WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.720 align:middle line:84% And so I'll close with two pieces, both of which 00:00:06.720 --> 00:00:08.460 align:middle line:84% are not on the table, but it's OK, 00:00:08.460 --> 00:00:10.680 align:middle line:84% because they are in the library, actually. 00:00:10.680 --> 00:00:13.560 align:middle line:90% So, sorry. 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:15.540 align:middle line:84% Black Girl Magic, and then I want 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:18.480 align:middle line:84% to close with the meditation, because this work has 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:20.130 align:middle line:90% been incredibly hard. 00:00:20.130 --> 00:00:21.970 align:middle line:84% So Black Girl Magic is the reclamation. 00:00:21.970 --> 00:00:26.580 align:middle line:84% It's something that I wrote back in 2014, 00:00:26.580 --> 00:00:29.730 align:middle line:84% but it gained traction after PBS put it up, 00:00:29.730 --> 00:00:33.720 align:middle line:84% and I then received my first book deal 00:00:33.720 --> 00:00:36.180 align:middle line:84% with one of the big five, which was amazing 00:00:36.180 --> 00:00:37.920 align:middle line:84% and not at all what I anticipated. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:43.407 align:middle line:84% But I made the grave mistake of looking at the comment section. 00:00:43.407 --> 00:00:44.490 align:middle line:90% You know, what I'm saying? 00:00:44.490 --> 00:00:48.750 align:middle line:84% So I decided every time I'm going to touch a stage, 00:00:48.750 --> 00:00:52.102 align:middle line:90% I'm going to do this poem. 00:00:52.102 --> 00:00:53.560 align:middle line:84% Because they mad when you're happy, 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:58.372 align:middle line:84% it seems, and I just want to make you in touch 00:00:58.372 --> 00:00:59.330 align:middle line:90% with all your feelings. 00:00:59.330 --> 00:01:05.790 align:middle line:90% 00:01:05.790 --> 00:01:09.200 align:middle line:84% They say you ain't 'posed to be here Black girl, 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:11.660 align:middle line:84% you ain't 'posed to wear red lipstick, 00:01:11.660 --> 00:01:14.210 align:middle line:84% you ain't 'posed to wear high heels, 00:01:14.210 --> 00:01:16.870 align:middle line:84% you ain't 'posed to smile in public, 00:01:16.870 --> 00:01:19.565 align:middle line:84% you ain't 'posed to smile nowhere, Black girl, 00:01:19.565 --> 00:01:21.690 align:middle line:84% you ain't supposed to be no more than a girlfriend, 00:01:21.690 --> 00:01:23.220 align:middle line:84% you ain't supposed to get married, 00:01:23.220 --> 00:01:25.920 align:middle line:84% you ain't supposed to want no dream that big, 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.650 align:middle line:84% you ain't supposed to dream at all. 00:01:28.650 --> 00:01:31.470 align:middle line:84% You ain't supposed to do nothing, but carry babies, 00:01:31.470 --> 00:01:35.610 align:middle line:84% and carry felons, and carry weaves, and carry silence, 00:01:35.610 --> 00:01:40.260 align:middle line:84% and carry families, and carry confusion, and carry a nation. 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:42.900 align:middle line:84% But never an opinion because you ain't 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:44.940 align:middle line:84% supposed to have nothing to say Black girl, 00:01:44.940 --> 00:01:46.890 align:middle line:90% not unless it's a joke. 00:01:46.890 --> 00:01:49.763 align:middle line:84% Because you ain't supposed to love yourself, Black girl. 00:01:49.763 --> 00:01:51.180 align:middle line:84% You ain't supposed to find nothing 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:53.310 align:middle line:90% worth saving in all that brown. 00:01:53.310 --> 00:01:56.880 align:middle line:84% You ain't supposed to know that Tina, Beyoncé, Cicely, 00:01:56.880 --> 00:02:00.480 align:middle line:90% Shonda Rhimes, shine, shine. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:01.368 align:middle line:90% Shine, Black girl. 00:02:01.368 --> 00:02:02.910 align:middle line:84% You ain't supposed to love your mind. 00:02:02.910 --> 00:02:04.440 align:middle line:90% You ain't supposed to love. 00:02:04.440 --> 00:02:06.240 align:middle line:84% You ain't supposed to be loved up on, 00:02:06.240 --> 00:02:07.740 align:middle line:90% you only supposed to pose. 00:02:07.740 --> 00:02:09.930 align:middle line:84% Voodoo child, vixen star, you 'posed 00:02:09.930 --> 00:02:12.360 align:middle line:84% to pop out babies and hide the stretch marks, 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:14.010 align:middle line:90% supposed to be still. 00:02:14.010 --> 00:02:16.170 align:middle line:90% So still they think you statue. 00:02:16.170 --> 00:02:18.600 align:middle line:84% So still they think you chalked out line. 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:21.930 align:middle line:84% So still they keep thinking you stone. 00:02:21.930 --> 00:02:24.990 align:middle line:84% Until you look more Medusa than Viola Davis. 00:02:24.990 --> 00:02:27.870 align:middle line:84% Until you sound more Shanaynay than Kerry Washington. 00:02:27.870 --> 00:02:30.670 align:middle line:84% Until you're more side eyed than Michelle Obama on a Tuesday. 00:02:30.670 --> 00:02:32.700 align:middle line:84% But you tell them you are more than a hot comb 00:02:32.700 --> 00:02:33.630 align:middle line:90% and washing set. 00:02:33.630 --> 00:02:35.305 align:middle line:90% You are Kunta Kinte's kin. 00:02:35.305 --> 00:02:36.930 align:middle line:84% You are a Black girl worth remembering, 00:02:36.930 --> 00:02:38.730 align:middle line:84% and you are a threat knowing yourself. 00:02:38.730 --> 00:02:40.560 align:middle line:84% You are a threat loving yourself. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.205 align:middle line:84% You are a threat loving your kin. 00:02:42.205 --> 00:02:43.830 align:middle line:84% You are a threat, loving your children. 00:02:43.830 --> 00:02:45.060 align:middle line:90% You Black girl magic. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:46.230 align:middle line:90% You Black girl fly. 00:02:46.230 --> 00:02:47.490 align:middle line:90% You Black girl bring it. 00:02:47.490 --> 00:02:48.720 align:middle line:90% You Black girl wonder. 00:02:48.720 --> 00:02:49.860 align:middle line:90% You Black girl shine. 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:51.000 align:middle line:90% You Black girl bloom. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:51.990 align:middle line:90% You Black girl. 00:02:51.990 --> 00:02:56.280 align:middle line:84% Black girl, and you turning into a beautiful Black woman right 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:58.305 align:middle line:90% before our eyes. 00:02:58.305 --> 00:03:01.860 align:middle line:90% 00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:03.410 align:middle line:90% Thanks.