Academic woundedness and healing: Welcome to the Queendom!

Dedicated to those who have had to face and endure the pain and suffering of academic woundedness. Reclaim Your Voice! Speak Your Truth! Reclaim Your Power! And Step into Your Queendom!

Signed, New Black Girl Magic!

Song:

Thought about the things you say

The games that you play … 

Like you got it like that

Step off step up wait … naw … step back … 

Didn’t I tell you not to mess with me

Didn’t I tell you let me be me

But you wouldn’t … you couldn’t

Because my blessings have you peeved … 

So, let me say this … 

For 6 long years

You told me what to do

I did it … Nailed it

So now I'm thinking I'm through

Exceeding expectations

Became a nice sensation

Crossing the Ts dotting the Is

But still … no elation?

And after 6 long years

After doing everything that was asked

The injustice started seeping in

With first questioning my tasks

How do we know you didn’t buy your viewers on YouTube

Is that even possible?

And creating a national award-winning website

You questioned if this was even plausible?

But I still held out for hope

That you'd change your mind and spirit

Come to find out

This game you were playing

Heck, I wasn't even in it

After 6 long years

I was presented with just a simple note

Rejection in 2 sentences

I'm thinking, this has got to be a joke

You’re supposed to be on my side

Supporting me all the way

Lies … set ups, let downs,

So this is what I'll say

Thank you for the opportunity

I really learned a lot

But in a way I dodged a bullet

Not filling up that spot

Unethical in the 11th hour and 30 minutes

You said you were done we r through

So guess what? After praying and slaying

You’re not just done with me … 

I'm done with you

I had to be … 

Walking through stores

In the white section of town

Stop and look in the back of me

One of my locs on the ground

Oh my goodness … 

Wondering if I failed

Stressed until my locs fell out?

This makes no sense

What the hail?

To the Marys, Jesus, Joseph and God

It’s not what I had in mind

But enough of that

I come from survivors

So let me get on my grind

So here I am standing

After all the lies and deceit

Don’t worry when you step into my kingdom

I'll offer you a seat

Because I’ve come through the storm

Even prayed for one or two

The blessings of God surround me

And I’ve been made brand new

Next chapter

Ahuh turn the page please

I'm about to show you

How favour on my life

Will bring you to your knees

Just to say you’re sorry

And perhaps offer to repent

To our almighty God in heaven

From where I was sent

Being the person that I am

Let me also say that you are forgiven

Carrying no hard feelings

In me His grace has risen

I now see who you are

And it’s all been for my good

Don’t get it twisted

Don’t think I missed it

I'd better not see you in my hood

Signed Black Girl Magic! Magic Magic Magic Magic

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janice Marie Collins

JANICE MARIE COLLINS is an award-winning professional journalist, documentarian, producer, director, writer, editor, cinematographer and reporter with more than 35 years of experience in the media industry. She is also an award-winning professor, scholar, researcher of mixed methodology and creative with 20 years of experience at university level.

She is creator of a national award-winning praxis, organisational design and critical pedagogy for Full Inclusion and Empowerment called Active Centralized Empowerment (A.C.E.).

She has a PhD in Mass Communications, specialising in Media Management and Critical Cultural Theory, and Women's Studies Associate Certification from Scripps College of Communications, and a Master of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, both at Ohio University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications and Theatre Arts with a concentration in Communication/Rhetoric from Wake Forest University. She has also been inducted into the ACC Legends Hall of Fame representing Wake Forest University women's basketball.

She is Founder and President of the nonprofit World Changers Media International Foundation, President and Founder of ACEING IT Consulting, LLC, a Gaia International Alliance 2023 Humanity Leader Top Picks, a Kopenhaver Fellow, and proud to be one of the original members of FEMDAC Transnational. Email: [email protected]