A Reminder of Who We Are As Black Women

By:Althea Sylvester

My mother is the strongest person I know, and she just so happens to be a beautiful black woman. I love her dearly and being close to such excellence is empowering. Ever since I was young I saw the strength in my mom and in the women around me. It helped me to believe that every woman was like this. So strong, so great, so incredible. I just knew that I was going to be like that, strong. Let’s push aside the “I’m a strong, independent black woman, who don’t need no man joke” And see our strength for what it truly is! For if we don’t, who will?

What does being strong mean to you? To me, it means to first, accept yourself. Every single thing about you. Flaws & all. Then it’s to be honest with yourself, and from there, potential and your true self can come through. Exposing things you never thought or knew, no longer longing to be accepted by those who choose to not see our beauty, but accepted by ourselves who choose to see our truth.

I think sometimes we forget that we’re only human and take on so much. That eagerness to do more, to pursue more, to be more; I believe it’s there because it was passed down to us. We’ll have good days, bad days. Really good days. Really bad days. But one thing that they have in common is that they come to an end. And the next day, hoping, we’re blessed with the chance to go into the day with new wisdom, love, and patience.

Let’s learn from each other, and be there for each other. As the sisters we are! Forever encouraging, teaching, & showing love. Let’s look into ourselves, deep down, always researching, not just listening. Let’s make our house (body) a home. Let’s make us comfortable with ourselves because we deserve it!

Our ancestors, the women, what they went through; is not only a reminder of what they’ve done for us and for themselves, but an indication of who we are and who we can become. And let’s remember that before slavery we were queens (still are). Remember who you are. We are not who we’re labeled as by society. We are who we say we are, and who we know we are. We are truly seeing an uprising of black women within this generation. Because of this new found knowledge and self worth , our greatness shines through us greatly!

From Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, Daisy Bates, Lena Horne, Nina Simone and etc… to your mom, aunties, cousins, grandparents, nieces, a woman you admire in your life, and YOU; we are strong. We’re always on the front lines for our people whenever something good or bad happens. And whether we get that recognition or not, we still do what we know we need to do, which says a lot about our character and who we are as black women.

Don’t wait until someone tells you who you are to recognize the light in yourself. Though, I know sometimes it takes that special whoever to give you a boost, just see that you continue on with believing in yourself.

It’s okay to have feelings! Our feelings aren’t a representation of something bad. But rather, it’s a representation of our human nature, and it’s something we should embrace. For one cannot move forward in life in a healthy way, without being honest with yourself. I wrote this because I myself was in need of a reminder on some things I already knew, but didn’t apply it. It’s so much easier to give advice rather than take your own. I hope whoever reads this truly benefits, and walks away feeling better.

“We are the women that marched from cotton fields into the fields of medicine, politics, law, education, entertainment. We even found a way to march ourselves into the White House as the First Lady of the United States of America” – Jada Pinkett Smith

So we hold our heads up high and walk with pride for we know that we can do anything. Should we decide to rise or not, the ability is within us already.