“I am not just a woman, I am a black woman.”
Photo by Even Keel Imagery - Miriam Brummel
Some people might find this weird, but humor is one of my core values. Infusing humor into my work and my life is very important to me. My line of work requires that I hold space for many emotions and behaviors. I have found that humor is a good container; not to replace the discomfort, but rather to counteract it. I chose this phrase Womyn are too badass for this shirt to generate laughter. However, this phrase also depicts how I view women. We are not the fairer sex. We are not bossy. WE. ARE. BADASS. Women are strong. We get the job done; pregnant, on their period, or otherwise. Women knock down barriers. We will not be gaslighted. We will not be minimized. We are TOO badass for that.
I am not just a woman, I am a black woman. Walking through this world as a black women can be...challenging. The glass ceiling reaches astronomical heights. The wage gap is a grand canyon. The microaggressions are deafening. It made me angry, and sometimes it felt as though the anger would drive me mad. But then I remembered all of the women who paved the way for me. Maya Angelou was the first African-American women to have a screenplay produced. Misty Copeland was the first African-American to be appointed as a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater. Oprah Winfrey was the first African-American women to host a nationally syndicated daily talk show. More recently, Simone Biles was the first black woman to win five top gymnastic titles. Rather than focusing on anger, these women channeled it towards the advancement of themselves and other women like them. I am not angry anymore; I am passionate and hopeful. To be a black woman is to constantly fight for advancement, not just for yourself but for women of all ethnicities and cultures. Being a woman is to know that yes, we are ALL women, AND that we are all different. I am grateful for the continued allyship of inclusive women who are able to celebrate that fact. It's an exciting time to be a women, just wait and see what we have planned...
“We are not the fairer sex. We are not bossy. WE. ARE. BADASS. Women are strong. We get the job done; pregnant, on their period, or otherwise. Women knock down barriers. We will not be gaslighted. We will not be minimized. We are TOO badass for that. ”
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Cherelle Solomon, MSW, is an Associate Clinical Social Worker, ASW #74940, working under the professional supervision of Gabrielle Taylor, PhD. Cherelle utilizes a psychodynamic approach in her practice with children and families.