Seven weeks ago today, my wife Chastity gave birth to our precious daughter Caeli Elise. Throughout the Dad Chronicles, I discussed how our lives have changed – and if you haven’t read the five installments, I strongly encourage you to check them out). I still won’t divulge too many intimacies as the three of us need to keep some things within the family. I’m completely unsure of how we’ll parent Caeli, but two of the major proponents are for her to know that she is the special child God blessed us to care for and love, and that black girls – and women – do rock.
What is #BlackGirlsRock, you ask?
#BlackGirlsRock affirms all of the positives of black girls and women not limited to the dreams fulfilled; being loved; having other sisters to emulate; and of course, being in the forefront of an ever-changing world. The label also honors all of the amazing women of our past and present whose unique leadership, strength, resolve, wisdom, talent, and spirituality has catalyzed the advancement of humanity, yet who are often left uncelebrated or have gone under the radar in mainstream society, media, and history. This affirmation does not mean other girls do not rock nor does it serve as a base for vanity. However, Caeli will know that black is beautiful in all shades in a nod to our Afrocentric thoughts, tendencies, and expectations.
Wait til y'all see me with the little ca! pic.twitter.com/FTh5T2m26F
— A. Cedric Armstrong (@cedteaches) March 14, 2015
From the suffrage movement to the civil rights movement, social change organizations and programs were created from sheer necessity. #BlackGirlsRock will enable her to know about sisters Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Lena Horne, Shirley Chisholm, Dorothy Dandridge, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Daisy Bates, Nina Simone, Michelle Obama, Condeleeza Rice, Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rimes, and so many countless others who have paved the way in or out of the limelight as example for excellence for our daughter can strive to be like if not greater than. Let us not forget the unsung heroes: her own mother, grandmothers, great-grandmother Dorothy, aunts, cousins, family friends, nurses, teachers, engineers, managers, and any other role black women own. We’ve come a mighty long way from seeing our women limited to cooks and nannies, so why not celebrate?
Caeli’s empowerment will not be limited by anyone, not even me. The world stage has plenty of room for all girls to rock – and this is another reason to be #CaeliStrong.
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