I remember watching a documentary some years ago and there was this small framed woman with fair skin and locs in her hair and a bold voice, and I wanted to know who she was. I found out that day, that Sonia Sanchez is her name. I did a deep dive into what this lady was all about. I learned she played a leading role in the Black Arts Movement, and in developing Black Studies courses at San Francisco State University. She worked alongside notable poets like Amiri Baraka and Nikki Giovanni with whom I am both familiar.
If I’m being honest, I don’t recall learning much about Sonia Sanchez while in school, even in college. Which I couldn’t understand since she’s written more than twenty books, including children’s books, a handful of plays, and critical essays. Then I realized, she was blacklisted for freely thinking, speaking, and living truthfully and for many years, decades, she was trying to be silenced by those who preferred she keep quiet.
I don’t know why but almost immediately Ntozake Shange’s piece in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Enuf (which by the way, was nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 2022) came up for me.
“somebody/ anybody
sing a black girl’s song
bring her out
to know herself
to know you
but sing her rhythms
carin/ struggle/ hard times
sing her song of life
she’s been dead so long
closed in silence so long
she doesn’t know the sound
of her own voice
her infinite beauty she’s half-notes scattered
without rhythm/ no tune
sing her sighs
sing the song of her possibilities
sing a righteous gospel
let her be born
let her be born
& handled warmly.”
I can’t help but think this could work as an ode to Mother Sonia which I have affectionately referred to her as since meeting her while working on the song arrangements for her play I’m Black When I’m Singing, I’m Blue When I Ain’t. To say it was an honor is an understatement. To hear, and listen to her speak, her voice, HERstory, felt like an out-of-body experience. As I shared the room with a small group of creatives also working on the project many thoughts and themes raced through my mind. And, one theme is the consistent high-energy effort that goes into trying to silence Black women because of the power, wisdom, strength, and even healing that exudes from our very being as we move in love and grace.
I’d like to continue exploring thoughts and the many themes surrounding HERstory.
I wrote this post in April. I am still learning to trust what is on the inside of me. My writing. My voice. That my writing and therefore my voice has value even when it makes others uncomfortable, and is not a part of the status quo, popular opinion, appreciated, or celebrated. I am climbing out from behind the loud noise finding my way back to boldness and vulnerability but always delivered in the way it is given to me; in love, kindness, care, and empathy.
Full-Time Woman 