 In many ways we need to abandon the "Queen/King" motif. It implies a hierarchy, where one rules absolutely and others are powerless to their actions.
One of my biggest challenges is providing my daughter with a clear understanding of fact and fiction. Via cartoons and children's books she has received the "Princess" narrative. I remind her that she is my princess and she is her father's princess.. she is her grandparents princess. However once we leave our homes, she is just as much a princess as her playmates. I show her images of princesses with their jewels and crowns, their thrones and palaces. Her namesake is that of an ancient Kushite Empress. "Queen"- Black Women thrive at the crossroads. Just as we needed the Black Power Movement to build our cultural self-concept, we also needed to see ourselves as enough- as worthy women. We stand so low on the totem pole within our predominately homogenous communities, that our struggles reflect the same powerlessnesses. We need/ed a strong dose of mythology, a fantasy in which to escape. So, our Architects began raising us to Queens. To Goddesses. To Earths. To Superwomen. To labels we would wear like mink coats and begin molding ourselves around. And we still use this device. Call a woman a queen and she smiles. Who wouldn't want the elegance and opportunities as the Queen of the Nile? Thing is, we are not Queens. I didnt say we are not regal people. Most certainly noble. We are not queens though. And based on our collective history with the monarchy, I would think we would shun the notion. From my studies, Kings and Queens didn't come from Original People. Its a foreign concept. We were sovereign. We respected ourselves and each other as humans- equals. Not Queens and Subjects. Again, foreign. Don't forget Akhenaton established Divine Rights by claiming direct descent from Aten. Im as honest with myself as I can handle. Lol, Im not a queen. Im a regular chick. A dude cant gas me up by calling me a Queen or Goddess. He can compliment me and I will smile and say Thank You. Other than that though.... I looked up the meaning of the word... Black Women must make peace with the crossroads. Queen? Lol, I got #work in the a.m.
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