignored
we know the value of a dream? If
by
Malcolm X remained silent, would
examined social, economic, and
we know about our Black power?
racial inequalities, while still covering
If Angela Davis remained silent,
lynchings, marches, and court cases.
would I know that a Black woman
Many of the reporters for the black
can and should have a voice—one
weeklies risked their lives to cover
that advocates for reform, one that
the Civil Rights Movement (Roberts
speaks for the oppressed, one that
and Klibanoff). Yet, if they remained
demands change?
silent, the Civil Rights Movement
mainstream
media.
They
could have been nothing more than If we remained silent, would there
some unknown protest that never
be a President Barack Obama?
gained any traction.
The
Movement
Fifty years since the Civil Rights
succeeded and had such a large
Movement, our world has changed.
impact because people chose not
I have experienced more equality
to remain silent. Even when the
in my 35 years than my grand-
world seemed against them, they
parents or my parents. Yet, that
opened their mouth and spoke up
does not mean I am considered
for equality and justice. Though the
equal to all in this society. We do
establishment may have said, “be
not live in a post-racial society
quiet,” “sit still,” or “just be pretty,”
where our skin color no longer
activists rebelled and took a stand
matters.
for what was right, decent, and
cannot remain silent. We still live
humane. One voice can ignite the
in a country that allows a gender
passion, but it takes many to fuel
wage gap. Until that ends, we
a movement.
cannot remain silent. We still live
Civil
Rights
Until
that
occurs,
we
in a society where Black women When we discuss the Civil Rights
are not likely to get media attention
Movement, we often fail to mention
when they are murdered, especially
one set of voices that delivered
when it is at the hands of
the message—the media. From its
law enforcement. Until we are
inception, the Black press, generally
recognized,
known as black weeklies, covered
heard, we cannot remain silent.
8 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
acknowledged,
and
We no longer have to rely on black
and continues the investigation,
weeklies to start a movement. The
announces the boycott, or promotes
catalysts for our movements are
the protest. In addition, we now
now digital. All we need to do is
have digital magazines, such as
create a hashtag and share on
Women’s Elevation Magazine, that
platforms such as Facebook, Twitter,
constantly seek these stories before
and Instagram to get a cause
they are the top trending topic.
trending. One voice…one stroke… one post can light the fire, and our
As a writer, one of my favorite
collective likes, shares, tweets, and
scriptures is Proverbs 18:21, “Death
reposts fuels the movement. It is then
and life are in the power of the
that the media picks up the story
tongue, And those who love it will
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 9
eat its fruit” (NKJV). The Message
How
did
you
make
change?
Bible translates the scripture as,
How did you make progress? You
“Words kill, words give life; they’re
didn’t. You left it there for someone
either poison or fruit—you choose”
else to do. I choose to write for
(Peterson). In other words, there are
good…to make change. I will not
consequences to what you speak…
remain silent.
you reap what you sow. If you speak for the good, good will come; if
Similarly, you cannot remain silent
you speak for the bad, darkness
if
will follow. I also think this applies
advocacy,
to silence. If you sow silence, you
But, if your mission in life is to allow
will reap a harvest of nothingness…
everything to remain status quo,
emptiness…a barren plot. You sat
then just sit down and shut up.
there, said nothing, and did nothing.
Please, however, do not take credit
How did you make your impact?
work for my work.
you
value
service,
and
social
progress, action.
References Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002. Print. Roberts, Gene, and Hank Klibanoff. The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation. New York: Knopf, 2006. Print. The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments: NKJV, New King James Version. Nashville: Nelson Bibles, 2006. Print.
10 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
Shannon Clark graphic designer 252.622.9344 | shannon@srichardscreative.com
Are you in need of quality graphic design work at an affordable price? If your answer is “YES!!” then you should definitely contact me. I have multiple years of ad agency and magazine publishing experience. I am willing to work with your budget and can charge either by the hour or per project. Contact me at shannon@srichardscreative.com today and let’s get started!
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 11
WElevate. WEpromote. WEinspire.
12 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
THANK YOU For support our efforts over the past three years! Take a look at some of our issues from the past. We’ve interviewed some awesome people over the past three years and we look forward to doing the same in the future.
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 13
14 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
WElevate. WEpromote. WEinspire.
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 15
life as a
black woman: when justice won’t speak for us By DeLisha Sylvester
16 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
Painting by Frank Morrison
If she wasn’t so arrogant; if she
to be a black woman has been
would have just put her cigarette
misconstrued throughout history.
out; why was she in that alley?
We have been overly sexualized
Why did she come out of the
because of our shape; everything
house? Why didn’t she just take
from our hair to our attitude has
her medication? Black women
been stereotyped. So what do we
are being killed by police and
do about it?
the
underwhelming
response
is shocking. Should I really be
What can I say to someone who
surprised that instead of asking
looks at my name on a piece of
why these unarmed women were
paper and automatically assumes
killed, we create excuses for their
I’m uneducated? What can I say
deaths?
Rekia
to someone who believes that
Boyd. Shelley Frey. Kendra James.
all black women are aggressive,
The list of names goes on and on,
uncouth, loud, overtly sexualized,
but I wonder do you know them?
or too high strung? We have been
Do you recognize their names?
dealing with these stereotypes
Do you know what happened
for years and it only seems to
to them? Is justice speaking for
get worse. The moment these
them? Life as a Black woman has
stereotypes threaten my existence
always been a balancing act. You
on earth there’s an issue. The
are first black and then a woman,
moment that people would rather
separated into two. You have to
make excuses for my killer there’s
be down for the causes that are
an issue. So I ask when will justice
associated with being black, and
speak for us? When will the system
deal with the issues of being a
work in our favor? Will black
woman. The idea of what it means
women continue to die in silence?
Sandra
Bland.
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 17
18 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
In Loving Memory Of
Sandra Bland If you haven’t heard about Sandra Bland then you haven’t been paying attention. Although I know that Sandra Bland is just one of many black women who have been in police custody and somehow died it hits closer to home. Sandra Bland was my soror and though I did not personally know her it can be said that she is me. Therefore, we cannot let her messages die. We cannot let her death be in vain. We must find the answer to the question: What happened to Sandra Bland? What happened that day and why? We need to continue to ask why and stand up against injustices or we will continue to have Sandra Bland’s everywhere. Rest in Peace Soror Bland. Sandy Speaks - Quotes from Sandra Bland “Our legal system and the way our country is run is based upon discrimination.” “So, for y’all that can sit around and say all lives matter, I want you to go, put it on a poster, and stand out on a corner somewhere. If we can get enough white people to show that all lives matter, maybe they’ll stop killing our black brothers. Cuz obviously, that’s what it’s going to take; for the white people to get up and get tired of black people [alone] saying black lives matter. So if y’all want it to stop, you get out there and do something about it.” AT FIRST THEY USED A NOOSE, NOW ALL THEY DO IS SHOOT #BlackLivesMatter #SandySpeaks Sandra Bland Speaks – God Blocked It. Whatever situation that you’re dealing with God can block it, and it will be okay. “This thing that I’m holding in my hand, this telephone, this camera. It is quite powerful. Social media is powerful. We can do something with this. If we want a change, we can really, truly make it happen.”
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 19
20 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
Spicy Tomatoes with Eggs
Instructions 1. In a 10” skillet over medium high heat, brown chorizo. 2. Add onions, garlic and jalapenos to sausage and cook until soft about 3-5 minutes
Package of Spanish chorizo, casing removed. 1 medium onion, chopped 3 teaspoons garlic, minced 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced 1 can (28 oz.) of whole tomatoes 2½ tablespoons sugar
3. Pour in whole tomatoes, add sugar, cayenne and salt and pepper to taste. Using a potato smasher, crush some of the whole tomatoes. Bring to a gentle simmer 4. Lower heat to medium and crack the eggs in one at a time and simmer until they are cooked way you want them. For runny yolks, about 5-6 minutes Dish and serve hot with bread for dipping
¼ teaspoon cayenne 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes Salt and pepper to taste 6 large eggs
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 21
Baked Lemon Mustard Chicken INGREDIENTS 8 bone-in chicken thighs ½ cup olive oil Juice and zest of 3 large lemons AND 1 additional lemon thinly sliced, for garnish 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons of course Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons of red chili flakes Salt and black pepper
22 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
Instructions 1. Pat chicken thighs dry, then place in bowl or plastic storage bags. 2. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, and mustard. Pour over chicken and season generously with kosher salt, black pepper, and red chili flakes. Cover and marinate in fridge at least one hour up to 24 hours. 3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange chicken, skin side up in a roasting pan. Place slices of lemon on each thigh. Roast uncovered 40 minutes, or until skin is golden and crispy and chicken is cooked through.
Asian Quinoa Instructions Combine all the ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well. Stir into the quinoa mixture. Serve warm or room temperature
INGREDIENTS ½ cup broccoli, finely diced 1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions ½ small red onion, diced ¼ cup grated carrots ¼ cup chopped green onions 2 tablespoons peanuts, chopped For the Dressing: 1 lime, zest and juice 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 1 tablespoon gluten free tamari 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 inch piece of ginger, minced
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 23
RAE LEWIS-THORNTON
Rae Lewis-Thornton is an Emmy award winning AIDS Activist, Life Coach, Award Winning Blogger, Social Media Expert, Author, Jewelry Designer and Tea Connoisseur. RLT has been living with HIV for 32 years and AIDS for 22. She lectures world-wide on the topic of living with HIV/AIDS, challenging stereotypes and myths surrounding this disease. We sat down to talk with her regarding her life and story.
24 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 25
WE
Magazine:
I
just
want
to
was the spring of 87 when I found out I
commend you for your work and
was infected, and at that time we
sharing your life story. I mentioned
were only six years into the pandemic.
to my mother that I was going to
So I walked away in secret and in
interview you, and she remembered
shame. The first seven years I told
when you first shared your story in
five people that I was infected, not
Essence Magazine. Your story and
including the men that I had dated.
your life have touched people that
So I just basically kept my infection
you haven’t even met.
close to me, close to my heart. I wasn’t getting ready to tell people and get
Let’s jump right in; I know that you’ve
discriminated against.
been an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, but for the readers that
In 1992 I transitioned into having AIDS,
may not know your story share your
and I started to get sick. That’s when I
background.
started to tell my story. Systematically I told one group of friends and just
R. Lewis-Thornton: I’ve been infected
continued on. It felt like tons of bricks
for 32 years with HIV. I’ve known my
had been lifted off of my shoulders, but I
HIV status for 29 of those 32 years. I
wasn’t a speaker or an AIDS advocates
donated blood and what I thought
in any type of way. I was still in politics.
was a thank you letter turned out to
I worked on a couple of congressional
be a letter telling me that something
and national campaigns, but I really
was wrong. I went to the Red Cross
wasn’t interested in shifting my life.
after I got the letter, and they told me
I just continued to go about my life.
that I had HIV. I was 23 at the time,
Back then the life expectancy of
and it was really not the best time to
someone living with AIDS was about
be told you were HIV infected. There
three years, so once I made the
were no medicines for it at the time. It
transition to AIDS I figured I was pretty
26 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
much on that timeline. I thought I was
asked me would I be on the cover of
dying so I just started telling people,
Essence Magazine. That changed the
and about six months after that some
ball game for me. I became a national
asked me to speak at a high school.
speaker, and the rest was history.
They were looking for someone that wasn’t gay or on drugs to come
WE Magazine: That’s great that you
and speak.
have been able to use your life to inspire others.
I
wasn’t
sure,
but
I
eventually agreed. When
R. Lewis-Thornton: God’s
I started to speak at the
given me a unique gift to
school
that
be able to talk about my
students were still there
life in a way that enriches
even after hearing me
others. During that time I
speak. I had a teacher
was still thinking that I was
come and tell me that
headed towards death.
they were skipping class
There
to hear me speak again.
where my T-cell count
The next day I went back
was as low as 8, and I was
and I had room packed
basically on my way out
to hear me again. It was
of here. My doctor was
I
noticed
was
one
point
there that I knew that this
incredible; she just kept giving me what
was what God wanted me
was next. No matter how complicated
to do. I couldn’t fake it, I couldn’t
the regiment was I never missed a
shake it so I quit my well-paying job
beat. I did everything that I was asked
and started speaking locally at high
to do. It was team of us and God that
schools in Chicago. About six months
has kept me here to live as long as
after that I met Susan Taylor and she
I have.
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 27
The change in treatment came about
deal with any negativity from family
1996, but before then you were really
and friends?
going to die from this disease. Medicine was very, very mediocre, but we just
R. Lewis-Thornton: You know what, when
crossed every “t: and dotted every “i.”
I first went public people were shocked
I just continue to do the work both with
more than anything. People were like
the medicine and through speaking.
“How had I lived with this disease for so long, by myself?” The fact that I
WE Magazine: Do you still do
hadn’t disclosed to anyone, people
speaking engagements?
were shocked. It was really a two sides to a coin situation. On one side people
R.
Lewis-Thornton:
Well,
when
the
were shocked and supportive, and on
engagements
dried
up
the other side people gossiped. People
about 10 years ago with the shift in the
gossiped about the men that slept,
economy I switched my efforts to social
they wanted to know who I slept just
media. I still speak whenever someone
all kinds of stuff. So I experienced that,
asks me to. These days they tend to bring
but I took it with a grain of salt because
the younger speakers because they
going public was the best thing I could
want to keep the discussion “sexy and
have done. It felt like tons of weight
young,” even though I have a wealth of
had lifted off of my shoulders.
speaking
knowledge. I use all social media. I blog, I talk, I Instagram, and tweet. I use it as
Then when I got married people
a way to continue to do the work that
couldn’t believe that someone would
I do because I’m still here, and God still
marry someone with HIV so they
has work for me to do.
thought that he had to be positive too. He wasn’t. Then when I divorced him
WE Magazine: You mentioned while
they wondered why I would divorce a
you were talking that you were
good man. I was thinking “Chile please
afraid to tell your story at first. Did you
if AIDS hasn’t killed me, he ain’t going
28 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
to kill me either.” Really what I found is
WE Magazine: One of the other things
that there’s really nothing you can do
that you mentioned while you were
to please people so you have to listen
speaking was that people wanted
to your soul. You have to operate from
you to speak because you were
within and to hell with the rest. You
drug free and you weren’t a gay
can’t get caught up in the craziness
man. We still have a misconception
of others. I get a lot of criticism not
that this disease is still the “gay
because I have AIDS, but because of
man’s” disease or the disease of the
my transparency. My transparency
“DL” man.
makes others uncomfortable. People live in this make believe world, but I live
R. Lewis-Thornton: There really is a lot
in the reality of this disease.
of misinformation about this disease. The reality is this, now let’s be clear,
WE Magazine: I think it’s good that
there are still more infected men who
you have a strong sense about
have sex with men in the United States.
yourself to be able to do that.
Homosexual men still tend to be the number one cases that we see, and
R. Lewis-Thornton: I really do. I like who
it’s not because their gay. It’s because
I am. It took me a long time to like me,
how they have sex is one of the easiest
and now that I do, I do. I live in that
modes of transference. The problem is
peace. I live in that level of comfort.
that everyone thinks that it’s someone
“My transparency makes others uncomfortable. People live in this make believe world, but I live in the reality of this disease.” Women’s Elevation Magazine | 29
else’s disease. So nobody wants to take
I believe was number five on the list
ownership of their behavior because
of cities with high infection rates.
everyone wants to believe that it’s someone else’s problem. If you believe
R. Lewis-Thornton: This is the deal.
that, then your body is safe. In actuality
The reality is that over 80% of women
the only thing that keeps you safe is
infected in this country are infected
a condom.
through
having
heterosexual
sex.
Now, how men become infected is In the scheme of things cases of women
still heavily led by men who have sex
continue to grow, especially within the
with other men, but there is still heavy
black community. We have seen a
drug use. This is the bottom line, if the
decrease in women overall in the past
penis is not in your pocket you have
year, but black women continue to
no idea what it does when it’s not with
lead the cases in women in this country.
you. Because we don’t know, why do we put ourselves at risk? Why do we
WE Magazine: I am glad you’re
still have unprotected sex in the 21st
talking about it because the number
century? Women live in a false sense of
I got from the national website is
reality about what will keep them safe.
alarming. It says that we make up
They believe their love will keep them
44% of the new cases of HIV. How
safe, or that their man would never do
can we combat that? I live near
that to them. Or they’ll say “I only date
Washington, DC and it’s a city that
certain types of men.” The reality is the
26 | Women’s Elevation Magazine 30
only thing that will keep you safe is a
is so much better than it was, and if
condom. I hope that what they know
someone gets in quickly they may not
about their partner is true, because
make that transition to AIDS if they
if it’s not then they are literally fools.
stay in care. That’s why treatment and
That’s what driving HIV cases because
care is so important.
women have a need to be in love. We love the idea of love and marriage
I grew up in a generation, where you
more than we even love ourselves.
didn’t embarrass your momma and
Therefore, sometimes we’re willing to
get pregnant. So my classmates who
make those sacrifices to show a man
were virgins were using birth control
that we trust and love them. It’s just
pills just in case they changed their
not worth because we just don’t know.
minds. I think that’s how we should operate with HIV.
WE
Magazine:
That’s
very
true
because you’re not with a man 24/7.
WE
Magazine:
Let’s
talk
about
the idea of being undetectable. R. Lewis-Thornton: What I am saying is
I’ve have a family member who is
this, it is the 21st century, and what that
infected, and she’s said that she
means is that I use a condom 100%
doesn’t have HIV anymore and that
of the time until I am married. Even in
it was “gone.” Last time I checked
marriage if my partner gives me any
they hadn’t cured the disease so
reason to doubt his loyalty then I must
what does it mean when someone
insist on a condom. The only person
says that?
that will save you is you. The reality is people are afraid to get tested, and
R. Lewis-Thornton: There is no cure for
38% of new cases are from people
HIV. Once you got it, you got it. This is
who didn’t know they were infected.
what happens; the average healthy
HIV shows up three months after
person has about 1000 T cells. HIV gets
exposure and that’s the tragedy of this
into your body and begins destroying
situation. The thing about it is medicine
your T cells which basically attacks Women’s Elevation Magazine | 31
32 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
your immune system. Once your count
I meet people all the time that tell me
gets down to about 200 you have
that their viral load was undetectable,
AIDS. That means that your immune
they stopped taking their medicine,
is vulnerable to infections, we call
and they were back to being sick.
them opportunity infections. So for
The thing about it is that the “coming
a long time we only looked at the
back” from cutting off your medicine
T cell count, but then the medical
is hard. So if damage is done to your
community realized that once you
immune system during that time it’s
become infected HIV replicates. The
irreversible. You got me?
more it copies in your body the sicker you are. So what the new medications
WE Magazine: Totally understand.
do is, they actually eliminate the infection from your body. When you
R. Lewis-Thornton: So it’s very critical
do that it allows the immune system
that people realize that it’s not a cure.
to build back up. So it kind of controls
It just means that the amount of the
the HIV virus. Since the new medicine
virus in your system is so low that it’s
eliminates the virus from your body
undetectable. That’s why I can have
it creates what we call the optimum
sex with somebody and there’s a
which we call “undetectable.” That
1% chance that I would infect them.
means that the virus is in your body
People get that confused. So the
in such a small amount that we can’t
language is not “You can’t detect the
give you a specific. It’s usually like
virus anymore.” The language is “My
less than 40 or 50. So think about it this
viral load is undetectable.” You have to
way 15 years ago my viral load was
be careful with that. You also have to
397,000. Now it’s 40 so it’s undetectable,
remember that HIV does not just infect
but if I was to stop taking my medicine
your blood it infects your organs as well.
I would get sick again.
That’s why we can’t donate organs.
Women’s Elevation Magazine | 33
WE
Magazine:
Thank
you
for
bracelets with different stones, so then
explaining that because we hear
I realized I had a talent. So I started
words like “It’s gone,” and you
making the collection. What it does is
wonder how. So I had to ask you.
it gives people the chance to support
It’s really about the language and it
HIV/AIDS without having to necessarily
is confusing.
wear a red ribbon. It’s something both men and women can wear.
R. Lewis-Thornton: And people don’t
I think now a lot of people buy my
want to feel un-empowered so they’d
bracelets because it inspires them.
rather live in ignorance than ask the
They believe it’s worth supporting
question. If I don’t get I ask. There are
because I am persevering, and
sometimes I ask something 20 times
of course because they’re fabulous
until I get it. I just don’t live it, I get it.
(laughs). It’s very therapeutic for me and I make everything myself.
WE Magazine: Let’s switch subjects and talk about other things you do.
I am grateful for my customers because
You have created your own jewelry
in a lot of ways when the speaking
line called the RLT collection. Tell us
engagements slowed down this has
about the inspiration behind that.
kept food on the table.
I love how you’ve transformed the message and call yourself a
WE Magazine: You have keep
“DIVA living with AIDS.”
pushing and trying to find something else. You did just that.
R. Lewis-Thornton: Well I started the collection
R. Lewis-Thornton: Right, exactly. The
because I wanted to
DIVA thing happened because other
make
awareness
people started to call it that. The
as attractive and popular as cancer
point that I want to make to not only
awareness. Originally I started making
to infected women, but any woman
HIV
34 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
with an illness is to realize that you can
easier to talk about
get up, dress up, and you can keep it
the priest that molests
stepping. You decide whether you’re
children or stranger
going to allow the dark periods to
danger than it is to
pull you down or keep you moving.
talk about our fathers
You are bigger than whatever your
or
circumstances are. There’s a victory in
don’t address it. There
every single step.
are a lot of women
uncles.
We
just
who are survivors of abuse and it has
WE Magazine: Well they are really
changed them significantly. It took me
beautiful
a long time to get to a place where
and
the
message
is
powerful.
I could be whole and healthy. For a long time I thought I was just having sex
R. Lewis-Thornton: I’ve been doing it for
until the therapist asked “How does an
six years now.
8 or 9 year old have sex with an 18 year old?” So I just want women to know
WE Magazine: You’ve also written a
that you can actually live your life, and
couple books as well. Your book The
you don’t have to continue to be in
Politics of Respectability really stuck
the prison of molestation. You’re not to
out to me because of the topics
blame.
you covered. You talked about everything
you’ve
experienced
The Politics of Respectability was a
from emotional to sexual abuse.
book where I talked about how the
Talk to me about that because that’s
issues of respectability affected me.
another big issue that isn’t talked
I talked about my membership in
about in the black community.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. being rescinded which was really the catalyst
R. Lewis-Thornton: Well you know black
for the book. I talk about how we are
folk are hushed on things like that. It’s
bound by these issues so much so that Women’s Elevation Magazine | 35
“God has given me a unique gift and I want people to sit back and say that I touched them. So I just want to be remembered for using my life to enrich others. I want people to know that no matter what you are facing you just have to get up.” women can’t even be themselves. I
WE Magazine: I am excited for you
trace this concept back to the 1800s
as well. I wanted to ask you about
where we as blacks were taught to
your first book, Amazing Grace:
behave a certain way publically. If
Letters Along my Journey, as well.
you didn’t then it would affect the race as a whole. I linked that back to
R. Lewis-Thornton: When I first became
my membership in Delta Sigma Theta,
public I got hundreds of letters and so
but it didn’t start there, it started with
I decided to show my journey and the
my momma.
impact that my life has had on others through letters.
My memoir is coming out in December, it’s called Unprotected, and in that
WE Magazine: You are very much a
book I dig deeper. I actually name the
storyteller.
person who infected me, I name my rapist, and I tell my story. It’s my story.
R. Lewis-Thornton: I am. I am not the
It’s my body, it’s my life, and it’s time to
speaker that stands up and lectures.
tell my full story. You can preorder in on
We are actually working on a photo
my website. I am really excited.
book too where I tell my story through
3632 || Women’s Women’s Elevation Elevation Magazine Magazine
pictures. Black people have always
For more information on Rae Lewis-
been storytellers our entire lives. It
Thornton follow her on Instagram and
comes from tradition.
Twitter @raelt
WE Magazine: You’ve done so many
Also check out her website
things over the past 53 years, and it’s
http://www.raelewisthornton.com
amazing that you are still able to do what you do. What legacy do you
Buy her jewelry
want to leave behind?
http://www.rltcollection.com/
R. Lewis-Thornton: That I tried to help somebody. Reverend Jackson said it best when he said that “I use my life and my body as a living testimony.” That’s really what I want. God has given me a unique gift and I want people to sit back and say that I touched them. So I just want to be remembered for using my life to enrich others. I want people to know that no matter what you are facing you just have to get up.
WE Magazine: I appreciate you continuously telling your story. I appreciate your transparency. R.
Lewis-Thornton:
Thank
you
sweetheart. I appreciate you as well. Women’s Elevation Magazine | 37 33
August Spiritual Corner
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” -Jeremiah 29:11 Like many people, I have a habit of planning things out as much as possible. Sometimes, I can go a little overboard but it’s because I like to know what I’m preparing for and then try to make the necessary arrangements in advance. I know some people who are like that but if any little thing comes up that they weren’t expecting, they act like they’re about to have a heart attack! We need to realize that “interruptions” can actually be blessings in disguise. Last month, I went to Pennsylvania for my church organization’s Sunday School and Youth Convention. It ended on a Saturday evening, so some of my girlfriends and I decided to go to brunch that Sunday afternoon. My plan was to pack up my suitcases, arrive at the restaurant around 12:30pm, have some good food and good conversation and then get back to Maryland by 3 or 4pm. Ha! I definitely was in for a surprise! During the course of the meal, my friends and I found ourselves basically pouring our hearts out. We were learning so much about and from one another that we didn’t want the conversation to end- even when the waitress brought out the checks. So we decided to head out and spend more time together. I’m so glad we did! By the time that I finally left PA (9:30pm!), I felt encouraged, loved, and motivated! My sisters and I bonded so much in the course of one day that our friendships were strengthened and we all developed a deeper appreciation for one another. More than anything, we truly encouraged each other in our relationships with God! I said all of that to say. . . This “interruption” or change of plans was something that I didn’t even 38 | Women’s Elevation Magazine
realize I needed at first. And sometimes, that’s just how God works! Yes- it’s good to think things through and be organized. However, we should never be so rigid that we’re not open to allowing God to have His Way in our lives! He is the one that has a plan and purpose for us all! One of my sisters reminded me that God has assignments for all of us! If we’re claiming to love and follow Him, we need to willingly obey Him. We need to keep our hearts and mind pure so that we can hear from God. Not only that but we need to work quickly when He lays things on our hearts. Some of these assignments seem like interruptions but the end results can make them all worthwhile. You don’t always see the impact that your actions can have on another person. Adjusting to changes can be intimidating but it’s not impossible. At the end of the day, Jesus will always be there. Here’s a prayer for you. . . Lord Jesus, I’m so grateful to know that You have a plan for my life. I ask now that You would prepare me to walk in my purpose. Order my steps and build up my faith so that I will serve you fearlessly. Remind me that You know best- even if I come up with the most elaborate idea. . . I want to hear Your voice clearly and follow Your lead- willingly. Please help me to obey You- every day of my life. Amen. Kara Frison is a 2010 graduate of Hood College who strives to inspire others through her writing. You can read more of her thoughts at www. softwordsbrighteyes.blogspot.com and connect with her on Twitter/Instagram {@karalfrison} or by searching for #DailyDoseLove.