Simone Gillon

So this past weekend I shaved my hair. I didn’t realize how much weight it held until a ton of black men called me out for cutting my Afro off and then not liking my new style.

Here I am, a black woman who chose to do something for her once and being free. I didn’t really realize how much women are held accountable for the little things, let alone black women.

As a black woman, I’m held to a standard that’s impossible to reach. My body is held to standards that are either not good enough or too good to be point it’s stripped away by culture vultures.

This is said one too many times but unfortunately, it’s hard being a black woman. You have to work not twice, but three times as hard to just get an ounce of respect from not only our community but those who want to see us fail. It hurts that we have to work so hard and we get so little in return. It seems as though…we can never win. It’s always those who claim they are so “woke” and “here” but will turn around and knock us down 10 notches.

Black women hold so much charm and magic and I am so thrilled everytime I see a care-free black girl or woman.

We live in a time when so so so (I cannot stress it enough) black women are choosing to express themselves freely and not really caring about what anyone thinks. It’s such a beautiful moment and I live for them. I’m apart of them. I encourage them.

I can’t write for all black women and our experiences, only mine. I can only talk about what I’ve felt and experienced in my 24 years of life. I still have so much life to live, I still have a journey to go through and I still have a ton of experiences to live. I’m ready for it, or at least I think I am.

I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants and that I have my ancestors protecting me through it all. Black women are some (if not all) strongest women I know. We endure so much pain, process and heartache and we almost never complain about it. Why? Because of our strength and willingness to want better not only for ourselves but for our loved ones.

Black women, I love you.

I’m here for you.

I care for you.

I hear you.

I see you.

-Simone Gilon