To the one who sees the pink ribbons this month and your heart aches. You ache at the losses and the fountains of pain on the backs of those damn pink ribbons. To the one who’s lost their mom, or sister, father, auntie, or cousin. To the one who feels she’s lost herself. To the one who sees the pink ribbon and sees life, new life, hard and different life. Who sees triumph over this incredulous disease. To the one who is one month into active treatment and can’t see the light at the end, and is holding on to your last thread of hope: HOLD ON, warrior. Please. REACH OUT, warrior. To the one who’s years in, and the one who’s years out. I see you. HOLD ON, warrior. Please. REACH OUT, warrior. . To the ones who’s cried and laughed and walked with those of us who’s found ourselves under this pink ribbon’s shadow— thank you. We couldn’t have made it without you. . To those reading this with a lump in your throat. To those wishing to reclaim the pink and shiny facade most outsiders see, to push back the curtains, past all the detestable pink washing, past the 5ks and the pink ribbon t-shirts and tumblers, to see US. To the women and men who have been scarred and battered by this horrific disease and yet who has risen in ways that are miraculous, fierce and outright defiant. To you that’s gone before us, and to you that’s still here, THIS IS OUR OCTOBER. This ribbon isn’t red because it’s been stained and washed with our blood, sweat, and tears. That pink is fierce and strong. And WE are here to reclaim it. 👊🏾 . #pinkisnottheproblem www.pinkisnottheproblem.org Visit @hiphop_happyhour for ways on how to reclaim October. . 📸 @adriennegerber