Why I Love...Being a [Black] Woman

I started a new book, Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America by Charisse Jones and Kumea Shorter-Gooden. It discusses the multiple roles black women have to play in society. This book started as a research project to find out how we deal with and handle those roles. Although I just started, I know this will be a page turner for me. To start, the authors define what it means to shift. Shifting defines how we transform from one role to the other. I think we all do it, whether black or white, male or female. But black women have an added dimension because it is often said we have two strikes: being black and female. I remember the book, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison where the main character wishes she had blues eyes and blond hair and wonder if that is the dream of many little Black girls. I can't relate to that story because I never once had that dream. I've always been proud of who I am and where I came from and try to teach my children the same.

When I think about why that is so, my first thought is that I love being a woman! Sure I complain about the monthly visitor and the pains of childbirth, but I feel so blessed and fortunate to have given birth, a giver of life. I have always embraced my femininity and wonder why being masculine is the in thing for teen girls now. I often have to do a double take while at work, girls with the sagging pants (as if not bad enough on the boys), hats, big boots or tennis shoes. I try not to judge, but good grief...I love to pamper myself. I know some men who pamper themselves with weekly haircuts and shaves, manicures and pedicures, but I love the fact that I don't have to explain my self love.

Being a Black woman is a challenge, but a welcome one for me. I hate the stereotypes, but some are justified. Yes, we have an attitude, but we've had to fight for everything...our freedom, our children, our families, our lives! We are strong and we are survivors. As I think of the women in my family, I see so much diversity...some are meek, some are aggressive, some are homemakers, some are pace setters, some are spiritual, but whatever they are and do, they are fantastic at it.

Black women come in so many shades and sizes...from Halle Berry to Mo'Nique ; from Carol Mosely Braun to Michelle Obama ; from Angie Stone to Beyonce. We are everywhere and our presence is known and felt. Like our brothas, we are loved yet feared. We are trendsetters...from our cornrows to our afros ; from our hip huggers to our stilettos. People stare, but often try to imitate. We don't care what people think of our style, because it's just that...ours!

Why I Love...Being a Librarian

Webster defines librarian as a specialist in the care or management of a library. Pretty vague huh? It defines libary as a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials are kept for use but not for sale. Most people define librarian as a person who loves to read, wears her hair back in a bun, wears glasses and walks around with her finger over her mouth to keep everyone quiet. The most common reaction I get when I tell people I'm a librarian is, "you like to read, don't you?" Yes, I love to read, but that was a trait long before I became a librarian.

I define my job as a librarian as the liason between information and the person who needs it, I am a teacher, a motivator and an advisor. My career began in a small public library in Arkansas where I served as the library manager, reference clerk, circulation clerk, public relations specialist and janitor. It was there I learned that I was just a paraprofessional and that to be a librarian I needed a graduate degree in library and information services/studies. It was there I fell in love with my work in the library and I knew this was the career for me. I always wanted to be a teacher, but once didn't want the stress or the meager salary. I would later learn that librarians don't fair much better in the salary department.:)

So when I moved to Oklahoma City, I immediately began thinking about applying to graduate school at OU. It took three years, but I earned my MLIS and am now an offical librarian! Thankfully, I toughed it out because when I began to look for jobs out of state I met the requirement of having my MLIS from an accredited university. I am now employed at the wonderful Northwest Mississippi Community College. I am part of the faculty, so I have the opportunity to teach students how to use the library and its resources. Although some of students sit through the classes with their eyes glazed over, there are some who are genuinely interested and that makes it worthwhile.

Being a libarian has exposed me to all types of information. I am the cataloger for NWCC and that means every book that is added to our collection comes across my desk. I have learned so much in this capacity and things I would have never known or heard of, I have because of my chosen profession. Teaching classes keeps me grounded, not everyone thinks highly of the library. Helping students keeps me enlightened. I have the opportunity to learn their frustrations with using our resources. Choosing material for the library keeps me informed, there is actually a book about this?! :)

So to all of you who think libraries are quiet and librarians are books worm I beg to differ. We are as diverse as our collections and the communities we serve.