Generating Love
My entire career is one of portraits, especially of Black women. Today, I offer a portrait of myself. One that was painted by the love of younger generations who saw me and carried the inspiration back to my doorstep. They are a generation of many things, but they are for sure the ones who will uplift by tilting the sun toward who they love. And let me tell you, the warmth on my face has my spirit basking in that light. This is a portrait of a woman who loved a generation that, in turn, galvanized her spirit to accept her crown. [All literal and metaphor meanings are intentional.]
I have been told directly by beautiful Black women and men from the Millennial and Gen Z generations, who have fallen in love with the reflection of their own humanity in the depiction of humanity in my shows, mainly Girlfriends, which is still reaching new audiences, that I have raised them. It is a statement of love that has often given me pause because in a moment like that in the airport in Atlanta, or on a downtown block in New York, or at a red light in Los Angeles, I am face to face with the responsibility of how my pen and vision can impact a real life.
It is not just entertainment. It never is for me.
I do know that my shows allow for a level of escapism and offer a needed laugh or cry to release pent-up emotion, but I have always worked hard to paint portraits of our humanity, while balancing that sometimes weighted scale of art and entertainment, hoping never to sell out any part of who we are in a time when we are still fighting to be seen for what we are – human.
But in these moments of genuine joy, I often ask the self-proclaimed fan what is it that made them offer such a generous compliment, and it often boils down to this collective echo… “you gave me permission to dream all the dreams.” Another surprising confession is how much love there is for Lynn, that she was the Easter Egg of hope that I gave to future generations.
The fact that Lynn hadn’t had it all figured out yet, and in an era that had no formal identifications of “fluid” or “queer” or essays on what it means to have “sexual agency,” she was simply herself against the stream of images and rhetoric of how a Black Woman is supposed to be in this world. She wasn’t ambitious like Joan, Toni, and Maya. Her curiosity about all of life seemed aimless. Her quest for knowledge manifested in multiple degrees.
And though her friends didn’t understand her all the time and often called her “lost,” she always had a couch to sleep on because she was loved and supported. Lynn’s belonging and presence said that she, too, deserved to be loved no matter where she was on her personal and professional journey, and that is revolutionary for Black People. We deserve love – period. Hyper-ambition and type-A personalities are not the only ones who deserve our cheers and high-fives and hugs. Existing in our fullest expression of who we are is the real dream, and Lynn showed us a version of that existence.
It amazes me, even as the creator of these portraits, how each generation uniquely finds itself in the colors I’ve used to paint these worlds. The explorative nature of Lynn. The bounce-back of Melanie Barnett. The tolerance of Tasha Mack (cause, this generation don’t take no shit! Ours didn’t either, but y’all carry receipts). The dreams of Sparkle. The foresight of PJ (who by the way, was right about that weed game! Imagine had we all taken his advice and invested back in 2013). And the vulnerability of Yasir… The way this generation has given Black men more room to express their emotions is priceless.
To the love I receive from these two generations who say I raised them, I say thank you for running with that freedom and permission to be yourselves, for it has truly inspired me and encouraged me to live more boldly. Look at us wearing our cornrows and grills for the folly, fashion, freedom, future, and funk of it. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, consider this a long love letter. Generation to generation. This is how we make space for each other.
Major shoutout to Quinn @heartbreakquinn of Zero Below Grillz in LA for getting me to this 2-piece opal moment. I have gone from a woman who finally pierced her nose three years ago to stepping out on front street to stunt on these (fill in the blank).
STYLING: Mara Brock Akil
HAIR: Vernon Francois
MAKEUP: Kerry Malouf
GRILLZ: Quinn
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jazmin Johnson & Sean Bartley
A fan of all your shows!
Everything about this brought me joy today…right into my inbox when I most needed it. Thank you.
I’m from your generation, but still needed to be reminded that I, too, “deserved to be loved no matter where she was on her personal and professional journey, and that is revolutionary for Black People. We deserve love – period.”
Again, thank you so much for this…for all that you do. For the offering of In the Land of Mara and all that it gives to so many of us.
xx
Mara!!!! Woman!!! Fire!!! Fire!!! Fire!!! Yes!!! Duau For Being Your Authentic Fine Self Ma! Your Such An Inspiration. <3 U!!