#simone biles
Simone Biles for Essence Magazine photographed by Chrisean Rose (2021)
Simone Biles
She didn’t quit
She didn’t give up
She didn’t cower
She did what we have been taught
Is the one thing
Magical Black Women
CAN NOT DO
Put ourselves first
Our health
Our bodies
Our minds
Our talent
Our desires
Our strength
Our beauty
Our genius
Our abilities to fly
To soar
To win
Are supposed to be laid at the feet
Of whiteness
Of this nation
Of this world
Offered up like a sacrifice
The rent we are expected to pay
To be seen as
Athlete
Entertainment
Disposable
But never whole
Worthy of protection
Worthy of peace
We are never supposed to
Get off the stage
Leave the competition
Demand solace
Without permission
Permission to be human
Permission to rest
Permission that is always
Denied
She did what
Black Women
are told
We can not do
She took her power
And walked away
She determined what was best
For her
For her soul
Her heart
Her life
We are watching
Learning
Following the trails blazed
Rest should not be a Revolution
But it is
And she is
And that is worth more than
Any medal or title
On earth
Self-care Queen - Simone Biles ❤️♀️
Author - @leslehonore (They replaced with She)
Model - @simonebiles
Photography credit - @sportsillustratedswimsource