Liberated Love Notes

✨I love the beautiful work of facilitating Black affirming & [un]learning spaces. Part of that work involves asking ourselves some real questions like, "How does anti-Blackness show up in me?"

Far too often, our understanding of these dynamics and behaviors are limited to the most overt caricatures-- think Uncle Ruckus from Boondocks.

We know better, though!!...

Last week, I invited learners and members of my subscriber community to ask themselves some questions--questions that need answers-- on their journey to "return to love."

bell hooks' invitation to "return to love" is the inspiration behind one of my current offerings, "A Return to Love & Liberation," a community centered, liberation focused learning experience for Black Leaders and Change makers. Over the past few months, I've had the opportunity to test the offering with Black leaders and ERGs, and am finally considering a public offering!

In the meantime, swipe... tap in and stay connected for more: https://lnkd.in/g-VtZBAv

Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Black Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and I love it there. When working with these groups, it’s usually around strategy development and learning— specifically that which is grounded in African-centered ways of being: Community, Wholeness, Critical Consciousness Building.

I have found that the beauty and power of ERGs can be compromised when focused too much on “business impact,” “educating allies,” or competing for institutional validation. That is not to say impact, cross cultural competence building and performance aren’t significant; I just don’t believe they should be primary.

There is power in creating transformational, authentic community, where Black folks within institutions can just “BE,” in affirming, [un]learning, healing spaces. And our unique experiences often call for us to reimagine “different,” even in how we structure, build and operationalize affinity spaces.

Like I said, I love it here.
If this resonates, let’s connect. 🖤✨

[Image Description: Brittanys hand holding a note that says, “I hope you experience and feel the love and affirmation in each card. I look forward to growing, (un)learning, and being in community with you!.” Packages containing Liberated Love Notes in the background.]

A Liberated Love Note for those of us who have learned to dim our light and contort our being:

"Your authenticity is a gift."

"My authenticity is a gift. My authenticity is a vibe. My authenticity is a gateway. My authenticity is an act of reclamation."

"My authenticity brings to center the perspectives and ways of being that are often stigmatized and marginalized. My authenticity takes up space, holds space, creates space. "

I lean into wonder instead of judgement when I experience other Black folks' authenticity.When I bear witness to my brothers’/sisters’/siblings’ freedom, I don’t feel threatened. I feel more empowered to break free from my own cage. "

"My authenticity is not inherently harmful or deficient. It is possibility.”

I wonder which one resonates most with you?

Today, I affirm…
“I no longer believe the false information on Black people.”

A whole word and liberated love note written by a Black male student at BMORE Me end of year conference. for a few more. 🖤✨

As part of the session, we defined what an affirmation is … why they’re helpful and how we can interrupt harmful narratives that exist about our identities.

You know what they say about how the children will lead the way? … I believe that.

What said 🖤✨🙏🏽

“It’s okay to do less, when you are coping with more.”

✨A loving reminder to Black folks who will be showing up (virtually or IRL) to white spaces to work tomorrow: You don’t owe them s**t. Process where there is love, understanding and safety. Take the day off if you can. 🖤

“I deserve spaces to process my lived experiences, healing and trauma without the white gaze.”

I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and rested. Before I even got out of bed, these words, affirmations… somethin’ like a Liberated Love Note came to me:

✨I will not allow the ways of this world to stifle my imagination. I am not distracted by excessive cynicism that drowns out hope and limits my ability to reimagine different.

✨I feel free to imagine and to create beyond the limitations of whiteness, these systems, the norm…and projected limitations others.

✨I am divinely gifted. Brilliance is within me.

✨I am intentional about finding places, spaces and people who are fertile ground for the seeds I strive to plant. My ideas will flourish. My brilliance will bloom.

I felt like I needed the reminder…perhaps you do too 🖤✨ … Which one speaks to you the most?

I wrote this Liberated Love Note a little over a year ago. It feels prophetic, a timely, loving reminder in this season.

✨In a world where “status” and proximity to whiteness and institutions are used to qualify our worthiness, this level of clarity around our identity and inherent worth feels like…. resistance. More of this 🖤✨

“I am not my work, and my work is not my worth. My worthiness is inherent. My worth is not contingent on my salary, what tasks I accomplished today, or white people’s perception of who I am.”

“God and our beloved ancestors … Grant us with the clarity, consciousness and commitment to loving accountability to engage in the work that allows us to fully reimagine how we BE in community with each other.

We know these systems of oppression run deep, and trauma is real … Still, we deserve to unlearn, heal, remember…and as bell hooks call for us to, “return to love.”

Grant us the fortitude and “resilience,” that we’re often forced to activate in harmful white spaces, to work through THIS work. A beautiful work that invites us to retire the “master’s tools” for our own divine toys so we can truly reimagine different.”

✨”There will be moments when I feel like I don’t belong. I WILL NOT internalize those moments as deficiency in me. Not only do I belong, I AM WORTHY OF TAKING UP SPACE.” ✨

✨NYANSAPO✨

The "Wisdom Knot," is a revered symbol of the Akan. Put simply, we possess the intrinsic wisdom, ingenuity, knowledge and lived experiences to solve for practical problems and reimagine our world (whatever that looks like for you). It ain’t a matter of seeking anything, anymore than it is REMEMBERING what’s already there.

Logo designed by 🖤✨

✨Down in my soul …in my bones… I believe God and the ancestors want the very best, the most for me….for us. Sometimes we need a reminder. 🖤✨

“Assimilation and code-switching are not Black Jesus’ nor my ancestors’ plan for me. I am worthy of showing up as the fullest expression of myself when I choose.”