The Voice of theThe Voice of the

Single Black FemaleSingle Black Female

Kelly BurtonKelly Burton

Women’s VoicesWomen’s Voices

What are the concerns of What are the concerns of the single black woman?the single black woman?

The same concerns of a The same concerns of a married white woman….married white woman….

… … cast in a different light, cast in a different light, and expressed in a and expressed in a different way.different way.

What does an “overweight” British spinster have to do

with all of this?

                                                      

Dear Diary:Dear Diary:

In the terror of this storm, I was finally able In the terror of this storm, I was finally able to tell Tea Cake how I feel. The look on his to tell Tea Cake how I feel. The look on his face when he realized I love him as he loves face when he realized I love him as he loves me was unforgettable.me was unforgettable. - - JanieJanie

“We’ve been tuhgether round two years. If you kin see de light at day break, you don’t keer if you die at dusk… Ah was fumblin’ around and God opened de door.”

Romance & True Love

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: There was something about There was something about that minister that made me that minister that made me believe in someday – one believe in someday – one when the eyes staring behind when the eyes staring behind me would be looking on in me would be looking on in envy and respect. So much envy and respect. So much for someday- for someday- Etta MaeEtta Mae

“Being a woman alone, it seems all the more hard. Sometimes you don’t know where to turn.”

Sex

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: I think I made a new friend at the shop I think I made a new friend at the shop today. Bernadine seems really bored with today. Bernadine seems really bored with her life, and I can relate. BWOTM is just the her life, and I can relate. BWOTM is just the thing she needs. Itthing she needs. It

When people sat in her chair, they usually told Gloria all of their business.

Beauty – Inner & Outer

always makes me feel like always makes me feel like I’m doing something I’m doing something worthwhile. worthwhile. - Gloria - Gloria

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: I got the producing I got the producing job! The application job! The application process was grueling, process was grueling, but I showed those but I showed those people who was the people who was the best. Maybe Arizona best. Maybe Arizona wasn’t such a bad idea wasn’t such a bad idea after all… Savannahafter all… Savannah

“I pictured myself doing this job, girl. I wouldn’t let that image go for anything.”

Career Success

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: The settlement came through The settlement came through today, and it’s huge. There are so today, and it’s huge. There are so many dreams to make reality – many dreams to make reality – starting with the kids, then on to starting with the kids, then on to my friends. - Berniemy friends. - Bernie

Now it seemed as if they’d all won the lottery, and as far as Bernadine was concerned, they had..

Friendship & Sisterhood

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: This visit with Ma This visit with Ma & Daddy was & Daddy was downright downright depressing. He is depressing. He is getting worse and getting worse and she is getting she is getting worn. I wish I worn. I wish I could do more to could do more to help… Robinhelp… Robin

This whole ordeal has drained us both, but at least my daddy’s at peace now… My mother needs me. And I’m pretty sure I need her.

Parents

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: My Cocoa is My Cocoa is standing on a shrill standing on a shrill line between life line between life andand

“Baby Girl is the closest thing I have to calling a child my own… There ain’t no mama who coulda felt more pain or pride for her when she was coming up – do you understand?

Children

death, and I will move heaven, hell, death, and I will move heaven, hell, and earth to see that she lands on the and earth to see that she lands on the right side. - Mirandaright side. - Miranda

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: Now that I have Imani settled into a Now that I have Imani settled into a routine, it’s time for me to set these routine, it’s time for me to set these other little girls straight. Without a other little girls straight. Without a means to safe sex, they’re headed for means to safe sex, they’re headed for more disaster… Joycemore disaster… Joyce

“Listen little sister… We’ve done some good stuff and some bad stuff, but it’s all our stuff at this point. I figure the best we can do for each other is try to understand and move on the best we can.”

Community

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: I feel vibrant and almost I feel vibrant and almost weightless.weightless.With all this With all this healthy focus I’ve healthy focus I’ve attained, two things are attained, two things are clear. One is that I should clear. One is that I should have taken a break long have taken a break long ago. The other is that I ago. The other is that I love Eddie. - Avalove Eddie. - Ava

One of the good things about meditating that it helps you spot your bullsh!t much faster.

Total Wellness

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: George wanted to hang Mama’s quilt on the George wanted to hang Mama’s quilt on the wall – can you imagine? He’s come a long way, wall – can you imagine? He’s come a long way, but I doubt he’ll ever understand about things but I doubt he’ll ever understand about things back home… back home… - Ophelia- Ophelia

The kiss of death was for me to tell you not to do something. You were going to come to your own conclusions about what you saw and heard in Willow Springs.

Heritage

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: I left my son and my life behind. There is I left my son and my life behind. There is

something else calling me, and I believe it something else calling me, and I believe it will take no less than all of me in the fight. will take no less than all of me in the fight.

- Meridian - Meridian… such was her rage that she actually felt as if the rich and racist of the world should stand in fear of her, because she – though apparently weak and penniless, a little crazy and without power – was

yet of a resolute and relatively fearless character, which… could bring the mightiest country to its

knees.

Politics

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: I had an argument with I had an argument with Mama today, about my Mama today, about my name and everything else. name and everything else. It wasn’t pleasant, but I It wasn’t pleasant, but I think maybe we both think maybe we both understand now…understand now…Kiswana Kiswana (Mama’s Melanie)(Mama’s Melanie)

“Trying to be proud of my heritage and the fact that I was of African descent…”

Today Brewster – Tomorrow America!

Racial Integrity

“I hopes I live for my people like they do for me… I hope they never have to pay what it costs us to own

ourselfs. Mother, brother, sister, husband, friends… my own

girlhood all I ever had was the membrance of my daddy’s smile.

Oh, we have paid for our children’s place in the world again, and

again…

Freedom

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: We have reached the West. I am writing We have reached the West. I am writing everything down so Mony will know, and his everything down so Mony will know, and his children, and all those to come: What a children, and all those to come: What a precious gift is our freedom. ~ Dessa precious gift is our freedom. ~ Dessa

Security

Religion

Education

Siblings

Domesticity

Lessons in the Voices

Dear Diary: Dear Diary: What do I know about What do I know about being a single black being a single black woman? – a lot more now woman? – a lot more now that I have listened to that I have listened to these voices. In some these voices. In some ways I will never be able ways I will never be able to understand them… but to understand them… but now I will always be able now I will always be able to appreciate their to appreciate their journeys.journeys.

- Kelly- Kelly