As a xennial, black woman, and writer, Terry McMillan occupies a special space in my heart. Growing up, her novels lined the coffee tables, bookshelves, and bathtub reading racks of every grown black woman I knew.
As a kid of the 90’s, you couldn’t tell me nothing when, at 12-years-old, I snuck-read my mother’s copy of Waiting to Exhale.
In her unprecedented string of bestsellers, McMillan wrote black women as they actually existed in my life. Her down-to-earth, sistah-girl narratives read like the hushed discussions around my grandma’s kitchen table and the gut laughing, thigh slapping conversations of my aunties beauty salon.
Reading her novels was like eavesdropping on grown folks conversation.
As far as I’m concerned, the groundbreaking author easily ranks with the likes of Oprah, Arsenio, and Babyface, as a defining voice that shaped culture for my generation. As such, Terry McMillan is forever canonized as an Auntie in my head.
These days, as the nuances of my 30-something realities have caught up with the fictional storylines of her classic characters, I find myself re-reading her novels with new adult perspective. And trust me when I tell you, it’s a worthy indulgence.
If a throwback reading binge doesn’t fit into your schedule, you needn’t look any further than McMillian’s Twitter feed for a dose of the practical, hilariously dry anecdotes for which the writer is known.
Sprinkled with random observations, timely advice, and political commentary, a quick scroll through @MsTerryMcMillan‘s timeline will remind you why you first fell in love with her words. Check out the following,
17 Reasons Why Terry McMillan Will Forever Be My Favorite Auntie In My Head
1. Zero chaser.
This presidency is wearing me the fuck out.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 6, 2018
2. LOL! Come on, Auntie!
Just heard a song on my Spotify playlist by Khalid w/Normani (“Love Lies”) and he sings: “Baby, you gon’ make me overnight it.” Well.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 30, 2018
3. Damn your Richter Scales, Ms. McMillan can show you how to measure an earthquake.
Safe from the quake! When books fall off the shelves, that’s when you know it’s a 5.0. These stayed put. pic.twitter.com/dBzlRM0GSL
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 5, 2018
4. This wisdom though…
I have finally realized that with the exception of being pregnant, everything takes longer than you think.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 5, 2018
5. In case you thought we had a choice.
I love watching movies that make me talk to the screen. #movies
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 7, 2018
6. She just gets me.
I should not have eaten that hamburger.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 4, 2018
7. She shows the girls love.
Short stories are very hard to write. Although Roxane Gay makes it seem easy. That’s how good she is.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 4, 2018
8. Timely advice.
If you are bored — with your day or your life — you have to force yourself to do something to make it interesting. It takes far less energy than acquiescing to boredom.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 24, 2018
9. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but…
Sometimes, there’s just nothing left.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 8, 2018
10. A word. Come through, humility.
I am often wrong. And not too snobbish to admit it.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 6, 2018
11. And she’s as Rih obsessed as the rest of us.
I look just like this when I wake up. https://t.co/vk1K2MvkPH
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 28, 2018
I wish Rihanna would start asking for my permission before using my photographs, and especially when I’m in the shower.😀 https://t.co/HUcJVpodGk
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 31, 2018
12. Someone please make this woman a political advisor.
The one person Donald should hire for a permanent position in the White House is a good shrink.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 4, 2018
13. Perspective.
I’ve been alive long enough to have seen eleven presidents, which is probably why I am shocked, insulted, afraid of and embarrassed by the 45th one. Even Nixon wasn’t this arrogant and evil.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 7, 2018
14. One more time, for the people in the back
I was born in the 1950’s and I don’t want to have to relive it.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 27, 2018
15. Are you catching these gems?
Sometimes we have to know when to let go. And when to let it go.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) April 8, 2018
16. Cold hard facts.
It won’t kill you if you say, “I’m sorry.” Or, “I was wrong.” Try it. And see how much better you feel.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 23, 2018
17. I mean…if the shoe fits.
Are you running out of time or just not making the most of it?
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) March 22, 2018
Let the church say Amen! Don’t sleep on @MsTerryMcMillan.
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