Some of us wear who we are like an armor.
Some of us wear who we are like a mask.
And some of us are who we are because of what others think or expect.
Today’s Flyy Girl is none of the above.
Equipped with an assuring personality and a clearly defined mission,
she is well on her way to awakening many with the knowledge she has to offer.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Miss Shae Collins.
Please introduce yourself to the readers.
Shae Collins – born and raised in sunny Los Angeles.
Tell us about your blog; A Womyn’s Worth.
A Womyn’s Worth aims a Black feminist lens at all pop culture, examining race, gender, and sexuality. AWW discusses several hot topics including respectability politics, twerking, women in the media, and more. Link: awomynsworth.com
Why did you begin blogging?
I started blogging my senior year in college because I wanted to jumpstart my writing career and learn more about how I fit into society. The blog really took off when I started writing my senior thesis on Women in Hip Hop, and explored the ways in which capitalism and white supremacy influenced the ways women artists are portrayed. That thesis changed my thinking and the goal for the blog, and A Womyn’s Worth became a way I could express what I learned about Black womanhood.
What motivates you to dedicate time to blogging?
Writing is my first love, so I always find moments in between work and school to write. I’m motivated by how much I learn through my writing. Whenever I have a blog topic that requires a bit of research, I get the opportunity to explore diverse ideas. Blogging has definitely taught me a lot about myself and the way others in society view me. A Womyn’s Worth forces me to confront dissenting opinions—and that’s what keeps me going.
I’m also motivated when others tell me how inspired they are by my work. My goal is to present alternative ideas for people to consider. For example, I have a series on the blog dedicated to debunking myths about the usefulness of respectability politics, which many black people still cling to. I like to challenge people’s ideas about Black sexuality and culture. So when people hit me up on Facebook or the comments section telling me that they learned something, I feel my job as a blogger has been accomplished.
In one year, what do you hope manifests from your blogging?
I hope to inspire more people. I hope my writing allows people to consider new ways of looking at the world. I also want to expand my reach and write for publications I don’t have bylines in yet. I’ve got my sights set on The Root, For Harriet, Ebony, and many others.
I’d also like my blog to support more activism. I was very moved when I participated in the Black Lives Matter protests here in LA, and I’m hoping to bolster this activism through my blog.
Name two of your favorite bloggers you follow.
Areola Bandz, PhD AKA Monique John’s blog, Twerked is always a good read. She talks about sexuality in our generation and always has an interesting perspective. She’ll make you think twice about judging Amber Rose and have you wish you could twerk like a video girl.
There’s also Blavity, my favorite blogger collective. It’s a blog written by and for Black millennials—and it’s bomb. The bloggers are so on point. The blog makes me laugh, smile and clap my hands because of all the truth. It’s encouraging to see so many young Black writers doing their thing. I plan on writing for them in the near future.
What legacy do you want to leave behind for others to know about you?
I’ve never thought about that one. I guess I’d want to be known as the sassy culture critic that spoke her truth and was a leader for change in our country. Maybe like Angela Davis—but bald.
Stay connected with Shae via social media:
Twitter: @awomynsworth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awomynsworth
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/awomynsworth
HEYY GURRL HEYY 