I am Claudia L. Shivers. I am a breast cancer survivor. I am the single mother of 5 very intelligent, beautiful Black children. I am a grandmother. I am a revolutionary. I am a freedom fighter. I am a lover of all of God’s creations. I am afraid and I am afraid to be afraid and so I am courageous because that’s fearlessness’ younger sister. Oh, and I am a sister.
I want to tell you who I am based on my pedigree, but I don’t know who that is. I mean, I am the daughter of Minnie Lou Clodfelter and Lawrence Edward Shivers, Sr. I am the granddaughter of Liza and Hollis and Walter and Queen Esther, but only Walter and my dad still survive. My mom sold drugs, well pain pills to feed her addiction, but she was an amazing mom until the addiction. My dad gambled and manipulated women their entire marriage, but he empowered me with emotional intelligence. They were both always my biggest cheerleaders. They always encouraged me to learn more, do more, be more. They reminded me every day that I could be and do absolutely anything. So, here I am today, a social justice advocate, a business woman, a wonderful mother, a loving and dedicated friend, a whole beast.
Hold on a minute, Sister Giovanni is sending me a message from our Universal Mother. I feel her breath on my neck as she whispers in my ear. “Sister Warrior Queen, this is not a struggle. This is an Ego Trip. This is when you turn yourself into yourself and become Jesus. Men will intone your loving name. YOU are the one who will save.”
So, the short answer to your question is, I AM READY.
Claudia L. Shivers 