Ida Harris

Culture Writer・@Hotpeeznbutta

Mary,

I mean...I can talk for days about how What's The 4-1-1 validated ‘round-the-way-girl existence, or how My Life helped sort out Black womanhood and pain, or how your entire catalogue is literally the soundtrack to many of our failures, joy and success. But I'd be remiss if I didn’t big up your unapologetic style and overall evolution. When side-eyes were thrown at Black girls for our particular aesthetic, you came through and gave us license to transform our homegrown weaves and wigs into bleach blonde masterpieces with platinum highlights and rock thigh boots in the daytime. You breathed confidence into us, fed our esteem and represented who we are externally and within. You allowed girls like me from South Jamaica, Queens, to grow up with you, and evolve from young, broken daughters with zero fucks to give into sophisticated, healed women with zero tolerance for bullshit. In some sense, Mary, you raised us. As you celebrate your 50th birthday, I want to acknowledge the huge honor it is to be on this journey with you and to two-step into your next chapter.

Ida Harris

Love Letters