I Am the Daughter Of...
A week or so ago I wasn’t feeling that black girl magic aura around me. My body was acting funny, my environment seemed cluttered, work was piling up, and my motivation was dwindling. I needed a boost. I needed to be reminded that I still had the power to move forward despite the stress that surrounded me. I eventually surrendered to my feelings and opened myself up to receive anything positive. And not too soon after I pleaded for any type of encouragement or motivation, I checked my email.
Months ago my good friend forwarded me an email which included an invitation to join a 21-day walking meditation series that highlighted black women and their accomplishments in history. This series was hosted by Girl Trek - an organization that advocates for the mental and physical health of black women. This is the same organization that hosted the beautiful live discussion on Facebook between Angela Davis and Nikki Giovanni. So of course I signed up for the series….it was my type of groove. However - I didn’t keep up with the series like I wanted to. So a week or so ago when I was pleading to get out of my funk, I opened my email and saw that Girl Trek was hosting another 21-day walking prayer meditation that highlighted more phenomenal, relatable black people. I joined it, and jumped on the call the next day. Long story short…my soul thanked me.
I got on the call, and the two ladies who created Girl Trek were having an informal conversation about the struggles we as black women face daily and how they’ve pushed through them. It felt like home. It was like being on a three-way call with my girls. They laughed, shed some tears, excitedly finished each other’s sentences, and then they had someone pray over everyone on the call. But the main thing they did that caught my attention was summons their ancestors for strength. They reached back and borrowed some of that tenacity our foremothers so graciously carried with them through life’s trials. I felt the power of that conjure. My spirit was touched. I began to feel alive again immediately.
Sometimes we not only have to remind ourselves who we are, but from whom we came. Those ladies on that call got me thinking about my lineage. I thought about how my mother overcame some of her biggest battles in life, how my grandmother (on my mother’s side) believed in pressing on no matter how dark the day looked, and how my great-grandmother (on my father’s side) took on the responsibility of toiling in the fields (after the death of her husband) in order to continue to feed all of their children. After hanging up that call and thinking about my predecessors, my chest was swollen with pride. I stood right where I was and said to myself, “I am the daughter of Pamela, who is the daughter of Gladys, who is the daughter of Georgia Ann, who is the daughter of Momma Aim.” Resilience runs through my blood. Love runs through my blood. Discipline runs through my blood. Perseverance runs through my blood. Royalty runs through my blood. Prayers were released into the atmosphere for me before I even set foot on this earth. I will not lose.
“No weapon formed against me shall prosper, ‘cause I’m walking with the prayers of my mother. ”
I encourage you all to reach back into your lineage for some strength. Know that we all come from some powerful sisters and brothers whether we know them or not. Remember the power we seek is already in us. All we have to do is tap into it.
Rooted in Royalty,
Pam’s Daughter
Outfit Details: Shirt // Pants (old)
Photo Credit: 87 Photography
If you would like to join the call, it’s not too late. It takes place every week day (not weekends) at 11 am CST. The information to call in is below. If you need some uplifting, please call…..you won’t regret it!
Dial: 1 (646) 876-9923 CODE: 734464325 (push pound after you enter the code and then the recording will ask you for another code or give you the option to push pound again - push pound again.)