I am so tired, peeved, done and OVER the “woe is Black women, I’m so sad for them; they can’t get married because they’re evil, emasculating sapphires and Black men are either in jail or on the down low” movement that is getting play in mainstream media [ and, as a sidebar, I could’ve/should’ve put hyphens in that quoted text, but I didn’t wanna, so suck it].

Just because I didn’t get spoken for in an arranged marriage at age 16 doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with me. Or, with her. Or, with her. Or, with her. Can Black women get a leg-up? Maybe we should ask permission to excel in our careers before we get married. Can we get past that first college-to-real life transition [there go those hyphens], first? And, God-forbid, can we want to pay down some debt or own property before we get married? If it ain’t a dowry, it ain’t what’s poppin’, I guess!

Stop trying to tell me what I’m doing wrong. And, stop telling me Black men ain’t no good. Honestly, I want a stellar career, amazing girlfriends, a dope downtown condo, a car that purrs before I jump the broom. And it’s attainable, because, honey, I can do BAD BITCH STATUS all by myself.

Thank you, and good morning.