If all the Black girls all over the world woke up completely free, so would everybody else… and that’s just not how the system works.

The system thrives on scarcity driving the talented towards the perception of security.

“I can’t leave my job because my extreme talent only pays me under the safety of this umbrella.” Even though my momma and her sisters, and their mothers and their sisters stitched the panels, fabricated the release buttons, developed the little strap to tuck it away when it’s not raining, proposed its alternative uses to block sun AND rain…

The system heard them. Valued their contributions. Praised their teams. Then stamped “System, Inc.” on all the branding. Now, 3-5 generations later we praise System and forget everyone the built it up. All of the long nights, all of the early mornings.

But that’s because my momma and her sisters, and their mothers and their sisters only told us. “Get you a good job at System, Inc. , they’ll let you feel seen and heard. They’ll value your contributions. You’ll be distinguished. You see my watch?”.

I’m not saying quit your job. I’m just saying if you lose it because you spent time working on your own umbrella, try to remember that you come from a long line of umbrella engineers. Try to remember that your whole neighborhood worked in one department of System, Inc. or another and System hasn’t lost in 500 years. It’s the marketing department that has you thinking System is the only choice, and guess who used to work in that department? Ya Mother.

I guess I’m saying all this to say congratulations on your new position.