Thursday, June 30, 2011

Are You Cleva?

This song... I love it. Erykah Badu's Cleva.

Good song, has a lot going on, but t contains a line that I love so much.

I've highlighted the line in green







This is how I look without makeup
And with no bra my ninnies sag down low
My hair ain't never hung down to my shoulders
And it might not grow
Ya' never know

But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme
I'm cleva always on ya' mind
She's cleva and I really wanna grow
But why come you're the last to know?

I got a little pot in my belly
So now a days my figure ain't so fly
My dress ain't cost nothin' but seven dollars
But I made it fly
And I'll tell ya why

But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme
I'm cleva always on ya' mind
She's cleva and I really wanna grow
But why come I'm the last to know?

Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright yeah

Alright with me
Said that I'm alright with me
Said that I'm alright with me
Said that I'm alright with me
Said that I'm alright with me
Said that I'm alright with me

`



This is one of those rare songs... one that encourages self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-love in the face of personal imperfecions.

I wish there were more like them.

Because it asks the questions: Can you love yourself even though you don't have the best hair, the tightest body, the flyest clothes, without your makeup, without the bra?

When we take away all that, can you stand and be proud of the woman you are?

Do you even know who you are without those things?

And are you proud of who you are, proud of the woman inside?

I mean truly proud without lying to yourself?

I can say that I love who I am... and just like the song says, I am cleva.

8 comments:

  1. I am not especially clever but I am kind. I am proud of that.

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  2. Yes, you are.
    Girl, that sounds like me on most days.Sweats, a lil pot belly,no make up and hair in a bun...oh, and no bra!
    It is what is...ME!

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  3. I am NOT proud of the woman I am. Then again, I am not a woman at all!

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  4. @King 68 IInd... You joker! I know you proud of the MAN you are, though! (I am proud of you!)

    LOL!!!

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  5. This is one of my favs of hers. I think part of loving who you are is letting go of who you "should" be and embracing who you are. I don't think I am proud of everything. But I am getting there.

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  6. I don't think I've ever heard this song. WOW.

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  7. Yes, I can love myself and still proud of the woman I am inside without all those things - especially the bra! Lawd, that's the FIRST thing I can do without. Who created that contraption any durn way? Hmph!

    With that said, having a "tight body" (to me) means being healthy and fit. God has blessed us with only one body for a limited period of time and it is our responsibility to take care of it with nutrients and exercise. I love myself, despite my physical imperfections, but I'm always working to improve my health & fitness - it is one of my top priorities.

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  8. This reminds me of the India.Aria song, "Video" where she talks about our body image. She even has a song called, "I Am Not My Hair" which is more direct but sends the same message.

    Gotta say I'm enjoying your posts on hair! :-)

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Slap the *crickets* out the way, kindly step up to the mike, and SAY something!!