Black-ass Joy
Welcome to the 67th installment of This Black-Ass Life. The murder of Ahmaud Arbery and Sean Reed have us reeling. Compounded with stop-and-frisk social distancing edition, COVID-19 disproportionately affecting and killing Black people, and the deaths of absolute legends, we are moving slowly through the pain and taking naps. We can’t. We just can’t. So instead of anything substantial, here are some beautiful Black-ass babies and a few other happy things to put a smile on your face.
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l. The Facts
We love us.
We want to raise this Gerber baby so badly.
Give 👏 each 👏 of 👏 these 👏 babies 👏 fruit snacks!
This levitating prank cracked us up.
Laugh with Chizi and envy her closet!
It’s so dumb. It’s SO dumb. But this video is perfect.
Shout out to the many Black Pulitzer Prize winners, including the record win by Colson Whitehead. Click here for the full list and I (Jumoke) highly recommend The Tradition by Jericho Brown from this list.
This grandma. An ICON. And here she is falling for Morris Chestnut just like the rest of us.
Why does it matter?
Rona is already doing a number on our collective mental health. Add the state-sanctioned murder of a Black man and a modern-day lynching and the accompanying snuff film, we are in desperate need of joy and light.
What can my Black-Ass do?
Thank Black-ass mamas for beautiful Black-ass babies by supporting #FreeBlackMamas.
Find joy where you can. Black joy is a radical act. Lean into it.
ll. Other Things
Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, thank you.
We bow down to this Black mama who still has her Morris Brown moves DOWN.
Go ahead Uncle Charlie! Charlie Wilson is the first artist to reach #1 in each of the last three decades.
For Mental Health Awareness Month or really anytime you need to relax, check out this “Bring Me Peace” playlist from the team at The Root.
We are haunted by and in awe of this Meg-Steve mash-up.
Michelle Obama and I (Mitu) were swept away into Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’s love fest Saturday night.
Thank you to a reader for sharing this must-read: Black Voters’ Limited Negotiating Power
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Mitu):
Beyoncé is my favorite rapper so you know what it is.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) am getting myself bouquets on bouquets to get by. I look forward to the smell of my hydrangeas and lillies every morning.
I (Mitu) am going to take Jumoke’s lead and buy myself some flowers and maybe a plant this week. I look forward to developing my green thumb.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Mama
This Black-Ass mama was NOT pleased by the levitating prank. NOT at this time!
We also want to close by saying rest in peace to the architect of Rock ’n’ Roll Little Richard, icon of soul and R&B Betty Wright, and music legend and mogul Andre Harrell.
Stay Black, thrive and buy yourself flowers if you want to! We’ll hit your inbox next on May 25.