BETTER DAYS ARE COMING! — Inspiring And Empowering Ladies

The song Better Days sung by gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson is one of my favorite songs. She reminds us to hang in there, it’s only a season, stay focused, and never lose sight. The song is so encouraging and I believe it holds true for not only America, myself, and you too! Why do I believe it you ask because there is always a rainbow after the storm. I was so enamored that first lady Dr. Jill Biden chose an 1859 painting by Robert S. Duncanson entitled “Landscape with Rainbow” to present to her husband President Joseph R. Biden during the inauguration gift-giving ceremony. Duncanson was one of the best known African American painters during the Civil War era. This painting for me represented optimism, faith, hope, courage, despite what it looks like in the current sense, better days are coming. If Duncanson could be hopeful in 1859 surely we can be hopeful in 2021!

It was phenomenal to witness Kamala Harris become the first female, of Indian-Jamaican heritage to be sworn in as Vice President at the inauguration ceremony. She inspired black girls and women alike around the globe! I even observed my Nurse Practitioner and her student wearing chucks and pearls at my doctor’s appointment. Harris becoming VP honored those women who blazed the trails before her and those whom she’s currently inspiring to shatter all glass ceilings! VP Harris once said, “To the children of our country: dream with ambition and lead with conviction, unbothered by what has been.” Black girls and historically black colleges and universities are beyond magical in spite of what society wants you to believe.

Another symbol of optimism I witnessed during the inauguration was Amanda Gorman, Los Angelos 2014 Youth Poet Laureate, who delivered an eloquent and relevant poem at the inauguration also was diagnosed with speech and auditory processing issues at an early age. She was born prematurely which caused some developmental issues. Yet her love for words, poetry, and reading caused her not to be handicapped by her “deficit” but to persevere in spite of it so she could one day represent young black girls in literature. Gorman is an aid reader and writer, for her poetry came naturally. Gorman was greatly intrigued by the great Maya Angelou who recovered her voice in the book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Gorman has a passion for building others up and social justice and America witnessed it first hand through her poetry. In 2015 Gorman published her first book of poetry entitled The One For Whom Food Is Not Enough. Gorman rose to the occasion on January 20, 2021, before then many didn’t know her name yet her plight remained the same. As an avid lover of reading, writing, and poetry I am excited to watch her bloom and blossom because I’m sure there is so much more in store!

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, we’ve witnessed yet another iconic moment in history during the inauguration of President Biden and VP Harris, a rainbow indeed. What a time to be alive, especially since I was able to make my voice heard and my vote count through the democratic process of election for President Joe Biden/Kamala Harris and President Barack Obama/Joe Biden. The individuals mentioned above are a few of the many examples that there is always hope if you believe. VP Harris, Gorman, and Duncanson are/were fulfilling a purpose greater than themselves. What seems impossible is quite possible, when lost you can be found, and after a loss, you can be redeemed! Better days are coming.