This was a heavy week for Black Women

This week was heavy for Black women despite being filled with joy, hope, and energy. As Black women, we are often forced back into a harsh reality before we can fully celebrate our happiness.

The current election cycle while not filling me with hope, I still knew what had to be done, the choice that had to be made, the difference between a good person and a bad one, and while I know that I would never agree 100% with any candidate, when I heard the news that President Joe Biden stepped down and endorsed VP Kamala Harris, despite me being in another country on vacation, my immediate reaction was joy, hope, and energy which was quickly followed by fear because I knew what was to come for her as a Black woman and what will come for other Black women. The hate, the vitriol, the sexism, the misogyny, and at the forefront would be the racism, some would be subtle, some would be outright but the bottom line would be, that because she is a Black woman, her qualifications would be questioned, which most Black women know, to be considered, you have to be overqualified because you won't even get a chance to interview otherwise. I have been there, with two master's over 20 years of proven success, I still made less than my Caucasian counterparts and was still passed over for promotions, and this is not unique, systemic racism is so ingrained in our culture that even people who look like us question whether we are qualified and will not promote us. 

And sure enough, the attacks on VP Harris are out of control, from her qualifications to her not having given birth (FYI, stepparents are parents) to her sexual history, nothing is off limit, and as Black women we brace ourselves for what is to come leading up to the election. The word DEI will be used a lot.

And then we have Sonya Massey (may her soul rest in peace) who would be alive today if she was not Black, again we are back to hashtags, prayers, vigils, and marches, which are all needed but do not change that Sonya was murdered, her murderer had a badge, and her family no longer have her. We have been here before, it is exhausting but we cannot stop, because if we give up, who will fight our battle for our very lives? Once again, we are talking to our kids about being careful with the police even in our homes, the very people who are supposed to protect us, we know they are not all bad, but in that profession, we cannot have any bad ones, it's like having a child pedophile in a daycare, it doesn't matter if everyone else is good, the children are not safe.

So yes, it has been a heavy week for Black women, battle fatigue is high, PTSD is high, exhaustion is high, and mental health must be prioritized. If you find yourself needing a little more time this week, take it, because we need it. Black women are strong, Black women are resilient, Black women will show up and do what needs to get done, yes, we are all those things, but we are also human, exhausted, tired, burnt out, and deserve safe spaces. 

This week I have counseled, spoken to, encouraged, and have been encouraged by Black women because it is needed. It is okay for us not to be okay; it is okay for us to express our grief; it is okay for us to take some time. 

And to anyone who is asking why it is always about race, when will it stop being about race, you have that privilege, but Black individuals do not, so to answer that, as long as others see being Black as a threat or less than human, then it will always be about race.

Black women do not be afraid to seek professional help if you need it!