If you self-identify as a black woman, chances are you’ve experienced thefollowing scenario sometime in the last 24–48 hours

Spotifying Rick Ross on your headphones all day in an effort to avoid the following inevitable conversation can only take you so far. Soon, you make this mistake of removing an earbud for about .2 seconds, and suddenly, your coworkers have you surrounded. They want your opinion. They’re dying to empathize. They just want to be known as the “good kind” of white people. Don’t you owe them at least that much?

And so it begins. Did your statement start anything like this?

“Well…as a black woman….”

In moments like this (and they happen more often than not my loves) black skin in and of itself, becomes its own sort of mask. We are in a constant struggle with the perceived comfort of others and less and less in touch with the one authentic perspective we do have, that of an person living not THE “Black Experience” but one of MANY Black Experiences. We’ve allowed ourselves to engage with the world in a way that constructs automated disclaimers…what’s worse, there is nothing more transparent than inauthenticity…so even these uneccessary efforts are unlikely to have their desired effect!

As a Black Woman…will be a collection of storytelling, analysis, musing, and yes, I’m sure the occasional rant, with the simple goal pushing everyday discussions of race closer to the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

The Franz Fanon’s…the majestic Maya Angelou’s… the WEB Dubois’…The etherial Eartha Kitt’s of our past did not do what they did so we could accept “the way things are” because they “aren’t that bad”.

The dudes of white Reddit can hate on me all they want, being a black women in America remains a wonderful yes, yet deeply challenging experience. So ladies, let’s do it while having a purposeful conversation and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. So without further ado:

“As a Black Woman..” what do you have to say today?

We are a new collection of storytelling, analysis, musings and perhaps the occasional rant ☺ Our goal is to push everyday discussions of black womanhood closer to the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. We know we have it good. Isn’t it up to us to keep pushing for even better?

Lola Bakare is Brand Marketing Director at www.thedailydot.com and loves nothing more than to indulge in conversations. These thoughts are purely here own and are not at all affiliated with any professional organization.

Want to get in touch about submitting? Shoot Lola a tweet @loladailydot !