Ending vs Evolution: A Message From the Blogmother Emeritus
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:38AM The Blogmother Ha! In my post Bowing Out of the Black Community's Reindeer Games, I mentioned for the first time on the blog that I'm retiring from blogging here are WAOD. I've mentioned it several times over on the WAOD Facebook Fan Page- which is why you need to "like" the WAOD Fan Page- I give all kinds of behind the scenes insights that won't ever make the blog.
Anywhoo- In came the eulogies for the Blogmother. So young. So gifted. So Black. So tragic. Sorry to bust your bubbles, but I'm not beat down. I'm not tired. Nobody is running me off. If that was the case, I'd stay out of pure stubbornness. Five years ago God told me to write a complaint letter to the world and I started by asking a questions- What About Our Daughters? I would certainly hope that after five years, I would have gotten some answers.
I'm rolling up outta here like Oprah. I want all the fanfare that this blogging community deserves. I'm reserving the United Center right now so we can hold a two day good bye celebration. National Blogmother Appreciation Week! Okay that's a bit much- but you get my drift. I learned what I was supposed to learn. Hopefully over the next few months, we have about 8 weeks until we reach 5 years, I'll share some more things that I learned.
My favorite characters in the Bible are the Children of Israel. My Mama, the Sunday school teacher, and I used to debate their journey in the desert. When I was a young professional, she used them as a teaching tool and compared my life as a young adult to the children of Israel. Being the professional Sunday school agitator that she raised me to be, I replied "but they ran around in the circle for 40 years- I can't wait that long!"
Does anyone remember in the Bible where the Children of Israel became navigationally challenged? God tells them to go and occupy Canaan so they send 12 spies. The 12 spies come back and tell everybody that God must be wrong because the people on the other side of the hill are giants. God told them to move and they didn't, so they got sent to wander around in a circle for 40 years. They walked around in a circle for 40 years because they LISTENED TO THE WRONG PEOPLE!
God /The Universe/ The Power Greater than myself has clearly indicated that it's time for me to travel to new territory and I'm smart enough to know when NOT to argue. Even when I'm tempted to argue, I've gotten incrediblly CLEAR signs that I really do need to move on. As I told my Mama over a decade ago, I don't want to wander around in a circle for 40 years- in other words, I don't want to waste my life doing anything other than what I was destined to do- when I was destined to do it. I was born to blog... but I was also born to do other things.
I'm only sharing this with you to dispel a few myths that were revealed in some of your premature Blogmother eulogies:
- A lot of you REALLY do believe that every Black woman's life is a tragedy.
- A lot of you REALLY believe that any Black woman who performs any service that might benefit other Black people is A) a fool, B) beat down or C) destined to be a mule.
- A lot of you Really believe that this blog has sucked the life out of me.
- A lot of you believe that if someone is good at something, they must do that for the rest of their lives.
You can live a life of service to other people that does not consume you. The Black women who are most in a position to help someone else are Black women who AREN'T living tragic lives. You are in charge of erecting and maintaining boundaries with everyone you encounter. If you are a mule, its because you didn't kick folks in the head when they tried to hop on your back. If they are already on your back, lie down and refuse to move- lazy people will find another mule- why? because they are lazy. You can be good at lots of things and you should try them all. While at times challenging, for the most part, this blog has been pure joy. Something amazing happened socially and technologically in 2007 and I was in the middle of that. Very few people get to participate in historical inflexion points. I got it then- I get it MORE now.
So I appreciate the eulogies, but I'm not laying down my sword... I'm just expanding my arsenal. And if these sad sack blog eulogies are any indication, that's a good thing. I never started this blog to be a big cyber pity party. Go read the archives! We've always been irreverent around here. We've always been adventurous. We've always been creative and innovative. And quite frankly, I've always liked the cliff diving aspects of some of our hijinks over the past 5 years. Time to jump off of some higher cliffs.
Sometimes a transition is not an end, its an evolution.
Yours in the struggle,
The Blogmother Emeritus
P.S. BET's Debra Lee has to be considered the Fairy Godmother of this blog. If she had not hired such truly incompetent PR people, no one would have ever known my name in 2007. Talk about enemies becoming your foot stool. Look at GOD!
10 Comments | Share Article
Reader Comments (10)
Hi, Ms. Gina,
I just wanted to say that I will TRULY miss your posts. You have kept me informed about events that the mainstream media wants to sweep under the rug, and you have raised my consciousness on many issues. Thank you so much, and I wish God's blessings for you in your future endeavors.
Mrs. Gina,
I so admire your self awareness. I hope this serves as a example to others. I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors.
When it's time it's time. Peace!
I don't do Facebook. I do NOT trust Zuckerburg. So, I will miss your call to arms on various issues. I loved this blog but I do understand that good things do not always last forever.
The enemies of this blog are breathing a sigh of relief. You were their conscious for so many years. Granted, they hated it but someone as smart, tactical and focused as you were made them better human beings.
Sadly, I don't think there's a blog out here that is as funny, smart, aggressive, well written, uncompromising and laser sharp focus on defending black women. I actually miss the podcast days!
Whenever, you will retire you will be missed. It's kinda like the Cosby show. There's not been another show as good as that one since.
Gina, your thought-provoking posts and the conversations that followed really lead to significant changes in my life. This is not hyperbole. Let me give you one example. You were one of the only bloggers screaming into the darkness about Genarlow Wilson. I began to ask why other "leaders" were attempting to shape that narrative and intentionally mislead viewers and listeners about what happened and who this young man was. I began paying attention to how media distorts most stories to fit carefully constructed narratives. What was shocking was that this happened in black media, white media, conservative media, the liberal media, with right wing pundits and left wing pundits. We are being spoon-fed what to think and our ability to feed ourselves and reason critically is diminishing daily. I began to read (again) and I became so disgusted that I did something I'd never those I'd do: I left the Democratic Party. That's right, I'm a registered Independent now and supporter of third party candidates who are in line with my views. You see, Democrats are holding us hostage, advocacy for black women and girls will never be a priority. Until we stop feeding into the narrative of the pathological black woman by supporting Democratic candidates who don't support us, watching shows like the Braxtons, sacrificing ourselves so black men can prosper, listening to Steve Harvey and Tom Joyner, we will continue to be trampled upon.
I also want you to know that I'm also self-employed now simply because I wanted more control of my life and my destiny.
Godspeed, Gina. I'm truly one sister who saw the light because of your blog.
Blogmother -
Thanks much for this blog - it has been the cyber LEADER in defending Black women in America. The thought provoking, emotional topics on WAOD have spearheaded a lot of Black women into action to improve their, and other Black women's daily lives, images, and worth in real life outside the blogosphere. Black women like me, who in the mid-2000's, wondered WHY it seemed that no one else could see the concerted attacks and blatant disregard against Black women in American society - from entertainment venues, the mainstream media, and even within our own communities, and among our own Black people themselves.
Like I said, you don't realize how many Black women you have spearheaded to take action against these attacks, so I say a big "Thank You!" And no, you are not a mule if you live a full life, but know that as a Black woman you, and we - are worth defending.
I hope that you will still be available to participate in forums or as a speaker sometimes - will you have an email address where we can stay in touch with you and make speaker requests?
BTW, it seems as if the "Create Post" button on here is not working correctly. Only once i hit the "preview post" button first did I have the opportunity to submit this comment. Thought you may want to know in case others are experiencing the same difficulty.
Enjoy retirement, Blogmother!
All I can say is, good luck with your future endeavors. I have learned a lot from reading your blog.
Thank you for your advocacy. This post is reflective of my own life as welll. Let's move forward and out. Godspeed and love.
Blog Mother,
I don't consider this goodbye because I know you are moving on to bigger and better things. I can't wait to see what your future plans are. Do I smell a movie or documentary in your future? If so please make sure to let us know....
Blog mommy, your blog has truly been a courageous blessing to us all, as many have already said. I really hate to see you leave this blog and I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THIS WORK CAN BE PASSED ON TO SOMEONE ELSE AS CAPABLE, FEARLESS AS YOU. Strong steps to follow behind, but I really hope that is possible. :)
The sad thing is that your blog has been more courageous, steadfast and focused in defending and affirming all women of African descent than all of our many women's organizations; that's a plus for you, but a sad commentary about all the women's organizations we have, including those of the CRIC, etc.
Like so many others, I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors and I look forward to your new and exciting projects. With Warm Sisterly Affection . . . .
The fact of the matter is that when we focus on the negative, we cant help but get negativity. I appreciate that you felt the need to call out the fools of this world and point out their foolishness. The thing about it is Fools aint nothing new, and foolishness aint go nevah die! This is the facts of life on planet earth. Its never good to focus on the negative because it grows exponentially when we do. There are a number of bloggers out there who've made it their mission to point out the ridiculous, as though some how their pointing it out would eradicate it. Sorry to say, they are retiring as well. "I'm speaking truth" blog for example. And that's a good thing, if they move towards fighting to show the positive - so that it can grow exponentially instead. Lets remember, the fools dont listen to the wise, and that's why they are fools. And its alright to say that fools will beat you down with their foolishness. When you pick up your sword, make sure you're fighting FOR something - that's very well defined. If youre fighting for black women - then choose your battle because we are not a monolith. But dont get mad at us because it's not our faults. PS: Dont dive off cliffs because you're better than that. Go to the valley and work it out in your chosen place and space. We need you to survive but you have to work from a position of love and not hate. Blessings