Although I have been overweight for the majority of my life, I haven’t experienced a lot of mistreatment or slurs to my face about it. I’ve also never felt like I couldn’t or shouldn’t take up space as a fat person. However, a recent event made me think about it.

An incident occurred at work a little over a year ago that severed a relationship with someone who I thought was more than an acquaintance. I came to learn I was wrong. I was also informed that this co-worker chose to describe me as an “overweight Black woman” in a negative way—not to my face by the way. When I heard the words, I wasn’t immediately offended mainly because as the title states, I am an overweight Black woman. What bothered me was the realization that my former acquaintance sees this description as a bad thing and used the words with the intent to do harm.

“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Psalm 41:9 KJV

This realization inspired me to re-evaluate how I see myself. I contemplated whether or not I would prefer not being any of those adjectives that were used to describe me. I concluded that I like being a woman and I’m proud to be Black. This is how God made me and I know He doesn’t make mistakes. However, when I got to the word “overweight,” I must admit that I’d like for my stomach to be flatter, my thighs to be a tad bit slimmer, and I’d like my arms to be smaller, but with all things considered, I like being thick.

This was an instance where I experienced negativity personally because I am an overweight Black woman, but I embrace and like being an overweight Black woman. Now I am even more inclined to encourage everyone to be themselves and love every part of who they are!

Whoever you are and whatever adjectives others choose to use to describe you negatively, stand firmly in the positive way you see yourself. So when the dust settles, you can rise above it and stand tall.

Until the next time be you—and more importantly—love you.

Being uniquely you is being uniquely beautiful.

-B.B. 💋