Stepping into my rebirth as a Black girl has been a self-discovery. I have always been different, authentically me, and not to what society tries to check every Black girl into a box. Those stereotypes don’t define me. It has always been my mission to change the narrative and express how many levels there are to embrace who I am. There are so many identities within my identity that trying to categorize myself or live up to the expectations of what others may think of me doesn’t matter anymore.

Tapping into alignment and understanding Jenay 360 was a priority of mine. I redefined my own identity and unapologetically stood in who I was. I am weird, talkative, sensitive, outgoing, clumsy, soft, resilient, caring and spunky. There was so much diversity within my identity that I couldn’t possibly try to limit myself anymore. I never understood why there was so much pressure on labels and having to only confine myself. You could not shackle me as an individual and take away who I was. We go through changes and life situations that contribute to who we are. Identity can change.

There is a plethora of identities and that’s just the way it is. Whoever doesn’t like it is tough, because ideally you have to walk in your own shoes and if you don’t present yourself the way you want to. Who are you living for? Self-discovery is an important chapter to go through, sitting with yourself and being able to be self-aware and in your own energy.

As I watch Insecure, I see so much of myself in Issa Rae. She created this space and narrative so that the world can see that there are awkward Black Girls. I am one of them and we are lit. Growing up, of course, I was called an Oreo because somehow when people saw me they saw a Black White Girl which I couldn’t understand. My likings were multifaceted. I never understood how I could act white or Black. I was never acting. I was always true to who I was. And unfortunately, I did allow that concept to control who I was and constantly overthink and overanalyze me. Which was mind-blowing. I wasn’t comfortable with myself and my skin.

My own skin I didn’t feel it was enough that I would try so hard to be the standard Black Girl media projected to us. We see most Black characters portrayed in a light of “angry, opinionated, loud, headed and most of all always in some drama” The importance of media is to showcase all versions of the walks in life. But we always saw the same, even in cartoons. I began putting on a facade and I had to look in the mirror like we have to do better. It made it worse because others knew I wasn’t being myself. I was obsessed with Paris Hilton, I loved her lifestyle, and how she did whatever she wanted. I never looked at her race but who she presented herself as. I also appreciated women like Tiffany Pollard from New York because she was classy, a go-getter, and could tell anyone and everyone like it is.

I always just wanted to be me and that was enough. But when you are insecure and not confident enough to know that you are who you are and spend too much time caring it takes away from your individuality.

I loved being a Black woman, my coils, my skin, my history, and my culture. I loved seeing Black people win. Issa said it herself, I was rooting for anyone Black. That also meant looking deeper within and understanding that meant rooting for myself

. The effects of societal standards on my community are tough and they take a toll on our self worth. And let me be the one to tell you, be the version of you that sits well with your soul. If it takes realignment, reflection, and a rebirth.

Do not put yourself on the back burner, any longer homegirl.