Kimberly D. Manning, MD, MACP Profile picture
Mar 18, 2023 11 tweets 8 min read Read on X
1/
Thought I’d show some Black joy from this year’s #MatchDay. Because sometimes we don’t see that enough.

And there IS joy.

Especially on this day.

The ancestors are surely rejoicing. I know I am.

I think the words of Jill Scott will say it best. . .
2/
“I'm taking my freedom
Pulling it off the shelf
Putting it on my chain
Wear it around my neck

I'm taking my freedom
Putting it in my car
Wherever I choose to go
It will take me far . . .”
3/

“I'm livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden, golden . . .”
3/
“I'm taking my own freedom
Putting it in my song

Singing loud and strong
Grooving all day long . . .”
4/
“I'm taking my freedom
Putting it in my stroll

I be high-steppin' y'all
Letting the joy unfold . . .”
5/
“I'm livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden

Livin' my life like it's golden, golden. . .”
6/
“I'm holding on to my freedom
Can't take it from me

I was born into it
It comes naturally . . .”
7/
“I'm strumming my own freedom
Playing the God in me

Representing his glory
Hope he's proud of me . . .”

- Jill Scott, “Golden”
9/
Whew. That last line always brings tears to my eyes.

“Hope he’s proud of me. . .”

And them.

Sigh.

There are these days when you wonder if all this effort even makes a difference.

And then a day like this comes & you realize that the answer is yes.

A resounding yes.
10/
And to be clear—I love and mentor MANY students with whom I do not share racial concordance.

But this time I just wanted to center on Black joy for a moment.

Because there IS joy. Even with the way this world can be & has been for us—there IS.

And we don’t see it enough.
11/
So thanks for letting me indulge. Now here’s the song just in case you’re unfamiliar—which played in my head for that entire day.🎶

Wishing you all a golden life (starting with a golden weekend if you’re lucky.)

💛

#MatchDay
#RepresentationMatters

• • •

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2/
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3/
There are some parts that explore depression, thoughts of suicide, and self-harm. No, not recklessly. But yes, with raw honesty. So you need to know that up front.

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1/
I had imagined what this day would be like. Played it out in my head and saw various iterations of me exploding in celebration.

In some versions, I was doing the running man or, quite literally, running in triumphant circles, #MatchDay envelope in hand.

"Wooo hooo!" Image
2/
I also saw these visions of me quietly weeping, one hand extended to the heavens in gratitude. My lips quietly murmuring prayers of thanksgiving.

See, I was my ancestors' wildest dreams. And not even just my enslaved ancestors but the Jim Crow survivors who raised me, too.
3/
So, yeah. This was about to be big.

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Which, fortunately for us, was a lot of folks. Image
Read 20 tweets
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1/
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*silence*
2/
She turned her head to me and held my gaze.

Her: “Know what else she was?”
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Her: “She was my mama.”

Ooph.

I parted my lips to speak but nothing came out. She touched my arm and smiled.

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3/
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I gave a tiny nod.

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