28 days --- 56 ways to be Young, Gifted and Black: Mimi Borders

How do you spend your days?

I love days that give me room to breathe and reflect. Typically, I am really busy with school work, research and extra-curricular activities. But this semester I am studying at the University of Ghana and I have more flexibility and control over my time. I do mindfulness meditations in the morning, yoga, write and daydream. Daydreaming is one of my favorite things to do - and it doesn't always have to be a solitary activity. I love dreaming out loud with my friends talking about how we want (WILL) to change the world, the places we will travel, the books we will write, how we will liberate ourselves and our communities. I drink a lot of water during the day and usually get sad at some point thinking about what is currently happening in the USA but I try and write myself out of the dark cloud.

What brings you joy?

My family is profoundly incredible. My parents are compassionate, emotionally intelligent people that always have uplifted and celebrated my uniqueness. My sister is my soulmate and backbone. My grandmother is my role model and her voice will immediately fill my heart with joy to the brim. My aunts and cousins are beautiful, complex wonderful humans that are always amazing and inspiring me. Watching my friends grow and succeed gives me joy. Good poetry feeds my soul. Also nature really reminds me of the spiritual aspects of our world and makes me marvel at the world. The fact that God created this wonderful world full of miracles and also little ole me brings me so much joy.

What is liberation to you?

Recently I yelled under a waterfall in Ghana and it was the most free I have felt in my whole life. Liberation is when my ancestors, the ghosts in my head, are at peace. When I live according to my purpose not society's expectations for a smart black girl. When black people are free to live in all of our nuances, complexities, loudness , whispers and laughter.

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