CONTENTS

I. Grounding by Angie Pittman

II. Reflections Contemplations by Bianca Mońa

III. Sounds (with Sight) by Reyda Gay

IV. Soundworks
by Perle Noire, Liana Niama & Soma Williams

V. Pleasure Playlists

VI. Resources

What brought me here, to this project at this time? It started with a theory by my friend Shantrice King. While studying to become a midwife, she said to me, “I think Black women have the power to heal themselves through the usage of their own bodies.” She continued, “I think this healing is more relevant and powerful than talk therapy, and I think it's Diasporic.”

I, a firm believer in talk therapy, and advocate for therapy for all Black and Brown people to address traumas, was taken aback, at first. Then I simmered. When I thought about moments where I was experiencing major shifts, I too had the practice of going to a dance or Pilates class, to tend to my spirit. Movement, over the years, had been a form of release and thus healing. I knew Shantrice was right. I said to her, “Let's test this theory.”

As an oral historian, and I was intrigued by the idea of talking with Black women who have employed various movement modalities to heal. I wanted to know where this practice originated for them. How do they continue to be rooted in this practice? What were they solving for in this practice? And most importantly how do we honor and  love on ourselves through ritual movements?

The artist in me wanted to create reflective audio and visual experiences, where Black women could sit, bask and consider themselves as beings firstly, but also as mamas, aunties, daughters, lovers and sistren. Most importantly I wanted women to hone in on their particular needs, wants, desires, and see themselves as women worthy of love, respect, dignity.  As women filled with the unfiltered capacity to be authors of their own prose.  And as women entitled to breathe, replenish, and renew.

This edition of PUSH/PULL is an offering. I offer you a moment, or moments, to center you.  You love on you. You pamper you. You heal you. You roll around your body, breathing new fresh air amidst sketching that body up, down, side-to,side, all the way around. To cover that body with lavender creams and eucalyptus oils. Fuel that body with citrus waters and bright leafy greens. Talk sweetly and kindly to that body. And when needed, often hopefully, lay that body down.  Calm that body and let those treatments sink into that body.  

This is my offering to you.