The Queen of the South shall rise up in judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:42

As I sit in worship, it pleases my heart to see beautiful black women sharing fellowship and filling up with spiritual renewal. In Bible study, I see them. Some old; some young rejoicing in the word. I wonder though, what of their Wednesdays, Thursday, Friday, or Saturdays. Are they taking the power bestowed upon them and pressing it upon the masses? Not just with their sisters or daughters, but with the young girl waiting on the bus stop sitting along side her. Better yet with the woman she sees sitting alone in the lunchroom during break. You don’t know much about either of these women but you know enough. God has gifted black woman with intuitive empathic skills that is unsurpassed by any other creation. You see the spark of hope in young eyes that seem to be slowly dimming in the faces of the ugly “isms” of this world. Racism, sexism, classism. The reality of “the dream” seeming further out of reach, putting dark smoke in your eyes the more you travel out of your hood. You remember. You still have a flashback or two.

You heard, through office gossip, that the woman sitting alone in the lunchroom has a daughter strung out and lost to the streets. Though you do not partake in the gossip, you listen, shake your head, sigh and try to remember to say a prayer for her on Sunday. Sistah, no excuse me Black Queen, you are charged by Jesus to take that woman under you spiritual arm and impart words of inspiration … yes you and even you. If not a scripture but a reassuring word.

You, Black queen, have traveled so very far… from the shores of Africa, across the Atlantic, through hot cotton fields, up dirt roads to Washington. You’ve walked into factories and made a blue collar feed your family; you’ve busted into corporate America without an invite and stayed for dinner & breakfast. Life lessons have brought you far, degrees have opened up doors, and your steadfastness has cracked ceilings but you knew…. Yes you knew it was not by you alone but by God’s grace.

And since, Black queen, through your travels you have gained wisdom; share you wisdom and be a vessel of God’s grace. Call out all the lies that this world has told you and still trying to tell your sister. Call out the liars by names if you have to. Let them know welfare is not a way of life. Remind her of her true name, not to be mistaken with a female dog. Empower her spirit with the names of not just Harriet Tubman or Sojourner Truth. Spark her fire with stories of Angela Davis. Help her reclaim her God given right of enfranchisement through Fannie Lou Hammer. Help her envision financial survival with the tenacity of Madame CJ Walker. Renew her faith in with the story of the Syrophenician woman mother who was unstoppable in her pursuit of Jesus to heal her sick daughter.

You, even in your mess, can bless another. Jesus said so. You were put on notice; thousands of years before you were even a twinkle in your father’s eye, to declare guilty all

That is in direct opposition to Jesus. For you, Black Queen, have traveled many miles to learn what you know. Rise up….