#black exceptionalism

World-class performer and storyteller she may be, but paragon she is not.

Aabria Iyengar is a trailblazer.

Aabria’s stated mission is to “be everywhere” so Black people can see ourselves represented in TTRPG and actual play spaces. Every time she kicks a door down, she does so knowing she has also made a way for other Black people as well. Where she goes, she expects others to follow.

To rave that she has no equal is to suggest that no other Black person is or ever will be good enough to follow in her footsteps.

To laud her as unparalleled is to block every Aabria-shaped hole in every door she’s ever busted through by hanging a "Must Be This Talented to Enter" sign above each and every single one of them.

To place her upon the pedestal of Black exceptionalism is to assert that the only reason she has been capable of breaking down door after door after door is because she is somehow different or better than the rest of us.

This counterfactual anti-Black sentiment is so insidious that it is even believed by aspiring Black performers who then repeat it while speaking deprecatingly of themselves and their own capacity to grow as artists, effectively countermanding the clarion call Aabria Iyengar’s intentional representation could have been were it not for the self-fulfilling prophecy that they will never be good enough clouding their minds.

Fuck. 👏🏾

That. 👏🏾

Noise. 👏🏾

You might ask me, will writing a long Tumblr post actually stop any of this from continuing to happen?

Of course not.

If you do not know your history, you will suffer at the hands of racism, discrimination and microaggressions.

You will experience self-hate, low self-esteem and hatred towards your own people. And you will never know why. You will want to be white, hate your hair, and make fun of the nose and lips that are so characteristic of us.

After you study, listen and learn, you will realize that all those feelings were a byproduct of assimilation. Of trying to fit into a white world with white standards that cut you out from the beginning.

When you understand that, you will stop trying so hard to fit in and instead you'll be yourself and walk into your power. Most importantly you will see your beauty!! And the beauty of others like you. And you will teach others too.

Don't underestimate the power of education. Although it does not protect you from suffering discrimination it will protect you from absorbing it and believing it.

This is for the girls who love a slow morning but also want to {Get Their Shit Together}. Sunday resets are my favorite form of routine. It may not happen every time just because of my work schedule. But hopefully this can be a beginners cheat sheet for someone else. This also works if your going through seasonal depression to start off in good spirits for the week while re-creating your routine. Also I split this up into two days just for the sake of it not being overwhelming. Remember baby steps. So if you are struggling maybe do three things on the list to start off, and add a new one every week). Some things will change depending on your reg. day lifestyle. Do what works for you.

Wake up in your own time. ( Let your body wake up naturally but still try to wake up before 10, we don't want the day to slide by)

Open your curtains and make your bed. (Regardless of whether you will get back in it later)

Drink some lemon water, then your tea or coffee.

Sit down and enjoy the morning.

Journal/meditate/do affirmations.

Watch a sermon, listen to a podcast, read or watch positive videos on Youtube. (Positivity is key) {My faves: Geranika Mycia, Face Over Matter, Sarah Jakes Roberts}

Work out (if its one of your workout days) or rest (if its a rest day)

Eat breakfast.

Hygiene (shower, skincare, teeth, hair {if its a wash day} ) (I usually just do my brows on these days, it just makes me feel good)

Put on some feel good clothes. (I like sweatpants or baggy jeans, a tank top and a fluffy/thick cardigan or some leggings, a tank top, and some thick socks with a fluffy cardigan or maybe even a oversized button up)

Go food shopping. (make sure you eat and make a list before you go. Be intentional with what your getting. Make a meal plan for the week. Maybe take a snack with you and some water. I try to plan for at least 3-4 days. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.)

Buy yourself some flowers. (if you like them, if flowers aren't your thing maybe try a new candle that you can burn for the week)

Go home, start your meal prep. (I do this by either watching something on my iPad or listening to music.)

Do laundry. (If you do this every Sunday it won't build up and you can also always see your options.)

Get clothes out for the week and hang them up. (Iron if you need to also)

Clean your space.(Put things away, vacuum, sweep/mop) If you do this at the end of every week things won't build up and be overwhelming, remember we are trying to makes things easier for ourselves.

Plan and schedule out your week. (I like to write everything out but you can also put it in your phone)

Prepare/eat dinner. (sit and only focus on this moment)

Hygiene prep for bed. Put on some comfy PJ's.

Have some tea or a snack.

Watch a good light show.

Lay down and get some rest. (Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep)

✨**Some other ideas for a Sunday: (because self care is a broad topic)**✨

Go out to dinner alone. (or with close friends)

Go to a book store for a hour or two. (I love a good book store, I will sit in there, put on some music, and write in my planner/journal, people watch and drink coffee.)

Go to a coffee shop.

Go to Target (Restoration Hardware or Crate and Barrel or CB2). (I love walking around in Target, looking at décor, and manifesting for dream future apartment.)

Take a walk/go to a park.

Dance alone in your house. (This can be your workout)

Do self maintenance (nails, lashes, laser hair removal, hair)

Make a manifestation mood board.

Try a new recipe.

Go get cookies from a bakery. (or bake some)

Make a charcuterie board and watch a movie (or binge watch a new series)

Ain't no black girls Nathan could crush on?

This what be pissing me off about them casting black leads on majority white shows. They be the ONLY black person. It forces this exceptional negro air over everything.

Then the black person be going through stuff and the racial implications be out of this world. It's looking like Nathan is being hate-crimed at home and school and no one is doing anything about it. Then they all other him constantly. If he defends himself it's gonna be, "the scary black man attacked a white kid. We told you he was evil from the start."

I know it's like this because the UK doesn't have the budgets that America has so they aren't going to risk casting more than one black person as the lead on a show because then it's a "Black" show and white people aren't going to tune in. It's the same in America but we get a few "Black" shows to make it not as obnoxious.