A Prayer for the Black woman who has reached her limit:

God, deliver me from the systems that wish to do violence against my Black body.

Deliver me from those who further that violence in spaces that claim to be fighting against it.

Deliver me from the walls I’ve put up to hide this truth— I’ll never be enough for them.

Deliver me from the pain of being discarded when I begin to say aloud how much it hurt.

Deliver me into safe & loving community, where I can be whole. Where becoming more myself does not draw me into isolation.

Deliver me into my humanity, & where I cannot be soft, be my shield.

Deliver me into the places where dark skin is lovely &thick thighs are beautiful.

Deliver me into shameless devotion to my self-care & into shame-free exploration of my desires & dreams.

Deliver me away from the silence that hates me & towards the quiet that leaves space for me to expand.

Deliver me on your shoulders so that I might rest my own.

Amen & Ashè.