Lovely's Truth
Tell me about yourself.
Lovely: My name is Lovely. I’m from Roxbury, Massachusetts. Music has always been a part of me. I grew up in the church. With my father being a Bishop, I directed and sang in the choir. Throughout high school I was always performing whether it was in a singing group or at church.
After high school I chose to attend Boston College where I studied Political Science and Music. It was at college that I became aware of the differences and inequities that existed in this society. Most of my white counterparts came from very privileged families and had access to many opportunities. For example, many of them had already traveled the world and their families were well off. I was the first person in my family to graduate college and I must say it was these experiences that lead me to want to teach. I wanted to ensure children from my community received a quality education that would allow them to compete with all children.
Once I graduated college and became a teacher I was able to travel to Africa. I went to Senegal and I began to educate myself on the history of my ancestors, which was something I was never taught in school. I read the “Miseducation of The Negro” by Carter G Woodson, Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery”, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and “Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization” by Anthony Browder. Reading these books transformed the way I saw myself as a black woman. The things that made me insecure were now the things that I appreciated about myself. I took on a whole new perspective.
One of our great ancestors, Marcus Garvey, said, “Remove the kinks from your brain not your hair.” One of the biggest changes for me was when I stopped perming my hair. I let my hair grow out naturally and I never turned back. That was a pivotal point in my life and a Rites of Passage, if you will, because we all know that hair is an important part of our identity as Black Women. That was the day I completely embraced every part of who I am.
How do you teach your students?
Lovely: Marcus Garvey said, “with confidence you have won before you have even started.” We must teach our children that they are powerful and that they can achieve anything they desire. I am very intentional about what I say because I believe in the power of words. I always tell my students they are beautiful and call them kings and queens. I tell them they are powerful and smart because there is so much in society that tells them otherwise and they need to know their worth.
I also make sure that the students are reflected in the curriculum. They must see themselves in the great people we learn about in class. Representation is essential.
I take a holistic approach as an educator. I believe in educating the child’s mind, body and spirit.
What was your first occurence with beauty?
Lovely: I was a part of a singing group called Khemistre in high school. There were a total of four girls in the singing group. We used to sing at school and around various parts of Boston. I was the darkest girl in my group and people would always say things like “she can sing really well but she’s the dark one.” They made me very aware that I was different and made me feel that I was not as pretty as the other girls because I was the darkest. After a while I realized I did not fit into societies beauty standard. When you turn on the television or look in magazines you only see white models or when there are Black girls showcased, they are almost always light skinned. This really impacted me when I was younger but again as I grew older I took on a different perspective. Now, I know I am beautiful. I love my skin, I love my hair I love everything about me!
What advice would you give young women of color navigating the world today?
Lovely: Its really simple. We have to be intentional about telling our kids they are beautiful and powerful. Not too long ago I wrote a song entitled, “My Black Is Beautiful” and produced a music video featuring 12 of my 7th and 8th grade students. When I released the music video online it went viral. Many women throughout the country reached out to me and shared their stories. Some women shared that they were bullied and attacked because of the way that they looked. Their stories were so heartfelt and it goes to show you how much a difference teaching confidence and self-love can make in a child’s life.
What is your self-care routine?
Lovely: I’ve done a better job these last few years of taking care of myself. I make sure to do the things that I am passionate about. I love to travel internationally and I try to go to one new country every year.
I also have to force myself to chill sometimes and just stop because I can be a workaholic. So it’s the little things. I take bubble baths, light a candle and relax. It’s all about just enjoying my space.
I also try to prioritize the things I’m passionate about like playing the piano and outdoor activities like bike riding and hiking. It’s very therapeutic.
In terms of music, I’ve been listening to a lot of classical music. That also helps me to relax.
Some my favorite artists right now are Indie Arie, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder.