LAFL Ayoni - Unmoved(A Black Woman's Truth)

I heard this song when it came out a few years ago, but recently rediscovered it shuffling through my liked songs this week. Although it's not my first time listening, I think the reality of what she's talking in this song has found new resonance within me, perhaps more experiences to relate to this. Similar to Ayoni, in the past year I've been unpacking the reality that exists at the intersection of blackness and womanhood. As a black woman, there are hosts of horror stories we can share about the times we've been mistreated, made to feel like other, as less than. The art that is often created from these experiences exist as a rebellion against them. Ironically, that same art often ends up being consumed by people who often perpetuate this harm, but regardless the expression of our truth still remains a powerful and necessary tool for our liberation, both personal and collective.

In her own words about the song , Ayoni says : "I first wrote this song in January of 2019 at a time when I was depressed and struggling with the reality that the world does not value Black women’s lives and humanity. I didn’t produce it until June 2020 as I was waiting for the right moment to share it. I’m aware of the way that speaking truth to power makes our lives harder and can make us the “angry Black woman”. This revolution is allowing Black women to speak up on the ways we’ve been silenced, harmed, erased, and exploited in this world. I have every right to be angry and pained and weak and imperfect and this song is my space to do that. I’ve listened with deep upset as people have feigned shock over the recent revelations of the ugliness in this country – as if it’s newly arrived. In reality, the dishonoring of the Black womxn, especially the Black trans woman, seems to be a commonly accepted world view. Unmoved is my fight to be heard and for the truth I know to be acknowledged."

Lyrics :

I’ll leave the way I came

Unseen, unheard, unmoved

A Black woman truth

4 years old too Black to play

My first crush showed me all the right shades for his love

And it brands you

You get a new leader and think you know trauma

I’m 20 years of breakdowns and mantras

Spare me the shock in looking at yourselves

It scares me there’s shock I could love myself

How I do

Oh

Cry in the bathroom

But they’ll never have you

It’s always been bigger than this

And I fucking swear I swear down

That we love ourselves politically

It’s rebellious

Are you sitting comfortable

While we bleed in vain

I’ve died by other names

Please make me feel you care my ally

But are you prepared to

To lose your sleep

To bare your teeth

To break like me

Cry in the bathroom

But they’ll never have you

It’s always been bigger than this

And I fucking swear I swear down

That we love ourselves politically

It’s rebellious

I’ll leave the way I came

Unseen, unheard, unmoved

A Black woman truth