Lucille Clifton and Sonia Sanchez with Faith Ringgold’s Two Jemimas
song at midnight
published in Book of Light, 1993 (Copper Canyon Press)
Lucille Clifton, 1936-2010, American
with an epigraph: “…do not send me out / among strangers”
Sonia Sanchez, American born 1934
brothers, this big woman carries much sweetness in the folds of her flesh.
her hair is white with wonderful. she is rounder than the moon and far more faithful.
brothers, who will not hold her, who will find her beautiful if you do not?
Two Jemimas: The American Collection #9, 1997; acrylic on canvas with painted and pieced fabric.
Faith Ringgold, American born 1930. Loaned by the Glenstone Museum, Potomac, MD to the New Museum, NY in 2022
won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon both nonwhite and woman what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay my one hand holding tight my other hand; come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed
wow…beautiful post, so much to ponder in this.
Good to hear from you, Eileen. Thanks for the comment. All 3 of these women are heroes………….Sarah