For Every Black Woman's Soul: A Poetry Medley

For Every Black Woman's Soul is the first installment of a poetic medley that debunks, affirms and questions stereotypes and the various archetypes that Black Women have been berated with. Berated, labeled so much to where they renamed and took ownership of these terms. These terms have shaped Black Women Identity throughout the last two centuries. Let me say that I take the strong stance that it is not my responsibility to break stereotypes that I didn't create. This book of poetry is raw, authentic, powerful, evocative and tells great stories.

As the series progresses, you will see how unconventional the poems become, how deep and ironic life is, especially for black men and women. Back in undergrad at Howard University, where I minored in Community Development, I took a class called Psychology of the Black Experience. In this course, the professor explained that there were five stages of black racial identity development. They are as followed: a) Pre-encounter, (b) Encounter, (c) Immersion-Emersion, (d) Internalization, and (e) Internalization-Commitment.

PRE-ENCOUNTER: Where blacks absorbed many beliefs and values of the dominant white culture, including the notion that "white is right" and "black is wrong"; de-emphasis on one's racial group membership; largely unaware of race or racial implications

ENCOUNTER: Where blacks are forced by event or series of events to acknowledge the impact of racism in one's life and the reality that one cannot truly be white; forced to focus on identity as a member of a group targeted by racism

IMMERSION/EMERSION: Where blacks simultaneous desire to surround oneself with visible symbols of one's racial identity and an active avoidance of symbols of whiteness; actively seek out opportunities to explore aspects of one's own history and culture with support of peers from one's own racial background

INTERNALIZATION: Where blacks are secure in one's own sense of racial identity; pro-black attitudes become more expansive, open, and less defensive; willing to establish meaningful relationships with whites who acknowledge and are respective of one's self-definition

INTERNALIZATION-COMMITMENT: Where blacks found ways to translate one's personal sense of blackness into a plan of action or a general sense of commitment to concerns of blacks as a group, which is sustained over time; comfort with one's own race and those around them

As a black person it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to determine where you are on the totem pole of your development and to evolve to your highest self. I created this poetry series, which has four books, listed below to help black women of all backgrounds and developments to reach the final destination of INTERNALIZATION-COMMITMENT. So instead of hating oneself for the terms we were labeled, why not embrace, debunk and COMMIT ourselves to true self-love, for the beauty, the ugly and the downright puzzling.

Black women, hold your head high. For the only obligation you have is to GROW into your most beautiful and unapologetic self. Enjoy!

With Love,

Penny B.



STAY TUNED FOR THE FULL SERIES:

For Every Black Woman's Soul: A Poetry Medley

For Every Black Woman's Soul II: A Poetry Medley

For Every Black Man's Ego: A Poetry Medley

For The Strength of Black Love: A Poetry Medley