My Dearest Valentines,

I love you. Those words are insufficient; like one color in a rainbow. Expressly, I adore you. I am in love with you madly, completely, proudly, my Black Brothas and Sistas. 

Declaring my love for you is the boldest declaration of love I’ve ever made.  It is a love that is forbidden; for various reasons my love for you—my love for us—is threatening.  When I say that I love you; some hear me saying that I hate them.  Ah, how wrong they are: my love is all-consuming.  It confines every cell of my body; propels me to wake up every morning even when I am weary; it influences—consciously or subconsciously- every decision I make. The massive love I have for you leaves no room for hate; or even much desire to focus on others. When someone else catches my eye or causes me to think momentarily about them, it is typically because they in some way have harmed you.  Yes, my dearest Valentine, you are the beginning and the end of each thought.

Admittedly, some of the reasons for my love are shallow. Simply put, you are breathtakingly beautiful–the most beautiful being to ever walk this earth. Your skin is the color of Moroccan sand, except for the red clay colored freckles splattered down the sides of your checks; your skin is the color of Brazilian coffee with just a splash of evaporated milk; your skin is like Turmeric, sesame, cinnamon, curry, cumin, ajwain, or black pepper.

Ahhhh…and your hair is magnificent: ranging from straight and fine, strand by strand slipping out of the braids you wanted to wear to school by end of recess to zig-zaggy coils whose acrobatics mesmerize.

 Broad, strong shoulders; long queen-like necks, round hips that usher love and life like the welcome signs at state lines. Regardless of body size classification, strength is the connotation. Perhaps it’s the walk: the saunter, the sway, the bounce that trumpets the regality; or our distinctive noses.  And your eyes: blue, green or brown with flecks of sunset.

Yes, your eyes are beautiful; but they are so much more.  In your eyes is where I find me.  In your eyes is where I find understanding; my history, my future, and possibly, most importantly, the strength to handle the present.  When our eyes meet from across a room in a restaurant, board room, ballroom, or store and we are the only Black people there, everyone else immediately fades in the background; and I instantly feel soothed. You understand.  In that room, I have a best friend who knows my secrets—all my fears and struggles—and who supports me.

Knowing that you’ve “got me” makes me feel invincible at times…almost arrogant.  You, my dear, can’t walk into a room unnoticed.  You can’t make a move without being mimicked: your slang, your dips, daps and dabs, your nail art, finger waves, intricate braids, hip-hop flava, your street art, and cooking style.  You create beauty where there is none. You are the master of creating something out of nothing. You are brilliant, my love.

Perhaps what I love most about you is your refusal to accept the ‘Nos’ the world hurls at you. You are the swim star when your neighborhood had no pool; the valedictorian of your mostly White high school; the graduate who had a baby at 16; the new “girl next door” beauty queen.  You are the only one at the table: a motivational childhood fable. With what the world has told you your entire life, dreams shouldn’t exist; yet you hustle to be a best-selling writer, rapper, singer, designer—someone on the “top ten list.” You ignore the stats, glance briefly at the depressing daily news, receive insults and rejections; but they don’t stop you. You continue to prove doubters wrong; no game is as strong as your “keep on keeping on.”

My dearest Valentine, I see you. I appreciate you. I thank you for being you. I love you so much. Thank you for being mine. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Forever and ever and ever,

Randi Bryant

4 Responses

  1. Happy Valentine’s to you too Dear Heart! Your words literally made me smile from the inside out. Thank you Sista!❤❤❤

  2. Love you right back! To the moon and back.
    Ahhh, your words today tickle my fancy, soothe my soul and remind me to always see, actually see, the love, wonder, and beauty that we are.
    Thank you!

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