27 Affirmations for the Rhinocerous Mama

In celebration of my 27th birthday

For 27 years of resilience, laughter, wisdom, love, and pain

Inspired by Assata Shakur

  1. I give and accept love freely
  2. I am at peace with myself and my life
  3. I am capable
  4. I am free
  5. It is my right to address toxic cycles and name my traumas
  6. I am connected
  7. I deserve time to myself
  8. I am open to sharing and obtaining knowledge
  9. I am creative
  10. I am happy
  11. I am in good company whenever I am alone
  12. I am worthy
  13. I uphold principles
  14. My truth is valid
  15. I trust my intuition
  16. I have friends who love me
  17. I am resilient
  18. I am healing
  19. I have a purpose
  20. I am creating a healthy and admirable legacy for my children
  21. I am able to apologize when I’m wrong, especially to my children
  22. I am a revolution
  23. I am beautiful
  24. I am wise beyond my years
  25. I am a dream come true
  26. I give myself permission to express myself
  27. I accept the beginnings and endings of cycles

Rhinocerous woman

Who nobody wants

and everybody used.

They say you’re crazy

cause you not crazy enough

to kneel when told to kneel.

Hey, big woman─

with scars on the head

and scars on the heart

that never seem to heal─

I saw your light

And it was shining.

You gave them love.

They gave you shit.

You gave them you.

They gave you hollywood.

They purr at you

cause you know how to roar

And back it up with realness.

Rhinocerous woman.

Big momma in a little world.

You closed your eyes

and neon spun inside your head

cause it was dark outside

You read your bible

but god never came.

Your daddy woulda loved you

but what would the neighbors say.

They hate you momma

cause you exposed their madness.

And their cruelty.

They can see in your eyes

a thousand nightmares

that they have made come true.

Black woman. Baad woman.

Wear your bigness on your chest like a badge

cause you done earned it.

Strong woman. Amazon.

Wear your scars like jewelry

cause they were bought with blood.

They call you mad.

And almost had you

believing that shit.

They called you ugly.

And you hid yourself

behind yourself

and wallowed in their shame.

Rhinocerous Woman─

This world is blind

and slight of mind

and cannot see

How beautiful you are.

I saw your light.

And it was shining.¹

¹ Untitled poem for Eva, pages 62-64, Assata, An Autobiography by Assata Shakur