It would be kind to call whatever arrived this week as snow. What looked like magical soft starlets falling to the ground, quickly turned into frozen sheets that covered the city. After two days of being “snowed” in, I started to feel like an ephemeral plant trapped beneath the ice, with no air or sunlight. Thankfully, I was able to survive my first winter with snow in three years, and I saw my first daffodils of the year today.
We happened upon them in the forest, and I know we were the first to see them, which felt nothing less than a sacred event. Their yellow faces shone bright against the glittery slush melting around them, and I was surprised at the hope I felt upon the sight.
In times when another kind of ICE increases in violence and terrorism, I guess I needed a little hope. Seeing daffodils kind of felt like watching Bad Bunny win his grammy this week and encourage everyone watching to cling to love - the only thing more powerful than hate.
As I think about what it means to fight injustice and seek freedom through love, the quote that has been swimming in my head all week comes from The Combahee River Collective Statement:
“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.”
I plan to spend February listening to and highlighting my favorite albums by black female artists in honor of it being Black History Month and in hopes of encouraging others to center black women in the pursuit of justice. Whatever that means…
Cover Girl - Lady Wray
Lotus - Little Simz
Messy - Olivia Dean
Some more music that’s been on loop for me is this playlist - 11 songs by Black women for healing & restoration - posted by one of my favorite substackers.
I’m also dropping these links for anyone who gafs.
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