I have always had a special relationship with words. Growing up my mother would remind me, "to stay out of grown folks' mouths”. However, it amazed me how easily lies could slip through lips. Or how moved people would get just from what someone said. As a preacher’s kid, I always valued and felt a sense of comfort from the conviction and confidence in one’s rhetoric. Listening to sermons all my life, the fluid tone of hope and reassurance is overwhelmingly congenial. In addition to my fascination, my momma made me read year-round. She would select the novels, then quiz me, and hold discussions about what she assigned. This was part of our quality time together, is time that I value and cherish to this day.
Maya Angelou believed that words were actual things, tangible powers. She believed that words could move through the air, get into our clothes, walls, furniture, and eventually into our hearts and minds. Now with my many roles in life, the power of words never ceases to amaze me.
For example, in a rant about the importance of making the community a priority and being of service, Tupac once said, “God has cursed me to see what life should be like”. Cursed? Why such strong language? The word curse has negative connotations, used to associate some form of harm or punishment. He chooses to associate the Father in heaven, the great I Am, with punishing him with something beautiful. To see a future where people, especially Black people, are at the very minimum, comfortable. Yet, Tupac found that charming notion to be a burden or a curse. In a passionate and sporadic moment, he was able to clearly articulate his emotions. Few words but profound beyond measure. How can words not be things?
My relationship with words makes it easy for me to empathize. As I've entered my 30's I realized that one of my strengths is my vulnerability. I'm aware that my relationship with words is to thank for that. The word abracadabra is a Greek word meaning, ” I create as I speak”. Yes, this is remarkable, magical, and some would say an exaggeration, but more importantly, it's accurate. We don't immediately see the fruits of the words we plant, however, as it comes together it always reflects a version of who we are.
