Happy Birthday to THEE Icon
You first came to me in regalia and delivered a convocation speech fused together with Words of Fire.
In dog eared pages of Gender Talk, I scribbled in the margins questions of reclamation, power, and found the courage to intertwine the syllables of feminism with those of my own name.
We shared mojitos and piping hot tea ( ) in conference hallways and ornate hotel lobbies, shared scones and secrets, late night calls and long hugs.
You held me through our shared loss and grief, encouraged me when the doctoral journey was depleting, and continue to remind me that my writing ain’t skimpy but worthy of being read.
There aren’t enough photos of us but that’s probably because we were too busy gossiping BUT I love this portrait of a young, gifted, Black feminist icon in the making 💜
I found you in the footnotes of my work and when I wondered what kind of woman I wanted to be, I heard your voice tell me that I am enough, exactly as I am.
I never sat in your classroom but you have been my most cherished tutor; from handing me my first copy of “This Bridge Called My Back”, building “Sturdy Black Bridges” for all of us in search of community, to our bi-coastal adventures, I have learned what a true sister friend looks like through your example.
To my favorite Gemini and fashion icon, I love you. I can’t believe you saw Tina Turner without me, but I wouldn’t trade our marathon phone calls for anything. You are my most committed partner in crime, the only person I know with a publication list longer than a CVS receipt, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else to pick the wine.
You took my hand and showed me what is possible when we stop performing who we are and just lived life …. free.
Happy Birthday Beverly! May you always be surrounded by love and with a Malbec and TJ Maxx closeby🍾👑
