I am trying to become the strongest person I can become to live the life I have been given and to help effect change toward a livable future for this earth and for my children.
Audre Lorde
So much of learning about the experience of Blackness and our history within these “United” States of America is told through a lens of pain and suffering. It becomes hard when writing sometimes. I struggle to see all the joy and triumphs when I am constantly shown the pain and hardship of how we are viewed in media. I wanted to challenge myself to write about Black joy.
Then, as if by some cosmic happenstance, I got to be in a room for a few hours and watch joyful history being made by an incredible group of powerful Black women and girls led by Juanta Griffin.
A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to DJ the Uniquely You Tea Party. For those of you unfamiliar, Uniquely You is a yearly event created by Juanta. Every year Black girls from all over the Chicago area come to this event to be loved, empowered, and celebrated. This year was the fourth and (with the exception of the second, which was virtual) I have gotten to be the DJ for each. This year the theme was Africa, which was special for me.
Tea ceremonies, also known as Attayas, have deep roots in African and Asian cultures. In West Africa, Attayas take hours to brew and drink and that time is spent relaxing and conversing. A time to strengthen the bonds of friendship and community.
So very few times in my life have I witnessed actual magic. That day was one of them. A sisterhood creating love energy will protect those girls as they become women.
Children dressed in beautiful Ankara and Kente fabrics walked through a door and were greeted by a group of adult mentors applauding them. After being seated at their tables, they were welcomed to the Oak Park Country Club, by Juanta, the coordinator of the event. She intentionally wanted to celebrate them in this space that they were not welcomed at in the past to show how far they’ve come. They proceeded to dine on finger sandwiches and sipped on tea. Then, after a few words from state senate President Don Harmon, Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps led the group in the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” After tea, Judge Marianne Jackson, told the story of “The Wiz” and what it meant to her. She had me play the song “Believe In Yourself” by Lena Horne as she told those future doctors, lawyers, judges, and entrepreneurs they could be whatever they wanted to be.
They created vision boards and dreamed of what they would do in the future. That was followed by an Affirmation Parade (how great is this?). Other highlights included a gift card giveaway and celebrating individual tables by shining a literal light on them.
The next part was my favorite. It felt like mothers and grandmothers passing down their knowledge to the next generation. It started with a lesson on how to do an African head wrap or crown. Every girl in the room was given ankara fabric and learned not only how to wrap but also a bit about the history of why women wrap their hair in this way. I caught an amazing moment after the tutorial where one of the grandmothers in the room asked the woman who gave the tutorial to help her wrap her hair. That made me tear up.
And finally the wonderful Donna Calendar of Kuumbaa Kids presented a tutorial on African dance. We finished the whole thing off with a dance party!
I wanted to tell you, dear reader, of all the things I saw at the event because this entire event is the brainchild of one incredible woman. So many people lend their talents and skills to make this happen, but truly it cannot be done without the leadership of Juanta Griffin. I don’t remember where I met Juanta for the first time, but I do remember walking away in awe of her energy. It felt like being in the presence of Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells, or Fannie Lou Hamer. She wears her Blackness so proudly in a way I envied. She taught me to truly embrace all parts of myself and stand rooted in my own Black joy.
She turns up for other people too. With her work as the multicultural coordinator at the Oak Park Public Library, she gives people from all over the world the space to be celebrated. Oh, and she does all this while battling chronic pain from various medical conditions. Still somehow she constantly rises. It is a revolutionary love of her community. I am so lucky to call her friend and sister. I am so lucky to bear witness to her as she rises. Lots of us talk about the need for more representation and moments of joy in our communities. Few of us actually get to create those moments.
Thank you, Juanta for your servant leadership and the gift of you. During this Black History Month I celebrate the legacy you are creating.