Let's Get Lifted
Cover Photo | A still from D. Smoke’s “Black Magic” video
I originally shared this piece as a post on my social media on May 26, 2020 after lamenting the day over the tragic news of George Floyd’s murder, in the wake of Amy Cooper’s nastiness. (Yup—we kind of forgot about her hatefully false call to the police on a nature nurturer, a steward of God’s creation, because yet another black man was actually murdered by police in the few days following.)
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This is for black folks, and black folks alone at this moment:
Lament all you need to lament, because we need to lament.
But always try to remember through the repeated onslaught of white supremacism that tries comes against our being because it hates itself, and disdains how beautiful and resilient we are:
Our #BlackBoyJoy and #BlackGirlMagic is in part to hold onto for now, through such moments as now. This is one of the main times we need to shower it down.
Lament all you need to lament, for as long as you need to lament.
And remember that lament is to help us to consider how to move into new life, not to spiral into despair.
What make music makes you proud to be black? Cause I have a long ass list, in the name of Jesus. Light it up, and shower it down.
As for me and my house, I'm bathing my soul in D Smoke and Beyonce's 'The Gift', some India.Arie and some Jill Scott for the rest of the evening while I work on some important and healing things for life and living.
George Floyd, Eric Garner, John Crawford gain nothing from my not getting up from their being felled.
I love you. I love us. And may we look to our mutual love while folks determinedly inhabiting white supremacism (some who look just like us. some who sometimes, unfortunately, are also us) take their time getting to Brown Jesus to figure out what in they're going to do with their lives and souls...
Meanwhile, waiting for that spin on D Smoke's 'Black Habits':
"Everyday God is born
Defines himself in human form
Denies himself to find true wealth within
In his tribe his health is prized possession
Sin
Is diverting from the rugged path that leads
To the truth
That he is I
And I am we."
My Power | Beyonce
“Spirit” + “Bigger” | Beyonce
Love One Another | Tay Da Prince ft. John Legend
These Streets | Mi Casa
Hate on Me | Jill Scott
Someday We’ll All Be Free (Live) | Donna Hathaway
#BeforeILetGoChallenge NPHC Black Greek Edition | Choreographer Joe Brown
Black Queens Project | Choreography to Buddy’s ‘Black’
Patti Labelle Sings the Alphabet | Sesame Street
How I Miss My ‘X’ | Patti Labelle for Sesame Street
Down Below the Street | 14 Karat Soul for Sesame Street
Back to Life | Soul II Soul
Optimistic | Sounds of Blackness
Stand | Sounds Blackness
Sunkissed Child | D Smoke ft. Jill Scott & Iguocho
The Pressure, Pt. 1 | Sounds of Blackness
Strike It Up | Black Box
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) | C+C Music Factory
Shame | Evelyn “Champagne” King
American Woman | Lenny Kravitz
Total Praise | Richard Smallwood
Four Women | Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott & Ledisi for BET’s Black Girls Rock
High | Ledisi
Black Habits | D Smoke ft. Jackie Gouche
Otherside | Beyonce
Love’s in Need | Blackstreet
While My Guitar Gently Weeps | PRINCE, Tom Petty, Steven Winwood, Jeff Lynne
Black Out | Youssoupha
What’s Going On Live 1972 | Marvin Gaye
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) | Marvin Gaye
Lift Every Voice & Sing | Take 6 (audio only available)
What If | India.Arie
Gettin in the Way | Jill Scott
Djin Djin | Angelique Kidjo ft. Alicia Keys
Hella Black | Tobe Nwigwe ft. The New Respects
Black | Buddy ft. A$AP Ferg
Toast | Koffee
Colors of Africa Fashion Show | Gold Caviar Crew Model Dancing to Khona by Makifizolo
Black Panther Challenge | Choreographer Kendra K.O Oyesanya (mizzk.o)
#BlackExcellence Every Month | Choreographer Kendra K.O Oyesanya (mizzk.o)’s to Buddy’s ‘Black’
Ah Been ‘Buked (Part 1) | Sounds of Blackness
Everybody Everybody | Black Box
Stomp | Kirk Franklin & God’s Property
Fly Away | Lenny Kravitz
Four Women | Lisa Simone, Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright & Angelique Kidjo
Black Habits | D Smoke ft. Jackie Gouche
MY POWER | Beyonce
Spirit + Bigger | Beyonce
OTHERSIDE | Beyonce
Love One Another | Tay Da Prince ft. John Legend
Love’s in Need | Blackstreet
Mi Casa | These Streets
While My Guitar Gently Weeps | PRINCE, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne
Hate on Me | Jill Scott
Black Out | Youssoupha
Someday We’ll Be Free (Live) | Donna Hathaway
What’s Going on Live 1972 | Marvin Gaye
Lift Every Voice and Sing | Take 6 (audio only available)
Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) | Marvin Gaye
Gettin in the Way | Jill Scott
What If | India.Arie
Djin Djin | Angelique Kidjo ft. Alicia Keys
Hella Black | Tobe Nwigwe ft. The New Respects
Black | Buddy ft. A$AP Ferg
Toast | Koffee
Colors of Africa Fashion Show | Gold Caviar Crew Model Dancing to Khona by Makifizolo
Black Panther Challenge | Choreographer Kendra K.O Oyesanya (mizzk.o)
#BlackExcellence Every Month | Kendra K.O Oyesanya (mizzk.o)’s Choreography to Buddy’s ‘Black’
#BeforeILetGoChallenge NPHC Black Greek Edition | Choreographer Joe Brown
Black Queens Project | Choreography to Buddy’s ‘Black’
Patti Labelle Sings the Alphabet | Sesame Street
How I Miss My ‘X’ | Patti Labelle for Sesame Street
Down Below the Street | 14 Karat Soul for Sesame Street
Back to Life | Soul II Soul
Optimistic | Sounds of Blackness (Even though it says chains)
Stand | Sounds Blackness
Sunkissed Child | D Smoke ft. Jill Scott & Iguocho
The Pressure, Pt. 1 | Sounds of Blackness
Ah Been ‘Buked (Part 1) | Sounds of Blackness
Everybody Everybody | Black Box
Strike It Up | Black Box
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) | C+C Music Factory
Shame | Evelyn “Champagne” King
Stomp | Kirk Franklin & God’s Property
American Woman | Lenny Kravitz
Fly Away | Lenny Kravitz
Total Praise | Richard Smallwood
Four Women | Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott & Ledisi for BET’s Black Girls Rock
Four Women | Lisa Simone, Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright & Angelique Kidjo