Reimagining Black Space

Personal-Public Reflection

The paranoia of Black space — healing from claustrophobia and the middle passage.

Black space has always been crowded. Challenging. And uncomfortable. Resilient. Optimistic. And imaginative. How do we take the Blues, lose the blues, hold down and uplift Black space? How do we share Black space without a care to who owns Black space because we know Black space is being cared for and we’re empowered, inspired, and in purpose as one of its caretakers? How do we create Black space? History teaches how to negate Black space. What do we re-member from what we’ve already learned? I need Black space. I need space to be Black, I need space to be curious, I need space to be carefree, I need space for all three, I need Black space. Why must there first be a white space in the market in order for capitalism to consider the production of Black space? Why do we need capitalism to invest in Black space? I am tired of waiting for Black space to appear, I am tired of seeing Black space disappear, we are in the process of ensuring Black space reappears. We all are. Looking for Black space. In our 23andme, in our iMessage apology, we’d like to be affirmed in Black space. If we’ve made it to Black space, we’ve made it home at the end of a long day, in a long week, in a long year. Black space is regenerative, it’s abundant by nature, it’s for Black people, it’s by Black people, and it’s universally needed. Fred Moten said, ‘I want to work with anybody that’s willing to make a concerted effort not to be fucking white,’ I’d like to add,‘In the creation and conservation of Black space for Black being.’ Are we not already the Black space we’re seeking? How do we re-member Black space by increasing our proximity to the Black space we have been removed from? How do we design our way back to nature? I have more questions about Black space than answers about Black space. But creating Black space is the nature of being Black space, so I feel prepared. How do we get out of our own way and be in the service of Black space? It’s in our nature. Allow us to be. We’re doin it. And we’ve been doin’ it. But you see us now. So know we’re doin it - we’ve been doin it, and we’re going to keep doing it. Because it’s in our nature. This is not a moment. This is not new. Stay consistent. Do the things that rejuvenate you and find your rhythm within the Movement. My bassline wants to play in muddy waters on 40 acres of young, curious, and carefree Black being.