Like the majority of the free world, I’ve been enjoying Beyoncé’s latest effort, Lemonade, for the past week. Like her 2013 eponymous album, Beyoncé gives us a glimpse into her inner sanctum as a wife, mother, daughter, and sister. Whether or not her lyrical evisceration is directed towards her husband, father, or former brother-in-law, the album is indeed a love letter to Black women globally who can intimately relate to its content. Beyoncé is incredibly transparent and vulnerable in this work. She sings with technical precision and emotional fire of a tale as old as time: love, betrayal, pain, and forgiveness as love conquers all. She has channeled her experiences and observations into a piece of art to remind us that when life hands us lemons, it is our duty to make lemonade.
But what happens when you’d prefer to have lemons rather than lemonade? When you’ve decided that lemons of bitterness, anger, and emotional disconnect have become a guard to a broken heart?
As I discussed the album with my sister circle, we all could agree that this album was by and for us. Yet while they all gushed over the love songs and saw their marriages and relationships in the words, I grimaced inside. I rationalized that it was because I’m single but the more I gave it serious thought I had to acknowledge the truth: I have a profound fear of feminine vulnerability.
Read the rest of “Give Me Lemons, Keep the Lemonade” on Young, Black, & Married
1
That was so powerful and it made do much sense. Of course the album resonated in me as a black woman but I never thought about it like this. Just like you I was stuck in the superwoman narrative. I thought I was so strong. Sadly I didn’t know how to be vulnerable. I got sick the end of last year and my “friend” was there helping me and being there for me more than the guys I called myself dating. He saw me at my weakest moments. That helped me to tap into my feminine vulnerability and I love it. I never knew I could be so vulnerable. It is so refreshing not having to be superwoman ALL the time.
I held on to my lemons for years I finally learned how to make lemonade.
Sorry to take up so much time but this article really resonated with me.
Stacy
No need for apologies, this is what I write for! So, I cannot say thank you enough for reading & letting me know I’m not alone.
This is so good and very insightful!
Thank you! Be sure to check out other posts around and check back every Monday and Thursday for new content!
I love this! It’s good to see that a Christian actually enjoys the album because all I’ve seen a lot of negativity from Christians since it has come out. I like it. My favorite part about this post, are 1 & 4 from the list. I find that one of my biggest struggles is living my truth and not doing things to make others happy or for their acceptance. It’s so hard because I’m so used to treading on thin ice, worried about offending people. It’s discouraging and draining.
Girl, *those* folks are forever talking loud and saying nothing! People are always, always going to have something to say. You gotta work on not allowing them to defeat your truth because they don’t wanna give up their lie. In the immortal words of James Brown, “Shape up your bag, don’t worry bout mine. My thing together and a doing fine. Good luck to you, Mr. Loud & Wrong…”