Creativity — Blog (The Dancing Hummingbird)

When I was in high school, I attended a summer theater program at Northwestern University called Cherubs. it was specifically for high school students with an interest in theater. And since it was in Evanston, Illinois, students came from all across the U.S. I loved it.

I don’t know how I got onto the subject, but I remember telling a boy that I was black.

He said, “How can you be black? You’re white.”

To which I replied, “Both of my parents are black.“

“But you’re white… Are you an albino?”

At this point in my life, I was not ready for difficult conversations. I was dumbfounded. Did he ask me if I was albino? Obviously, he was not exposed to many blacks and didn’t know we came in all shades.

Creativity, Authenticity, Identity, MindfulnessKhristee RichOctober 9, 2020black lives matter, authentic writing, authenticityComment

Traveling With An Afro

Many years ago, I decided to cut my hair into an Afro. For a long time, I had worn my hair in braids and then I straightened my hair and finally, I decided to go natural and wear an Afro. I absolutely loved it. I felt that it captured my personality. Both of my parents were worried about me sporting an Afro because they had lived in the 60s with the civil rights movement, discrimination, and of course, segregation. They were afraid how their daughter would be treated with an Afro. I reassured them not to worry that I will be treated just fine.

But I definitely had different experiences with an Afro than I did when I was wearing braids or when I had straightened my hair. I remember one time going through airport security. I went through the big scanner where they make you put your hands up above your head and not breathe and then they slide the door really quickly to scan your body. It showed that I was wearing some metal.

Oh shoot! I thought, I forgot to take my rings off.

So, as soon as I got out of the machine, I said, “I’m sorry; I forgot to take my rings off. Here are my rings.”

Creativity, Authenticity, MindfulnessKhristee RichOctober 2, 2020 Comments

What Were You Taught To Believe?

They taught me to be afraid of you.

“Stand 6 feet apart.”

They taught me to be afraid of myself.

“Wear a mask. You may be contagious.”

They taught me not to trust the strength of my immune system.

“Only medication and vaccines can remedy this.”

They taught me to stay inside. “Don’t go out, unless it is necessary.”

And they closed our beaches.
When natural vitamin D from the sun boosts the immune system.

They taught me to watch the news constantly: for updates and further information.

When fear weakens the immune system and spreads more fear to others.

They taught me that you cannot overcome chronic illness,

but I overcame mine.

They taught me to spy on my friends and neighbors.

No one needs privacy anymore.

They taught me to report anyone acting out of duty.

They taught us that tracking us is acceptable.

They taught me that is not a time for freedom.

They taught me not to think for myself.

They taught me to bully anyone who disagrees.

They taught me to shame, blame, and criticize anyone who thinks for themselves.

Advice From My Grandfather

When I was growing up, I loved spending time with my grandfather. In the summer and for holidays, I traveled down to Washington, D.C. to spend time with him. We used to sit on his front porch and chat and people watch. He waved and said hello to every black person who walked by.

I accompanied him to the grocery store and the same thing, any time he passed a black man or woman he nodded, waved, and said hello.

I asked him, “Who was that?”

He replied, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know that person?”

“No,” he replied.

I noticed the pattern; every single time, he saw a black person, he said hello.

So one day, I asked him why he said hello to every black person.

He stopped and looked at me like I had three heads and said, “It’s what you do, Khristee.”

I took that statement to heart.

I grew up in a white community where my family was one of a couple of black families in town at the time. Besides my family, I didn’t come across many African Americans, so when I went to college and was exposed to more blacks, I made a point to say hello to everyone who I saw.

I See You On Facebook. I Know Everything is Good With You.

I see you on Facebook.

I see your smiles.

I see your cute memes.

I see your highs.

I know everything is good with you.

I don’t need to see your diary entries.

I don’t need to know more than a post,

because you post every day.

What else could you have to say?

But that is only a fraction of me.

I am more than you see.

I have fears.

I have tears.

I have parts of me that I don’t want you to see.

I have shadows like you.

I have a past I try to undo.

I don’t have it all figured out.

I yell. I shout.

I have parts I don’t talk about.

Authenticity, Creativity, IdentityKhristee RichJuly 9, 2020poetry, authentic writing, authenticity, poet, Khristee Rich, Facebook, assumptions, shadowComment

People No Longer

People can no longer count their own steps so they have watches to do that for them.

People no longer have the patience to be healed by healers so they purchase their own healing machines.

People can no longer keep track of their objects so they have apps to find their phones.

People can no longer be responsible for their time so their phone tracks their productivity.

People no longer have patience to research when they can ask Siri.

People can no longer be bothered to cook so they microwave the nutrition out of their food.

Or eat food out of cans,

Plastic,

Or cardboard.

No more do people share wisdom, but articles from Google.

No more do people call, but send texts and emojis.

No more do people wake up to birds chirping or a rooster crowing or the sunlight streaming in, but to an alarm sounding.

People use their voices to turn on music instead of their fingers.

People rely on voice commands to guide their way instead of their inner compass or a well illustrated map.

Authenticity, Creativity, MindfulnessKhristee RichJuly 8, 2020creativity, poetry, mindfulnessComment

They Say It's Like Giving Birth!

Being in lockdown has been like a Master Class in learning about myself. I am questioning everything: my career, my life purpose, my relationships, health, and so much more! I have been triggered and so many emotions have been coming up. It has forced me to take a hard look at my life and what is working and what is not, to truly understand why things that I have wanted for so long are not manifesting and what I need to finally change.

The good news is that after much thought, I have clarity! My soul purpose is to be a writer and an international transformational speaker. But writing a book is hard. As many people say, "It's a lot like giving birth!" You have to put all of your focus on it and give it all you've got.

Money, I Love You

MY LOVE STORY TO MONEY

Last night Alicia Keys' "This Girl is On Fire" played in my eardrums. I tried to sleep but I heard poetry inside.

I needed to write, "My Love Story to Money" and I couldn't wait another moment.

This is the writing that came pouring out. This is the story that needed to be written.

The DancingHummingbird

The Dancing
Hummingbird