black women are awesome!!! - cha barefield
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!
CHA BAREFIELD IS AWESOME!
Like most of us meet with each other during this pandemic, I connected with Cha Barefield online. I’d begun to notice a “Dory” swimming into the comment section of my Instagram feed – always cheering, always encouraging, always championing me to “just keep swimming.”
I love these kind of folk. Though they are constant gardeners of positivity, they are no stranger to heartache or trauma. However, unlike so many others, they aren’t intimated by hardship because they know where they’re going and, no matter what, they’re going to make sure we all get there safely. Everyone needs a Dory. And my Dory’s name is Cha. If you get to know her, she can be yours too. Follow her, even into the belly of the whale. I promise you, she’s going to make sure we all arrive at our desired destination in life. Just visit her About Page and you’ll see what I mean.
So I noticed Cha in the comments. Then, lo and behold, she invited me to be on her YouTube show, The Cha Show, and of course I said yes! And it was a blast!!!! During our chat, I realized both of us were on a mission to help others find one another – really and truly find one another. She and I have been swimming in these treacherous waters together every day since, befriending sharks, trampolining on jellyfish, and catching the surf with sea turtles.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE CHA:
Follow her on Instagram @Chabare (she’s recently started writing beautiful posts about her childhood – I love these!)
Follow her on Twitter: @TheChaShow
Follow her on Facebook: TheChaShow
Subscribe to her YouTube Channel: The Cha Show
5 RANDOM QUESTIONS AND A BONUS ONE FOR CHA BAREFIELD
Everyone's a little weird: what makes you weird?
I have to clean my ears with a Q-tip after every shower. I know. You’re not supposed to put anything in your ears smaller than your elbow. I’m a rebel. I chose to do it anyhow.
What’s your favorite children’s cartoon character?
I really loved ThunderCats, He Man & Inspector Gadget. I loved them all equally. They were a must watch. He Man & ThunderCats came on after school. Right before Oprah. I wouldn’t miss this line up for the world. I had to wait until Saturday for Inspector Gadget.
What movie character did you like in a movie, but would find completely annoying if you knew them in real life?
I loved to hate Miss Hannigan in Annie. I know I would be beyond annoyed with her if she existed in real life.
Both Destiny's Child and TLC are looking for a fourth member. Which would you choose to join?
TLC. I always thought I’d love to be friends with them and they’d love to be friends with me too. I also thought I’d look good in all the outfits LeftEye wore. Oversized overalls, the latest sneakers, tank tops… It was my jam.
I think the heels + dance moves in Destiny’s Child intimidated the hell out of me. By the time they came out, I knew I could barely walk to Church with heels. Let alone dance like my life depended on it.
What is one thing that doesn’t cost anything, occurs naturally, and always make you smile?
The ocean—specifically the ocean around the Exumas. All I have to do is think of the water and I smile everywhere, even in my heart.
Favorite quote from a historical or living female elder...
My mother (she is still living) would always tell me, “Baby girl, sometimes there are people who just want to be offended.” You can’t change that. Don’t waste your time on trying to make them un-offended. Then she’d say, “They are committed to this position.” I find this to be oh so right!
