I never expected to write anything about Solange.  I’ve always admired her from afar but kept my distance as a fan.  Her fashion bedazzled me and on occasion, I would wish myself into her closet so I could snatch pretty much all of her clothes.  I kept hearing so much about the new album “A Seat at the Table” and finally I listened and felt myself being drawn to her new and brilliant expression.  All of that aside, however, I am not compelled to write about that or share too much of that side of her.  I am here to share a side of her that has brought me to a place of admiration and inspiration. I am here to share an article/poem/bit of writing that I came across after I did a little perusing on her website solangemusic.com Its words jumped off the page and pulled me in.  She opens up about her experience as a black woman! BRAVO! I might be late to the table with this blurb of respect for this icon but that’s ok because now is better than never! — karen gibson roc

“And Do You Belong? by Solange Knowles” — Excerpt

“You are also fully aware, now that you use your platform consistently to speak out on social, racial, and feminist issues, that people who have no awareness of your work outside of gossip sites and magazines, some of which who are most likely voting for Donald Trump, have been starting to engage and/or target you in public and social media in regards to race.

(And yes, having white people constantly call you the n-word, or say you and your people are degenerates that need to leave America or zoo like animals, surely does not help you feel more comfortable in predominately white spaces)

You read headlines that say, “Solange feels uncomfortable with white people,” and want to use the classic  “I have many white friends” or “Half of my wedding guests were white” line to prove that you do not dislike white people but dislike the way that many white people are constantly making you feel. Yet you know no amount of explaining will get you through to this type of person in the first place.

You have lived apart of your life in predominately white spaces since you were a kid and even had your 3rd-grade teacher tell you “what a nigger is” in front of your entire white class. You watched your parents trying to explain why this was wrong to her and learned then it can be virtuously impossible to get your point across.” (read full piece)

#NEVAHBLACKDOWN