The world is a MESS—and that’s not by accident. What we witnessed at @essencefest this year wasn’t just about numbers or lineups—it was about how quickly we, as a people, are willing to tear down our own. Essence is one of the last unapologetically Black spaces that celebrates us, for us, by us. And yet, we’re dragging it like we forgot how sacred it is to gather in joy, in culture, and in community. Some are using their creativity—their storytelling, their wit, their influence—not to uplift, but to spread misinformation and negativity. That’s not power. That’s pain in disguise. And the more we feed it, the more we teach the next generation that division is acceptable. Our kids are watching us. They’re absorbing every comment, every tweet, every dragged-down Black woman leader. And when we pass the baton, what direction are we handing it in? I’ve seen so much unwanted MESS on Beyoncé’s internet about Caroline Wanga, the current President and CEO of Essence Ventures. But yall energy is MISDIRECTED!!! This isn’t just about @wangawoman. It’s about how we treat Black leadership. It’s about how we let whispers of MESS distract us from the real MESS—racism, erasure, exploitation. The kind of MESS that profits off our division and turns our critique into content. Let’s be real: If we spent half the energy we use to tear each other down and instead circulated our dollars, protected our culture, and stood in solidarity, we’d be unstoppable. You want better? Build it. Show up. Support. Speak up—with intention, not destruction. We are not each other’s enemies. We are each other’s reflection.