By Ourselves
Empowering Echoes: Blood Orange's Anthem of Self-Love and Feminism
Lyrics
Oh
Expression of surprise or realization.
They took and skinned my name
Feeling of personal identity being violated or stripped away.
Try to raise the feeling
Attempting to evoke emotions or sensations.
I saw right through, tried to love them
Seeing through insincerity and trying to love despite it.
They threw it in your face, tell you what you're feeling
Others dismissing or negating your emotions.
How could they know?
Raising doubt about others' understanding of one's experiences.
It's what they read
Referring to information absorbed from external sources.
So when you see her cry, always nothing new
Observing emotional pain as a familiar and recurring occurrence.
It's how we could all by ourselves
Emphasizing self-reliance and independence.
A twenty-six year old woman who learned how to dance until she felt pretty
Narrating the experience of a woman finding self-worth through dancing.
Feminism wears a throwback jersey, bamboo earrings, and a face beat for the gods
Describing the outward appearance associated with feminist identity.
Feminism is Da Brat, Missy Elliot, Lil Kim, and Angie Martinez on the "Not Tonight" track
Listing influential female figures in the music industry and their empowerment.
Feminism says as a woman in my arena you are not my competition
Asserting that women should support each other, not compete.
As a woman in my arena your light doesn't make mine any dimmer
Stating that one woman's success doesn't diminish another's.
Dear Missy
Addressing Missy Elliott directly, acknowledging her impact.
I did not grow up to be you
Affirming individuality and not imitating others.
But I did grow up to be me
Growing into one's authentic self rather than emulating someone else.
And to be in love with who this woman is
Expressing self-love and acceptance of one's identity.
To be a woman playing a man's game
Navigating and succeeding in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
And not be apologetic about any of it
Being unapologetic about breaking gender norms and expectations.
If you ask me why representation is important
Highlighting the importance of diverse representation.
I will tell you that on the days I don't feel pretty
Connecting representation to self-esteem and feeling attractive.
I hear the sweet voice of Missy singing to me
Recalling Missy Elliott's empowering lyrics during moments of insecurity.
Pop that, pop that, jiggle that fat
Quoting lyrics that promote body positivity and confidence.
Don't stop, get it till your clothes get wet
Continuing the quote, encouraging perseverance until success.
I will tell you that right now there are a million black girls
Stressing the need for diverse role models for black girls.
Just waiting to see someone who looks like them
Anticipating the positive impact of representation for black girls.
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