black women are awesome!!! - faitth brooks
WHY CELEBRATE BLACK WOMEN?
Malcolm X said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” As a Black woman in America, I can’t deny that all too often this feels too true.
The only thing I can do to combat and defeat the out-and-out indignities we face is to rigorously exude an uncompromising, excessive, and abundant self-love — because to properly love myself is to ruthlessly love my Black sisters. It’s an easy task because there’s just so much to love about us.
For me, this is reason enough to celebrate!
FAITTH BROOKS IS AWESOME!
Faitth is half my age and already she is ALL the things: writer, speaker, activist, avid traveler, gourmet home cook, fabulous auntie, podcast host – all the things y’all. But more importantly, she is a slew of things that are never mentioned in bios, such as the fact that she is beautiful, genuinely so. She’s also wise, poised, smart, emotionally intelligent, inspiring, super duper fun, interesting and insightful. I’m 51 and I look up to this younger woman. I swear it’s like she’s been here before. I love hearing all about where’s she’s been, what she’s currently up to, and what her next move will be. She’s simply captivating.
So I, an old wineskin, met this new wine when I was invited to join a Be the Bridge group in Austin. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: this group of women from diverse ethnicities, races, economic means and cultural Christian experiences, saved my soul when it most needed saving. I needed a refuge, and Faitth was one of the women in this group who offered me a place to rest.
Though I didn’t know it then, Faitth was showing up at our BTB meetings fully credentialed with a Master's degree in Social Work and a certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship from Cornell University. Add to that she’s a published writer with features in Faithfully Magazine, The IF: Gathering Blog, The Salt Collective, Faith at Home, Art of Taleh, and The Free One Volume 2. She’s been a guest on the following podcasts: For the Love, The Vox, Faith and Feminism, Preemptive Love, Illuminate, I’ll Have Another, Humble and Honest, and the Pursuit Podcast. And she has been featured as an anti-racism-educator-to-follow by brands and influencers such as: Spanx, Word Swag, Story Swag, Dr. Caroline Leaf, The Diversity Gap, OhHappyDani (Danielle Coke), Toni J Collier, Jen Hatmaker, Jessica Kim, Latasha Morrison, AThR, AIIR Haircare, and Jo Saxton.
I told y’all – she’s all the things!
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE FAITTH:
Hire Her: Work with Faitth
Follow her on Instagram: @faitthb and @melantedfaith
Follow her on Twitter: @faitthb
Follow her on Facebook: Faitthb
Listen to her podcast and rate it: Melanated Faith
Gift her: Venmo - @Faitth-Brooks or PayPal- Faitthrb@gmail.com
Support her Patreon: Melanated Faith
5 RANDOM QUESTIONS AND A BONUS ONE FOR FAITTH BROOKS
What gives you butterflies?
Encountering unconditional love, I experience that in multiple ways, but my favorite little people (niece and nephew) remind me of God’s grace towards me. My family and close friends are equally as gracious and it’s a blessing.
What is your favorite place in the entire world?
Thus far my favorite place in the world is Santorini, Greece. Such a breathtaking place, I can’t wait to return.
If you could have picked your own name, what would it be?
Jael. I have always loved her story from the Bible. She was a bada** and I am all about women taking up space and being empowered.
You get to be part of a TV family for a week. Which family do you choose: The Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Or, the Baxters from That's So Raven? Or, the Winslows from Family Matters? Or, the Campbells from Sister, Sister? Or, Chris Rock’s on Everybody Hates Chris? Or, the Johnsons from Black-ish? Or, the Bordelons from Queen Sugar?
Black-ish hands down. There is so much fun and humor happening in that family. I would fit right in because my family is silly and goofy.
If you could be any age, what age would you choose?
40. I cannot wait to be in my 40s. The steadiness and freedom that comes with that decade is something I anticipate! I may be 9.5 years from 40 but I am looking forward to those years while remaining present in the season (decade) I am in currently.
Favorite quote from a historical or living female elder...
”When I liberate myself, I liberate others. If you don't speak out ain't nobody going to speak out for you.”
—Fanny Lou Hamer
