Black Power
The term "Black Power" was popularized by Stokely Carmichael and Willie Ricks during a speech in 1966. However, Richard Wright's book entitled Black Power was published in 1954. Since then, there have been several terms that celebrate Black Empowerment, (#BlackGirlMagic, #BlackGirlsRock, #BlackLivesMatter, #BlackisBeautiful, #ImBlackandImProud, #BlackPride, #BlackExcellence). All of these terms resonate within the Black community.
I finally saw Black Panther. I posed with my fist in the air next to signage. I dressed in all black. I encouraged my daughters, mother, and mother in law to do the same. We posed with our stuffed T'Challa beaming with pride. Representation matters. Gianna and Jai'Lynn will remember that three generations of their family went to see Black Panther on a school night. They will remember the Dora Milaje. They will remember the pretty little girl in the bathroom with dashiki. They will remember Shuri, the STEM genius.
Black Power is about representation in the global marketplace. It is about economic, social, and political empowerment. It is about positive media representation. It is about reclaiming our time, our talents, and our heritage.
Energy
After watching the eclipse earlier this week, I was reminded of the power of the sun. I expected the darkness. I expected the temperature drop. I expected the funny looking shadows. However, I was completely surprised by the way nature responded. I heard crickets and all sorts of buzzing noises. These animals were completely in tune with the sun's energy. A lot of people use the word "energy" to describe a variety of esoteric spiritual practices. I believe that we are all spiritual beings with a mind, body, and a soul. I believe that we tend to take care of our mind and body and neglect our soul. I believe that we get so caught up in creation that we forget about the creator. I think it was interesting that nature can submit to the sun's energy, yet we struggle with the pull of our own conscience and spirit. We struggle with listening to the small, still voice in our own head, and we deny the effect of our own power and energy.
Manifest
As a child, I loved hearing creation stories. I was amazed at how much detail was put into our existence. There is so much beauty to admire, from the stars in the sky to the hidden treasures we continue to discover. Life is a beautiful journey of self-discovery. Everyday, we have the ability to create. Everyday, we make choices that manifest our destiny. We possess the power of creation. We have the ability to change our mind and our circumstances with a word. We can use words that empower us or words that hinder us. We can deny our greatness or we can embrace it. We can manifest our hidden treasures or we can keep them buried. We were all created with a purpose in mind. Manifest your purpose. Manifest your destiny. Manifest your dreams. Speak life.