mater mea - Celebrating Motherhood and Women of Color

More Than Words: Parents Respond To Ferguson On Instagram

Flickr user:  Neil Cooler

Flickr user: Neil Cooler

More Than Words: Parents Respond To Ferguson On Instagram

Words: mater mea

Parents sharing photos of their children on social media had added weight in the wake of the grand jury's no indictment decision.

This past Tuesday morning was like waking up from a recurring nightmare. Unfortunately, the new day didn't bring better news: On Monday evening St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced that a grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who shot and killed black unarmed 18-year-old Mike Brown.

The news sparked protests (more than 170, according to CNN) in streets and social media newsfeeds all over the country. On Instagram, parents reflected on what the Brown family's loss and the grand jury's ultimate decision meant for their children through photos of their children, many of whom are too young to understand the complicated emotions their parents are addressing. Below, a sampling of some of those posts:


She's learning how to count, I'm praying she gets to grow up. #blacklivesmatter

A photo posted by Jamilah Lemieux (@jamilahlemieux) on

 
 

AS SEEN IN

 

INSTAGRAM

“There are too many sources telling young girls of color what is wrong with them, instead of telling them they are beautiful just the way they are." . That's why Ariane Williams, founder of @blacknaps, wrote "Jamie Loves Her Natural Hair." (🔗 in bio) We're giving away a copy of her book to one lucky reader who does the following: . 1. Follow @matermea and @blacknaps. 2. Tag a friend in the comments, and tell us what they love about their child's natural hair. . We'll be picking a winner at the end of the week. (This contest is open to U.S. residents only.)
💤Saying good night... 💤 - Someone asked me if I missed my old life. Sometimes I do, but I remember praying for what I have now, my little family. I can't see my life without my husband and my little human. Children help you to live in the present, so I don't have time to look back and rethink everything. I have to live and enjoy present moments for myself, hubby, and Genesis. I wouldn't trade my beautiful CHAOTIC life. . . Good night, guys. I had so much fun connecting with you guys. 🍷Cheers to making new mom friends.🍷. Thank you, mater mea!
@thechynarich Asked "How do you juggle motherhood, being a wife, blogging, creating content & having a full time job?" ----------------------- Motherhood is a fulltime job by itself and as a result we tend to forget that our partners need some TLC too. I still cry myself to sleep from exhaustion after coming home from work sometimes and have to basically clock in again as soon as I get home. I was getting extremely oppressed, drained and forgetting important deadlines. -----------------------------I had to get a hold of myself and just realize that I am NOT superwoman and I began to write everything down on my calendar, even pencil in date nights because you gotta work extra hard on your relationship after baby... And ME TIME. Schedule is so important when it comes to being a wife, blogger, content creator and a mother... Whatever roles you play. You'll go crazy trying to juggle so much.
As I stated before, I am a proud Jamaican and @chanilevines asked as how do I plan to pass on the culture to my daughter or is that important? ▶▶▶ My husband and I spoke about this recently. The Jamaican culture is extremely important to us because Jamaica is not just "paradise", it's our HOME. Jamaica is known for its colorful culture and long list of traditions. We've been playing Bob Marley's music for her since she was a tiny burrito and she is already use to the Jamaican dishes from both her grandmother and I. If that isn't enough she's surrounded by the local dialect of #PATOIS everyday lol from all her family members lol. I would love to hear where you guys are from.
The struggle of being a parent to a toddler and trying to get a decent picture. I literally fed her snacks (she decided to show you guys 😒) and tried to quickly turn to the camera but she leaped off the surface and this is what we got lol. I see so many of y'all IG mamas with dope pics, so y'all gonna share some tips or nah?? I need at least 1 good photo in our album.
Happy Sunday! I'm Dell and I'm excited to take over this beautiful community of powerful women for the day. --- I am a proud Jamaican who recently moved to Atlanta from New York. I am also a digital storyteller and content creator for @mdniftytv on youtube. I'm excited to connect with you guys today as I get ready to get my little human out of her room (already yelling for mama 👀). What time do your little ones get up each morning?
"You are not a late bloomer. You are already blooming." —Roxane Gay (@roxanegay74) . Photo of mater mea mom Jamyla Bennu (@oyinhandmade) by @erikalaynephoto
Can't wait for Dell Nelson (@getadell—best screen name ever)'s takeover on Sunday! Dell will be sharing her weekend routine and how she preps for a full work week as a working mother and wife. Or as she put it: "Show motherhood uncensored." . Got any questions for Dell? Leave them in the comments! . . . . #matermea #matermeatakeover #blackwomen #blackmoms #blackmotherhood #blackmothers #motherhood #parenting #blackfamilies #moms #parenting #motherhood #mompreneurs #blackgirlmagic #blackmomsblog #mom #workingmoms #love #melanin #cute
Another work week is almost behind us, so let's take a moment to celebrate our wins! Share something you're proud of accomplishing in the comments.
#tbt Nina Simone with her daughter Lisa Simone Kelly, taken 1965 by Brian Duffy. . "She was one of the most courageous people I have ever known. I’m proud to be her daughter. I’ve had to put my own feelings aside, but you know what? Better late than never... Today, I try to stand up for my mother, for the beauty and grace my mother wanted to embody through her classical music but couldn’t because she had to go to war." —Lisa Simone Kelly
Basking in these kings' #blackboyjoy. Photo credit: @teamwoodnote
"It took years to figure out what fills me. What makes me gush with joy and feelings of accomplishment and pride. On the road to overflowing, I realized one major thing: When pouring into others, I could not be empty or depleted. And most times I was bone dry. Being full is necessary for blooming in happiness and productivity. It's necessary for building and repairing relationships, too. Knowing what I know now, I cannot offer my best self to anyone if I am running on empty. I've tried and failed each time miserably. Finding my fullness 101: Feeling satisfied enables me to pour my best self into those around me without feelings of guilt for giving more than I can handle. Gone are the days of pouring into others when I have nothing left to give." —Alex Elle (@alex_elle) . What fills you? Photo credit: Ryan Spearman (🔗 in bio) . . . . . . #matermea #blackwomen #blackmoms #selfcare #alexelle #blackmomsblog #blackmothers #blackmotherhood #mommyblog #blackmamas #blackblogger #blackmommyblogger #blackmommagic #blackwomenbloggers #blackmamasblog
"I became determined not to be my mother, but I had spent so long trying to create myself in her image that I had no idea who I actually was. I spent two-thirds of my life going back and forth between trying to make my mother proud and trying to be her before ever thinking about who I might be outside of what she’d told me I was and wasn’t. I became a different person for her because I thought it would make her love me, or like me, or be proud of me—or at the very least stop hurting me. Becoming a mother was my turning point." —Satya Nelms (@satyanelms) . Click the link in the bio to learn how this mom of four broke a cycle of abuse and neglect to become the kind of mother she never had. . Photo credit: @createherstock
Candace Morrow (@southernstylesandsteeds) and her daughter Auriana are so gorgeous! . Photo credit: J. Coles Studio . . . . . #matermea #blackwomen #naturalhair #naturalhairkids #blackmoms #blackmomsblog #blackmothers #blackmotherhood #mommyblog #blackmamas #blackblogger #blackmommyblogger #blackmommagic #blackwomenbloggers #blackmamasblog
Kierna Mayo (@kiernamayo) posted something recently that has stayed with me, and explains why so many of us are so triggered by what happened to Serena Williams at the U.S. Open. . "I think a lot of us have been #serenawilliams we've lost when we shouldn't have for reasons not of our making. It's not just about going high, or doing the 'right thing,' sometimes we just need grace for ourselves." . Isn't that just it? Share a time when you've felt like Serena. . Photo credit: @thelilynews
Being #travelgoals doesn't have to end once you have kids. Today on the site Karen Akpan of @themomtrotter gave us 10 easy ways she makes travel with her family of six affordable (and some discount codes, too). . Where would you like to travel with your family? Tells us in the comments! . . . . . . . #matermea #familytravel #familytravels #travel #travelwithkids #kidtravel #traveltips #blackwomen #naturalparenting #mommyblog #blackmamas #blackblogger #blackmommyblogger #blackmommagic #blackwomenbloggers #blackmamasblog
People always have something to say about your decisions as a mother, but remember: Your opinion is the only one that matters, whether you want to be a vegan family or if you choose to use a midwife and give birth at home, like Diyasha Smith did. “I got a lot of flak. People said, ‘What if you bleed? What if the baby doesn’t come out?’ I had that moment of deciding, ‘Do I want to let their experience guide me or do I want to go through my own?' [But] everything turned out how it was supposed to. It was everything I wanted and more—a healthy baby, a happy experience, [and] having someone support me." —Diyasha Photo credit: DaRemen J. (@1stkind)
"Having her in my life has made me adjust my priorities. My child comes first, but sometimes adjusting my priorities makes me even more driven to do what I want to do for her. I am her role model, and so I think the greatest gift any mom can give their children—especially black moms—is the belief that they have options and they can be and do whatever it is that they choose. The only way you can really impart that into your child is if you live that." —LaShann DeArcy . Photo credit: Nneka Salmon . . . . . . . . #matermea #blackwomen #munamommy #mommyblog #blackmamas #blackblogger #blackmommyblogger #blackmommagic #blackwomenbloggers #blackmamasblog #workingmom #workingmother #mommy #mompreneur #woc #womenofcolor
G.O.A.T. And nothing—and no one—can take that away.

About

mater mea is a website that tells the stories of women at the intersection of motherhood and career. Launched in 2012, the site offers a more realistic depiction of black women in the many spaces they occupy: as mothers, daughters, employees and employers, lovers, and friends.  Learn more...