Black Ass Women Saved 2017: A Year Wrap-up
Welcome back to This Black-Ass Life! For our sixth installment of the newsletter, we’re wrapping up 2017 with our biggest, blackest takeaways of the year. From Aretha’s wigs to Girls’ Trip, here are our top moments in 2017.
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First, we want to kick off this newsletter with a huge thank you to you all for reading and thank you for forwarding to your friends. We’ve already doubled in subscribers, which means now we need to be even more careful with typos and grammatical errors. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for reading and spreading the word about This Black-Ass Life!
l. The Facts
Our Black Asses Had Some Wins in 2017
We are alive! (How?). Despite tap dancing on the nuclear codes, Tangerine Tyrant has yet to get us nuked (YET). Shout out to Maxine Waters, Kamala Harris, Frederica Wilson, and all of the other Black legislators for keeping Nectarine Noriega in check.
Aretha is not dead. People need to stop with the Internet hoaxes because I (Jumoke) started crying when I saw the news of Aretha’s demise on Twitter. Shout-out to Yahweh, THE QUEEN is alive and well and serving in her Nicki Minaj wig.
'Girls Trip' was the first comedy of the year (and the only good comedy this year) to crack $100M at the box office.
Beyonce surprised Colin Kaepernick with the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award honoring his work uplifting and furthering civil rights.
Black women kept winning elections. Vi Lyles became the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina; Andrea Jenkins became the first openly transgender person of color elected to public office; Sheila Oliver was elected the New Jersey’s first Black lieutenant governor; and Ashley Bennett won a seat on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in New Jersey by defeating a White man who mocked the Women's March on Washington.
Black women saved themselves, Alabama and the nation by electing Doug Jones. Also, White women need to have a team meeting and regroup before any upcoming elections.
Angela Rye and Robin Roberts bid Omarosa adieu.
Why is this important?
Despite everything, our Black asses came together and won repeatedly this year. We voted in candidates and made the 2017 progressive wave happen, we won for our communities and we won countless awards traditionally given to White folks. (Shouts to Lena).
What can my Black Ass do?
See this from Angela Peoples and find suggestions for organizations to support here: Don’t Just Thank Black Women. Follow Us.
Also, be sure to pop some bubbly, enjoy the New Year and make some Black-Ass resolutions.
Resolutions for your mind and body can include using http://therapyforblackgirls.com, a national directory of Black women therapists, to find a therapist; and checking out these Whole30 recipes for a healthy start to the year.
ll. Other Things
Becky, explained.
One of my (Mitu) favorite articles this year was “5 Types of ‘Becky,’” explained. We know each of these women. They work at our nonprofits and they dominate the music we take in.
Becky, dragged.
Twitter can be a frustrating place, but watching Black Twitter come together to collectively drag Taylor’s weak new video and song warmed our Black lady hearts.
Becky ain’t the only one with the long hair.
Ms. Tina let us know her daughter got inches.
Becky, stay mad.
She’s Gotta Have It (new version) was straight trash, but I (Jumoke) discovered this song and I guess it was worth it.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (Mitu):
Pharrell and Migos came together for Stir Fry. Special mention goes to MotorSport, which is really only good because of Cardi and Nicki.
Obligatory Kanye check-in:
Kanye looks so healthy and happy and festive! Say what you will about Kimye, but they make some beautiful babies.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
As a follow up to the Christmas movie roundup, I (Mitu) want to recommend some Christmas music I’m obsessed with like: Boyz II Men Let It Snow, the praise break that closes Mariah Carey’s Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child, and especially Tamar Braxton’s whole Christmas album (a fave is Sleigh Ride). Here’s my Spotify playlist of some of my favorite Christmas jams.
I (Jumoke) am not looking for Omarosa’s new book, which we all know she’s writing. Just. Go. Away. Take time off.
lll. Drama and text from Black-Ass Mamas
Not quite a text, but I (Mitu) can’t stop looking at this dramatic Habesha mama rolling away from her baby’s nose piercing. Also, here is a stream of thought text from my Black Ass mama re: her new washing machine:
Have a great week and Happy Holidays! We’ll hit your inbox next on January 8. Stay Black and Beautiful.