It took a long time to get to this point.
A long time before I could look in the mirror
See my body and smile
A long time before I would not run quickly to cover my body
For the fear that if I lingered too long
I would see the things I did not like about myself
Self-love is a long process of undoing
Undoing the myths of black unloveability
Undoing fatphobia
Undoing the trauma of racism, colonialism and genocide
-undoing the myths that made me hate to be called Baartman.
The misogynoir that made black womxn the most imitated and yet reviled,
Self-love is also becoming
Being truthful
Loving and living in your magic
Recognising your flaws
-not believing that you are unworthy because of your flaws.
Self-love as undoing and becoming
is coming home to yourself.
Images by Mamello Mosiana
billowingembers.wordpress.com 