I am offically calling a moratorium on the phrase "strong black woman" until we (and by we I mean the global 'we') stop using it interchangeably with the word 'bitch'. And I guess for that to happen, we've got to re-think our definition of what a strong black woman is. Time was, a strong black woman was a black woman who was out in the community, fighting for change, all while praising the Lord, raising her children and loving her man. But times have changed. Nowadays, the term is synonymous with 'bitch' and, I am ashamed to admit, more than rightly so. There are women who have affixed themselves with the term "strong black woman" who are anything but. A strong woman isn't combative, loud, emasculating, and bitter. No...that describes a sad woman. A woman who has long ago allowed herself to believe that if she let her guard down long enough for anyone to see the woman inside, everyone would hurt and betray her. A strong woman let's down her guard and allows herself to give and receive love freely...even if she's been hurt before. A sad woman tricks herself into thinking that she doesn't need a man for anything. This is a lie. Our very nature is to need one another...just look at the story of creation in the Bible. the first woman was made when God plucked a rib from the first man. We are innately a part of one another. We DO need each other. We NEED each other to raise our children. Can it be done as a single parent? Sure, but it is not ideal...we were not built for solitude.
I encourage all of us to rethink how we view ourselves. To really look at who we are. Be prepared to be appalled by some of what you see. But also be prepared to change that which appalls you. Let's decide right now that we are going to wash the muck off of the term "strong black woman" and bring it...and ourselves...back to our former glory.
Be blessed.
J~
Suggested reading: Sisters of the Yam by bell hooks
