[BONUS] America's Got A Problem: Black Women Are TIRED

Fellow Black women navigating the emotional aftermath of the recent U.S. election --  this episode is for you. In this impromptu episode, we discuss the harsh realities of systemic inequities and the enduring divisions in our country head-on.

Episode Resources:

• Songs: Who Will Survive In America by Kanye West/Gil Scott-Heron & America Has A Problem by Beyoncé
• Post by @inspiredtowrite
• Black Woman - by Jasmine's Garden/Ebony Jasmine Harris
• Post by glographics
• Post by Asteanté Renee
• Post by Lynae Vanee
• Post by Lyvonne Briggs 
• Post by EbonyJanice Moore - 1
• Post by EbonyJanice Moore - 2
• Dinner with a white nationalist | Vox & Eddie Huang

Related Episodes:

• Ep. 51 | A Free Woman's Journey to Love & Liberation: In Conversation with EbonyJanice Moore
• Ep. 37 | Wellness for Black Women ft. Aseanté Renee
• Ep. 31 | Sensuality, Spirituality & Creativity ft. Lyvonne Briggs
• Ep. 26 | Dream, Rest & Play ft. Colored Girls Liberation Lab Founder, Jenn Roberts

Addt'l Resources:

• Stay Girl Slay: Hang On and Hold Steady Sis
• Small Doses: Side Effects of The Day After
• Around the Way Curls: Ep 386: The Aftermath

Chapters

• 0:00 Processing Post-Election Emotions and Discontent
• 12:21 The Dispossession of White America

Transcript

Gil Scott-Heron: 1:22

Us, living as we do upside down, and the new word to have is revolution. People don't even want to hear the preacher spill or spiel, because God's old God has been thoroughly peaked and America is now blood and tears instead of milk and honey. The youngsters who were programmed to continue fucking up woke up one night digging Paul Revere and Nat Turner as the good guys, america's typical van. We had not all yet closed our eyes. The signs of truth were tattooed across our orphanage's vagina. We learned, to our amazement, the untold tale of scandal Two long centuries buried in a dusty vault, hosed down daily with a gagging perfume.

Gil Scott-Heron: 2:10

America was a bastard, the illegitimate daughter of the mother country whose legs were then spread around the world, and a rapist known as Freedom. Freedom, democracy, liberty and justice were revolutionary code names that preceded the bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling in the mother country's crotch. What does Webster say about soul? All I want is a good home and a wife and a children and some food to feed them every night. After all is said and done, build a new route to China. If they'll have you, who will survive in America? Who will survive in America? Who will survive in America? Who?

Aliya Cheyanne: 2:54

will survive in America. Oh Lord, have mercy, they drained me. I saw a post recently by an account on Instagram called Inspired to Write that says when the world is too scary, too loud, too much, stop consuming, start creating. Even in the darkest times, your art is a quiet rebellion, a refusal to let the world dim your light, a refusal to let the world dim your light. You don't have to be healed or in a good place to make art. Make art angry, make art heartbroken, make art scared. Just make art.

Aliya Cheyanne: 3:40

This episode is unplanned. I am recording it late at night. I am recording it after having experienced a few spaces with fellow Black women who are processing what has transpired in the states during and post election. I have personally been experiencing waves of emotion.

Aliya Cheyanne: 4:06

The day of the election, I felt very apathetic. I told myself I wasn't going to constantly be checking the polls and driving myself crazy. I told myself I would just see what happens and not constantly be checking for status updates In typical fashion. I did not uphold my own boundary and, of all the times to probably check in on the polls, I decided to do so right before going to bed, which was probably the dumbest thing I could have done Because even at that time checking right before I went to bed which was probably the dumbest thing I could have done, because even at that time checking right before I went to bed I could see that Kamala was behind Went to bed, woke up in the wee hours of the morning because I had to use the restroom and I thought to myself I should check to see what's going on. And I fought it for a second and I said don't do it, that's going to disrupt your sleep and your to see what's going on. And I fought it for a second and I said don't do it, that's going to disrupt your sleep and your peace. Go back to sleep Once again, didn't listen to myself, checked, saw that she was even further behind than she was when I went to bed, despite the time, I jokingly slash not jokingly texted my dad and was like so have you identified that place in Canada yet, because it's not looking good. And then, by the time I finished panicking and went back to sleep and officially woke up, I woke up to several alerts that Trump would be the 47th president, I think. I was in disbelief. So I kept checking Kamala HQ, like all of the accounts to see, like if they were posting any updates and it was just crickets. And then around 4.20 or something, that day she delivered her concession speech.

Aliya Cheyanne: 6:08

I feel disappointed, I feel numb, I feel apathy, I feel discontent, I feel angry, I feel grief and I feel rage, all of which are valid and sacred and holy. So many people have expressed how unsurprised they are, but unfortunately I bought into the camp of having a tiny bit of hope and I was violently reminded of how racist and evil this country is. I don't know if this is like denial or me not fully moving through the stages of grief, like maybe I'm just not accepting. I don't know what this is, but there's a part of me that honestly feels like Kamala running was a cruel joke, like the powers that be knew she would inspire a bit of hope, only to rip that hope from under us like a rug. It feels like it was a way to humble Black women, like a countrywide joke that we were not in on, a blatant reminder that it doesn't matter what we've accomplished, what our accolades are, doesn't matter what we're doing, doesn't matter that we're earning the most degrees, the fastest group of entrepreneurs all of that still not good enough to hold the highest position, well, the highest earthly position in the nation. That was not the black job that they meant Like, okay, y'all are doing a lot, sit down and relax. We don't actually like you. We don't actually like all of the diversity, equity and inclusion, like that's what it feels like. But ultimately, how evil this country is isn't a surprise, right, I mean, that's not a surprise.

Aliya Cheyanne: 8:05

Most people who understand the history of this country, the violence of these lands, like indigenous people, enslaved Africans and others who have had to experience that violence so that America could literally exist as it is today, those folks are not surprised. The descendants of these very same people, who have had to withstand atrocity after atrocity, harm after harm, violence after violence, disappointment after disappointment for centuries, are not surprised, because we understand what it is here intimately, and this election made that salient. On the flip side of that, I'm super disappointed by how divisive this election has been, even worse than it was in 2016,. It feels like, and reading statistics about the fact that Trump had even improved on his performance since 2020 now it's crazy. I'll be very honest too.

Aliya Cheyanne: 9:07

There's a part of me that is disappointed that a lot of us aren't even more angry that we are, and I have to check myself even with that, because I was reminded today that we don't have the luxury or the privilege to respond the way that other people do when they throw violent tantrums. But there's a part of me that wants to throw a very violent tantrum. I feel like a lot of the anger that we're sitting in has us stuck in freeze in a way, or like dissociating, disconnecting and, as much as I value, like leaning on community and connection and finding joy and all of those beautiful things. I have rage, like I have sacred rage. I have rage that needs to go somewhere and I will always stand by the fact that I think the only language America understands is violence, and we are not angry enough yet because if we were, a lot of things would be up in flames right now.

Aliya Cheyanne: 10:10

I'm sad that Black women continue to feel and be disappointed and unprotected, despite being the mules of the world that everyone turns to for direction, for support, for protection and to carry every burden. I'm sad and disturbed that many men continue to hate women so much that they would put the lives of their mothers, their sisters, their daughters, their nieces, their aunts, their friends, their lovers and everyone else in jeopardy. And this rhetoric of Gen Z saving us. They can't and they won't. They're children and it's not their job. And very much so not Gen Z males, because many of them voted like their fathers, grandfathers, forefathers and founding fathers.

Aliya Cheyanne: 10:58

Men have also been showing their ass online recently, even worse than usual. Ladies, please protect yourselves by any means necessary. Interpret that, however you need to. Men who actually care about value and respect women. Now is the time to step up and be the protectors you all claim to be. Check your male peers when and as often as needed. Call out or in your male relatives that need to be checked. We all have a long road ahead of us. Trump is literally the physical embodiment of centuries of hate, white supremacy, cruelty and violence. And because white America is so scared of change, of evolution, of inclusion, of equity, they would rather see him hold the highest position in the land at the expense of every marginalized person and themselves. It reminds me of an interview clip I'd seen a while back that resurfaced lately. Let me actually play that for you.

Eddie Huang: 12:19

How are you? Nice to meet you. Thank you for meeting us, Mr Taylor. Oh, it's my pleasure.

Jared Taylor: 12:22

Yeah, europeans have probably, on a per capita basis, killed more than anybody else, but because they were technologically more advanced.

Eddie Huang: 12:29

Where does gunpowder come from? It comes from China. It's just that Western civilization took things from people and I think when you get to older civilizations they become more benevolent. They don't hang on to things like genetics as much. They understand how experience changes. You Base them genetics as much they understand how experience changes. You Based them on facts instead. That's essential, but what I find interesting is you're so into facts and you're so into science, but then you supported Donald Trump, right.

Jared Taylor: 12:53

Well, that's a whole different question. That's a whole different subject. Let's get back to-. But I want to know how it is you voted for.

Eddie Huang: 13:00

Donald. Trump when you're so into facts, because his entire campaign is not based in facts. It was all based in propaganda and emotion.

Jared Taylor: 13:09

I voted for Donald Trump for one reason only His policies, if implemented, would slow the dispossession of whites in the United States. If he were to deport all illegal immigrants, if he were to think very hard about letting in any Muslims, all of this would slow the rate at which whites are becoming a minority.

Eddie Huang: 13:35

Why are you so worried about the white dispossession of America?

Jared Taylor: 13:38

Because I want my people to survive. Is that so strange? We don't control China. We don't control any place where whites are not a majority, and if we become a minority, we will not control our own destiny anymore.

Eddie Huang: 13:52

I grew up in this country as a minority, as the children of immigrants. I was their first child born in America and while I didn't have much possession or didn't much control, I really enjoyed myself and I think that if you ask a lot of Americans, they would say that I had a lot to offer this country. You know, according to you, I guess I would be perpetuating the dispossession of white America. That is true. That is true. Would you say that you wouldn't want me in this country?

Jared Taylor: 14:22

At some point.

Eddie Huang: 14:33

At some point, when my ancestors built this nation, they did not build it with the intention of giving it away to Mexicans or Chinese or Haitians or to anyone else. Do you consider it? You keep saying your ancestors built this country. You consider that a fact? Who else built it? Black people, native Americans, chinese people who came and built the railroads?

Jared Taylor: 14:45

Do you think none of that could have been a Italian people, but they're. Europeans, aren't they? But you believe in evolution. Right Evolution, I think, explains a great deal.

Eddie Huang: 14:54

So, according to evolutionary theory, we're all out of Africa. So at some point your ancestors were sub-Saharan Africans. So what?

Jared Taylor: 15:02

At some point, our ancestors were unicellular animals.

Eddie Huang: 15:06

So I'm saying, at any point in time we could say you were an African. So you're choosing to pick this point in time and say you're a descendant of white Europeans. Why do you think I'm choosing this point in time? Because it's in favor of your politics, it's because I'm alive now. My issue with you is that I don't think you have enough compassion and vision, not because I don't like what things are now.

Aliya Cheyanne: 15:38

It's that I have hope and belief in what they could be. Rather than the nation atone for its sins, rather than allow the country to become more brown, naturally White fear, fragility and rage would rather harm everyone than see itself end. And so here we are. I'm also reconsidering a lot of things right now, like for the last few years. I've had an issue with the phrase people of color, and when I mean black, I do my best to say black, or, if I'm trying to be more inclusive, I do my best to say BIPOC, like black and indigenous people of color. But I still talk about black people when and where I can, and like the phrase people of color, poc, who and what it represents, continues to remind me that we are not all in this together. This election is evidence of that. Additionally, white people continue to show their ass constantly. They don't learn, and you know.

Aliya Cheyanne: 16:40

Black women have been expressing our grievances with Black men and the ways that many of them continue to fail us, and although 80-ish percent of the Black men who showed up to vote voted for Kamala, far too many didn't vote at all. Not only was their silence deafening, it cemented many of the feelings of frustration and hurt for us. I was just on a call with 50 plus other Black women recently and one of them shared that she has never felt protected by the men in her life not her father, not her uncles, not partners and after this election, she fears she never will Like. Asking if and how you voted has already been a deal breaker for many, but it's become an even bigger deal breaker for so many more after this election. People are expressing their frustrations around people not voting at all or voting third party or the Democratic Party's terrible strategy terrible strategy and although they had to consolidate a two-year campaign into a hundred plus day campaign, listening to the people would have helped a lot. There's also the important issue that no candidate was ultimately viable due to their stance on Palestine, and that was a huge dividing factor for a lot of people not everyone, but for a lot of people. I'm personally embarrassed by a number of those things and beyond. I think the election was rigged and the results were tampered with, and I think that will eventually come to light. I'm all for black women tapping out and resting. However, the trends going around online right now to flood Starbucks with support or calling ICE on people is diabolical beneath us and ultimately doesn't target the real enemy. All of that being said, this election was a battle in a longer war, and that war is not over. That war will continue for decades to come, as policies change, as generations change, as climate change ranges on and so on and so forth. All I know is that Black women are being reminded to rest, to dream, to return to their original spiritual practices, to build and grow community with each other.

Aliya Cheyanne: 19:03

I've been lucky enough to have really incredible guests on this show, like Ebony Janice Moore, like LaVon Briggs, like Ashante Renee, like Jennifer Roberts and so many more. I encourage you to revisit those episodes or listen to them for the first time, if you haven't before. Ebony Janice has made post-election posts that I think are worth your time, and I'll be sure to link them in the show notes. Lavon Briggs did as well. She actually posted a carousel that I think is so special, and I want to share that with you now. Lavon writes Deep, cleansing breath, rub one out, shower, soak, nourish, hydrate, puff, ingest, frolic, Rest.

Aliya Cheyanne: 19:55

The exit polls, the POC in quotes, the think pieces, the hot takes these things don't deserve your energy. They feed off of your life force and drain your energy. They feed off of your life force and drain your energy. Your feelings matter. Your feelings are valid, your grief is sacred, your rage is holy. They are not the end. This is the time for alchemy. You cannot alchemize what you do not face. This election energy is heavy and potent. I am shocked, but not surprised, and you shouldn't be either.

Aliya Cheyanne: 20:33

This country was built on abuse and power and domination, and as a new world emerges, the old one is grasping for control. The rise of the Aquarian age means new systems and ways of being. The old system is throwing a tantrum. Ground yourself in your indigenous practices. Spiritual tools and technology and ancient knowing Nature, ritual and community are the holy trinity in African traditional religions and spiritual systems. Go to the water, set your intentions, sift through your contacts. You need divine wisdom and active discernment to take inspired action. Community is currency. The term has been overused and oversimplified. Now is the time to investigate your acquaintances, connect with like-minded individuals and circles and pool your spiritual, social and tangible resources. This ain't new. It's just now. My ancestors survived worse than this and they still managed to make love, pray, laugh and dream. I will do the same. This is not the end. This is actually the beginning. What we are witnessing in the physical realm has already happened in the spiritual realm. We're catching up. What is your role in the revolution realm has already happened in the spiritual realm. We're catching up. What is your role in the revolution? The divine feminine is here and we want our stuff back. Alchemists arise, healers awaken. This is our time Again.

Aliya Cheyanne: 22:05

That was a post by LaVon Breaks. I will link it in the show notes so that you can revisit it as many times as you need to, and I also highly recommend that you tune into the episode we have in the show with LaVon Briggs. If you haven't already. It'll be linked in the show notes. My mentor and friend, ashante Rene, is the one who organized and held the space for over 50 Black women to show up and grieve and vent and connect. I urge you to revisit our episode with Ashante Rene, which is also linked in the show notes. Chimdi Ehazie, who's also been a guest on the show, bared witness to my grief and my rage recently and held me in her thoughts enough to share another virtual space. That happened recently. Another account that I really like on Instagram is Glow's account, aka Glow Graphics, and she made a post recently that I thought was really powerful. I'll link it in the show notes, but I'm also going to read it here To the 51% of Americans who did this to us you helped a country rooted in the principles of white supremacy default back to its factory settings.

Aliya Cheyanne: 23:19

We fight for equity. You fight for power. We are not the same. The uneducated majority don't want a president for all. We are not the same. The uneducated majority don't want a president for all. They want a president for them. It's not just politics, it's principle, it's personal. America enabled, empowered and elected the bully. We have many stains on our flag, but this one feels unwashable. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not exclusive American values. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not exclusive American values. I exercised optimism. Now I'm exercising options To the Black women starting their expatriate journey.

Aliya Cheyanne: 24:01

I promise you there are countries that celebrate and support us in ways America could never. America could never Indonesia, thailand, japan, ghana, sri Lanka, turkey, bulgaria, portugal, ireland, slovenia and Senegal, to name a few. It's not about the grass being greener. It's about the grass not being fertilized with manure to the likes of a 34-count convicted criminal and sexual abuser. Yet one out of every two white Americans you know, voted for that Child. They ain't the only one, because Latin slash Latino people for Trump crazy work. Anyway, y'all share all this to say that community looks different for everyone. But trust that we need it. We need it the communities that can hold our emotions, the communities that understand gardening and medicine and foraging and so much more.

Aliya Cheyanne: 25:02

I'm personally leaning heavily on my spiritual practices and my bloodline. As Black people, we have survived so much worse than this. Survival is literally coded in our DNA. Fortunately or unfortunately, our ancestors know the way and they can show us the way if we allow them to. So I'm channeling mine. I'm channeling the ones who are calm and soothing and have mastered nervous system regulation, and I'm also channeling the ones who have reveled in cutting heads off during times of revolution. That's what I got for duality and that's what I personally mean when I say we contain multitudes. I feel like it was really appropriate in many ways for me to replay the episode about death recently, because in many ways, this election felt like a death. But, as many of us understand, death is not the end. Death is but a moment in the cycle or in the spiral, and through the darkness of death we are reborn.

Aliya Cheyanne: 26:05

Before we close out this episode, I wanted to share that I have some new episodes dropping for you for the next few weeks. They are going to be a little shorter than they've been in the past. They're short but sweet episodes and we'll be doubling up the next few weeks to compensate for the length, but I'm excited for these episodes to go live for you. Be sure that you're following the show on your favorite podcast platform so that you're always notified when a new episode drops, and subscribe to the podcast channel on YouTube. Thank you for taking some time to sit with me during this very heavy week. I invite you to share your thoughts and your feelings with me as well. You can always let me know what you're thinking and how you're feeling in a text to the show, leaving a five-star rating and positive written review, or in the comments on Spotify and YouTube.

Aliya Cheyanne: 26:54

I hope that you're doing whatever you need to do for yourself, for your community this week and going forward. We haven't done any mental health tips of the week in a very long time, but I want to remind you of several In this season. Please surround yourself with community, lean on the circle you feel safest with and if you don't have that. Seek spaces that can substitute. New and existing communities are popping up everywhere for Black women to mourn and grieve and restore each other, so please find yours. I know isolation feels safe in this season, especially when you're confused about who you can trust right now, but trust that your community is seeking you too, so please surround yourself with community when and where you can.

Aliya Cheyanne: 27:47

I'm reminding you to connect with nature. This is important. Visit a beach, if you can, or a pool if that's easier. A stream, a creek, river, lake, whatever. Cry, float, be present. Touch grass if you can. Let the sun shine on you and be very present with its warmth against your skin. Be present with your body, move and shift the energy. Stretch, do yoga, work out, do whatever movement feels possible in your body. Move your body, move the energy If you believe in something.

Aliya Cheyanne: 28:26

Pray, meditate on the health, wellness and safety of yourself and your sisters and fems for the long road ahead. Cry, scream, rage, ground, play, rest and find joy when and where you can. We gon' be alright, no matter what y'all we always are. Feel your feelings, let go. Don't be so quick to rush past them, to fix them, to solve them, to distract yourself from them to move on to the next thing Feel your feelings. The only way out is through Feel your feelings. Before we head out completely, I want to play a piece by Jasmine, aka Jasmine's Garden. Jasmine is a spiritualist and a spiritualist consultant and has a pretty big platform on TikTok and Instagram, and she wrote this piece and composed this piece a while back and recently revisited it post-election and I want to play it here because I want to leave you on high note so that you're reminded that you're loved and we will be okay. So much love to you, friend. Talk to you again soon.

Ebony Jasmine Harris: 29:46

Black woman, you are the one they've tried to imitate. Soon, black woman. You are the one they've tried to imitate. Black woman, you are the voice of faith and the voice of fate. Black woman, they know you can destroy as well as you create. Black woman, do not try to entertain their mediocre race. No, black woman, because you can run faster, you might as well run farther. Yeah, black woman, if you can stand prouder, go ahead. Smile unbothered. Black woman, you will constantly achieve and exceed all their expectation.

Aliya Cheyanne: 30:19

Black woman, if you don't know, it by now.

Ebony Jasmine Harris: 30:21

You are the reason for their hesitation. Black woman, you too have forgotten. You are mother of all. Black woman, because they don't uplift you, watch how they shall fall. Black woman, stop trying to carry the weight of their sickened world. Black woman, remind them your name is God and no, they can't call you girl. Black woman, they need to hear your war cry. Black woman, you must let all of them down before you. Let us die. Black women, we are the reset. Black women, we are the revival. Black woman, you are the author of creation. Do not let them teach you survival. Black woman, you pick your head up. Don't you ever bow. Black woman, your time has always been and it is still now. Black woman, do not let them try to dumb you down in their conversation.

Ebony Jasmine Harris: 31:16

Black woman, you are the most educated demographic in the nation. Black woman, you are the source of this world's magic and they can't replace you. Black woman, your track record is in your blood and that's why they keep trying to erase you. Black woman, your track record is in your blood and that's why they keep trying to erase you. Black woman, they're gonna taint your beauty, but promote it and sell it to everyone else. Black woman, they're gonna hate you because your greatest power is the love that you could have for yourself.

Ebony Jasmine Harris: 31:40

Black woman, you are the reason the sun of the east shines in the morning, when it rises. Black woman, you are the reason the sun of the west touches the waters on the horizon. Black woman, your tears of rage and wrath would fuel the seven seas. Black woman, you could level their lands, reclaim your throne, and they would bow to thee. Black woman, everything that moves came through you, Mother first. Black woman, your fear is the byproduct of you not knowing your fucking worth. Black woman, your essence gave birth to the stars that shine in the sky at night. Black woman, everything we've created is going to be in vain if we don't stand up and fight. Black woman, they need to hear our war cry. Black woman, you must let all of them down before you let us die. Black woman, you are the reset. Black woman, I am the revival. Black woman, we are the authors of creation. Do not let them teach you survival. America, America has a problem.