You ask, why Onyx Yayas? Well let us help you to understand.
Onyx - “a powerful protection stone, Black Onyx absorbs and transforms negative energy, and helps to prevent the drain of personal energy. Black Onyx aids the development of emotional and physical strength and stamina, especially when support is needed during times of stress, confusion or grief.” (healingcrystals.com) For many years these characteristics have been and continue to be attributed to black females. “If such persons [Black women] did not exist, it seems there would be much motivation to create them and maintain their presence among us.” (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, T, 2009). Wow can we just take a moment to soak that in and bask in our power. With such significant influence , why then are we so invisible? Ladies I’m sad to say we let ourselves down here, we do not glorify ourselves or each other.
Just like the onyx we are healers and protectors AND we are precious. We need to love on ourselves so much that we are overflowing with it and can pour it into our sistas too.
The name or title of YaYa has many meanings; everything from Miss or Missy to Grandmother or babysitter. It’s attributed to being a leader and defined as the knowledgeable wise woman. Whilst many families have a patriarch; dad, uncle, granddad... many will turn to the matriarch – the YaYa; whether it’s for advice, assistance, or for a cuddle. How often have you found yourself saying a statement that was your grandmothers, or remembering the way Aunty does something? We've all used or received recipes concocted and passed down through the ages whether it's to get well, feed the last minute guests or just to pass it down to the next generation, Black women share. The wisdom of a YaYa comes in many forms and we hold the advice we give and receive from one another, in high regard. Yaya's are not necessarily old but they need to have an understanding mind and a hearing heart, (1 King 3:9) which they use to share wisdom with their sistas. Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (Proverbs 1:20-21).
Now you know what the word 'Onyx' and the word 'Yaya' mean individually we hope you can understand how symbolic the two words are when combined. Onyx Yaya's promotes the sheer magnitude of our presence and impact as Black women on this earth! We are knowledge and we are wisdom our SHE story, supports, guides and cares for our own and the rest of society. We no longer have to see this as a burden but instead collectively we use this to uplift each other. Finally a label that is worthy of us.
Queens, you can stand tall, hold your banner high and shout it from the rooftops “I AM AN ONYX YAYA!"