This July, we have all received a history lesson on the significance (or insignificance for some) of the 4th of July holiday--also referred to as "Independence Day." I am sure most of you felt the goosebumps when you read the famous words of Frederick Douglas circulating the internet or saw the viral video of his descendants reading them: "This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn."
It made me think about the word, "independence," and it's adjective cousin, "independent." What does being "independent" mean and why would we celebrate it?
What better place to look than the independent woman's fight song, appropriately named "Independent Women" and performed by the black woman personification of "girl power," Destiny's Child.
Tell me how you feel about this
Who would I want if I would wanna live
I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get
Ladies, it ain't easy being independent
Question, how'd you like this knowledge that I brought
Bragging on that cash that he gave you is to front
If you're gonna brag make sure it's your money you flaunt
Depend on no-one else to give you what you want
Looks like "independence" is about being "self+": self-supporting, self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-sustaining.
So how important is "independence" in your relationships? Apparently, independence is good, but "interdependence" is better: It values the importance of the emotional bond you share while maintaining a solid sense of self within the relationship dynamic . It's a relationship that gives you the freedom to be yourself and supports your growth.
What about your relationship with your business? Are you in an interdependent relationship?
Now, most of you believe Queen Bey declared her independence in 2001, when she and her fellow band members announced that they would be producing solo albums, or in 2005, when they announced the group was splitting up. Some of you are leaning toward 2008, when she "filed her d/b/a" (doing business as) name, "Sasha Fierce." You may be right.
I believe she chose her interdependence in 2008, but not because of the appearance of Sasha Fierce, who I believe the queen sentenced to death in 2010. No, it was a more official Declaration of Interdependence: the formation (you like that?) of PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT LLC, on June 10, 2008 in Nevada, Las Vegas (a few months after her royal wedding to King Jay-Z).
PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT is a powerhouse management and entertainment company for videos, artists (including the queen herself), films and T.V. shows. Think Chloe x Halle, Cadillac Records, and HΘMΣCΘMING. Before she declared her interdependence, Queen Bey had numerous appearances on the Billboard Hot 100. But, last year, thanks to PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT, she came in at #66 on the Forbes, World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list. (Oprah and Harpo, Inc./Harpo Productions at #20 and Rihanna and Fenty Films/Fenty Corp./Fenty Beauty at #61).
From independent to interdependent, from "girl power" to "queen power."
We began this talk with Frederick Douglas, let's close out with Corey Booker:
Look, the Declaration of Independence, they knew that this was a nation that was an experiment. If you read that document at the end, they actually have a declaration of interdependence where they say that if America's going to make it, we have to mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
So, Ladies, when is your Interdependence Day?
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