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I grew up in the nineties, and like many other debt-ridden Millennials, I often gaze out into the distance recalling great times of nostalgia. Days of just watching Power Rangers, or just kicking it with my friends...when things seemed so simple.
Fast-forward to today, as I stare out and contemplate the state of America. My place in society. My #BlackGirlMagic! And if you've been on the Internet ever, you've probably seen this hashtag pop up whenever a Black woman does something dope, from Viola Davis' Emmy acceptance speech to some little black girls killing it in a dance show. #BlackGirlMagic celebrates self-love.
When a recent Elle magazine article bashed the hashtag, I got to thinking about how to better explain its meaning, and I think I've nailed it. So I present to you: #BlackGirlMagic: The Gathering.
Magic: The Gathering is a card game about strategy. Simply put, each player starts with 20 points, and the goal is to bring it down to 0. It is often associated with those who aren't considered the coolest people— but they come together to play and their oddities are celebrated.
First, you create your own deck. You need “mana.” Yes, like what from fell from heaven to the Israelites (but only if you believe in that; if not, that's cool, but either way, mana is your life source). It is produced by land cards, like forests, swamps or islands, but only if you believe in that kind of stuff. If not, well, that's science. Anywho, then you get to add creatures, like angels and demons, so you can casts spells to summon artifacts or initiate combat to try and defeat your opponent. You can either initiate attacks or use your cards to defend against attacks. But at the end of the day, your most important key to survival are your allies. Ally cards work well in great numbers--even if they aren't the most powerful. You must build your deck wisely.
The most powerful Magic card is the Black Lotus. If played correctly, it can win a battle before your opponent even plays their first card. It is so rare and powerful that it has been banned from regular tournament play. It's not even a combat card. It simply gives you mana. A life source. It is the most powerful giver of life, and it is fucking banned. If that ain't a metaphor for America, I don't know what it is.
#BlackGirlMagic is like a room where outsiders come together to laugh, cry or to just have a good time and not feel alone. America hasn't dealt us the best hand, but we built a deck. We play and fight against history's demons and the occasional Internet troll… and are most powerful when we have allies.
#BlackGirlMagic wasn't created to make Black women seem beyond human, but rather to celebrate our Blackness and take pride in our abilities do great things in a world that wasn't built with our greatness in mind. Loving one’s self is not selfish, and celebrating what makes Black women smart, strong, powerful, beautiful and resilient is so much more than a hashtag. Sometimes it just feels like magic.
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Catch Shantira Jackson (@tira_son) and the future of comedy in Afro-Futurism. The vanguard of Chicago’s hippest African-American talent provides the street satire and cultural cosmologies of a city on the brink. This variety show of stand-up, sketch, music and performance declares an audacious new generation of comedic voices destined to make an impact on the world. Two nights only--1/19 & 1/27. Get info & tickets here.
