Emancipation Day at the ELA House

yesterday, i had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Crystal Wilkinson. we got free copies of her book, Praisesong: The Kitchen Ghosts, it was a beautiful surprise.

i had reserved 2 tickets in anticipation for a +1, which fell through. luckily, an impromptu replacement came through. that being one of my best friends, i felt happier gifting her with the surprise book as a token of appreciation.

while attending this amazing event and getting my fill of enrichment and tears…and sammies…and free produce, i was notified of the August 8th shindig taking place by West End Women’s Collaborative, my coven, as i joke. they had also hosted Mrs. Crystal, but i hadn’t even realized the dates! that’s why all of this is happening! you know, the usual. you’re so busy that you don’t know what day it is. well, in this case i was counting down the days to the weekend, but hadn’t kept up with the actual numbered calendar dates. i say i’ll be there.

today comes, and it’s a terrible start.

between 3 personal “tragedies” today…and i say that with air quotes because honestly nothing is more tragic than the treatment my ancestors before me endured, so i shouldn’t be so dramatic. maybe a better expression is, between 3 unfortunate circumstances before noon, i was already drained and made new plans to sleep until tomorrow. i bundled under the covers and rocked myself to eventual sleep…well actually i never really slept. just remained in a limbo with many strange dream shorts until i finally open my eyes and said, allah…you just not gonna let me wake up tomorrow.

i decided it was time to get up and stop wallowing. it is, what it is. life goes on. do what you can, and get your ass to your people.

i packed a bag of breakfast items. rarely, i find cooking for folx to feel good and restoring. i’ve done it a couple of times for my birthday to provide brunch for my homies. recently, i cooked for a fellow sag’s birthday. i never thought i would do shit like this. i also packed my laptop, which i haven’t hauled that thing around since last year…but, i wanted to write. inspiration from Mrs. Crystal i supposed. anyways, i was gonna cook some breakfast items if anyone wanted any. i know i did. breakfast is my favorite and my comfort go-to.

i arrived and just sunk in…as i usually do when i visit the labyrinth and granny’s house and mariel and the other ameerah and danette and brittiney and chad and many others that usually or often grace this space. D-Nasti with the perfect emancipation tunes. i was so grateful i got my ass out the house. often, i’m ready to work. ready to give a hand. also often, mariel tells my ass to enjoy as the fellow nurturer she is. i complied. and sunk in more, and more, and felt my roots spread and dig deep with every hug, every conversation, every reunion…hell i had a dinner i planned on attending later, but i couldn’t pull away with the barely revived energy i had.

these spaces can be overwhelming to create. but, it truly takes a village...including the nudge from your higher power. my gratitude is always and forever overflowing, which is why i’m always ready to put in work and give relief. August 8th (and any day) with WEWC always sits my ass down and always invites me to just hang out, take my shoes off, be creative, be tired and just be fucking black.

thank you New Covenant Baptist Church. thank you Tip it Forward. thank you Unnamed Kitchen. thank you Revolutionary Black Panther Party of Louisville. thank you BLACK-KY. thank you Clothe the West. thank you KSU.. thank you Black Azz Camping and Junior Black Campers. thank you Kentucky Black Farmers Association. thank you Mrs. Crystal Wilkinson. thank you West End Women’s Collaborative. and, thank you to our powerful ancestors flowing through us and this whole shindig.

thank you. thank you. thank you.

by the way…i never cooked that breakfast. i didn’t need to.

Happy Eighth of August.