Black Girl, White College

***Re-post from June 11, 2019 The struggles of trying to fit in where you know you stand out

As a black woman at a predominately white institution, I cannot tell you how important it is to hear this. Coming to terms with the overwhelming nature of college is one thing but doing so while facing racial prejudice is a whole other task. I am so proud of my family for their love and support. And proud of myself for pushing on. The fact of the matter is that it's still hard out there to push through the darkness to find the light. I hope these words offer comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

I'm so sorry that this struggle is apart of your story

“But most importantly I’m sorry that it won’t stop here.”

This is just a message to everyone who needs to hear it. There are no perfect words that will make feeling so outnumbered and unarmed comfortable. I am sorry you have to fight to protect your culture, your values, your pride, you men, and your opportunities. I am sorry you feel so unsafe and alone. I am sorry that there will be people that hate you because of your race and your gender. I am sorry that you can feel so alone. This is not fair and it was never our job to bear so much burden. I am sorry there are not enough people who are willing to be honest or that people won’t have the backbone to stick up for what they know is right. But most importantly I’m sorry that it won’t stop here.

Show them.

There is no set destination where it all pays off, or we are safe, or where happiness is right around the corner. We won’t receive all the answers we pray for right away. But in time they’ll be here. And know this, there is resilience in our bones and evolution in our cells. You are the most prominent genes of the strongest, bravest, smartest, most incredible members of our lineage. They survived so that you could thrive. So, it is a lot of pressure but that is the only way you can get a diamond. The true greats weren’t great because everyone told them they were but because they had the power of will that now rests in our bloodstream. There is something truly amazing about all that you have done to get here and all you will do to keep going. They have fought to make you obsolete, to cast you out into the nothingness of history, and captured an image untrue to our story. Show them. You are not to be forgotten. You are not to be lost. You are unrivaled. You are power. You are the dawn of revolution and the dusk of protection.

We are tough but we still have to heal!

“So remember to rest, to heal, to love, to laugh, to breathe, to enjoy, to smile, to cry, to heal, to expand, to pray, to heal and heal and heal.”

There is so much that is truly magnificent about who you are and what you have done. From ghettos to suburbs, from financial privilege to being broker than broker, we are our ancestor’s wildest dreams. Make them say she was a visionary and unstoppable, when they think of all they throw at you. Sweet black girl, I know you are tired but God only gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors. So remember to rest, to heal, to love, to laugh, to breathe, to enjoy, to smile, to cry, to heal, to expand, to pray, to heal and heal and heal. Don’t forget to cast our burdens on God, he will lighten our load. I understand and empathize and you are not alone in your struggles. As we know, it is always darkest before the dawn. Wait for the sunrise, your smile is the light this world needs. Do not give in, do not give up, take your breaks, and take it all in stride. We are here with you, a community of women. Black women, who are here when you need us and when you want us. You have no idea the new dreams you’ll dream and the future girls that will look up to you and realize: they are our wildest dreams.

Keep Dreaming, Stay Strong.