Arriving

February was a long month.

Black people were tried by every one and every thing. Despite all of the craziness that transpired for Black America in February, I’m excited about the (many) wins - specifically, Spike Lee’s Oscar win and Billy Porter’s dress.

There is no need to explain Spike’s first Oscar win but I will (briefly). Spike won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, BlacKkKlansman. He deserved it (after 30 years of work) - long overdue. And I had real tears like I knew him from way back when. But I felt it. I felt his win, and his passionate acceptance speech. I grew up with his movies and forever Blackness. It was because I had cool, young parents and because the 80s and 90s. Spike’s speech reflected strength and self-pride. Let’s face it - Spike never needed the Oscar for approval or validation, his reliable boldness and assertive creativity was always enough.

Then there was Billy and that demanding elegant dress. My first thought: Wow!

Billy arrived with no apologies. He owned ever inch of fabric that dress had to give. Despite the mainly conservative Black community that clutched its pearls, Billy didn’t give a damn saying, “I’m inside of my authenticity and the whole point is that you have to respect me as much as I respect you. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else.” And you can do nothing but respect that.

Spike and Billy’s Oscar presence made me reflect on the idea of arrival and authenticity - the energy that is occupying within and beyond. In a society that embodies a lot of noise, it is so important to arrive boldly in the spaces we occupy. Each and every time.