Pray to Know Sistahood

Kristian, age 5, posing after graduation from The Little Dolphin Pre-School in Brooklyn, NY.

On April 18, 1983 Alice Walker became the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for The Color Purple; 40 years later, I defended my dissertation and became a Doctor with distinction on that same day. I like to think, that rather than a coincidence, the universe planned such an alignment with much tenderness and magic ✨

I’ve spent every PhD anniversary since then with my girl Alice and celebrate this kindred milestone with good food, doggy kisses, and lots of laughter. This annual time together is a much needed pause (especially as of late) and adventure in love across time zones, borders, generations, and human made boundaries that work to desaturate my vibrancy.

How lucky am I, to never have doubted my own brilliance. How blessed am I, to have my favorite feminist writer kiss my cheek and call me sister. How grateful am I, to become my own possibility model.