• ELIXHER
• On October 3, 2012

Mama Lorde

“Black lesbian relationships pose little threat to ‘self-defined’ Black men and women secure in their sexualities. But loving relationships among Black women do pose a tremendous threat to systems of intersecting oppressions. How dare these women love one another in a context that deems Black women as a collectivity so unlovable and devalued?”

— Patricia Hill Collins

Black queer women, I love you. I have never known strength and bravery like the one you naturally embody. In a world that would tell you Black is not beautiful, women are disposable, and being queer is a matter of second-class citizenship - you exist, you love, you live. The self-love of Black queer women is a radical notion, challenging racism, sexism, homophobia, and promoting utter fierceness.

Black queer women, I love you. Mothers, friends, sisters, girlfriends, femmes, bois, transwomen, and everything in between. I think of you and smile. Your essence disrupts structures and challenges ideologies. You exemplify activism. You live bravery. By the very notion of your existence, you break barriers, break rules, and kick ass.

Black queer women, I love you. Though the media would attempt to render you invisible, you assert your voices. You have carved out your place, making a declaration of love to yourself.

Black queer women, I love you. I call you my sisterfriends, my homegirls, my inspiration. Those of you I don’t know, and will never know, you still make an imprint on my heart. You make me proud to be living life at the intersection.

Black queer women, if no one ever tells you, or you forget to tell yourself, know, I love you, I always have and always will.

- Silver Moore

Silver is a 20-year-old Detroit native and journalism student at Michigan State University. She loves listening to music and is a blog junkie.