Nina Brilliantly Bound Simone

After watching the documentary on Netflix many thoughts, theories

and feelings came to mind. I see myself. I see my mother. I see my

sisters. I look into the eyes of many black women seeking to

establish herself from the outside while being dismantled from the

inside. I am everything to the world yet I feel like nothing. My

struggle from within roars through the worlds applause, roars

through the cries of my children, roars through the voice of the

Spirit. But that roar silences itself when I am flowing in my

gift. The gift given to me from on high. It was intertwined into my

DNA. I cannot deny it. I cannot reject it. I function in it whether I

am at my peak or desolate begging for bread. Yes, the roar

becomes a purr as I can see it backing up and making room for my

gift to take he stage. This gift is called my purpose. My purpose-the

reason I am here-I was created for this yet when mishandled and

not nurtured I find myself singing amongst winos in a ball gown

and pawned jewels. This I know...when I am gifting I hear no

roar while my gifting is limited by the standards of this world I still

find myself bound. So my choice then becomes to gift within a

cage or live in a cage with the roar....either way I am bound and

all I want is to be is free. My choice is no choice at all so I live in

both cages as both war for my soul. Through this war there is yet

life to be lived...I am a mother, I am a wife, I am an adult-child, I

am a community member, I am a professional, I am the church

pew, I am a friend, I am everything yet I feel like nothing. I am

black, My nose is wide, My laugh is loud, My lips are full, My hair

is that of wool, My sass commands attention, My poise demands

respect. Who am I, from which place do I come? I am tolerated,

accepted, and even given special rights along the way to

compensate for global caging yet universally the struggle

continues. I conclude chasing the color purple wondering if

freedom comes from heaven lasting always or if I should bash

Mistas head and think about heaven later. How about I bash his

head on my way?! Freedom.