The Strong Black Woman

is a useless front. We can be strong for the sake of ourselves but to be strong to the point where we behave as if we are invincible and impervious to pain is backwards.

Strength is not gained at the expense of humanity. Even here, we behave as if hurtful words exchanged online are as effective as getting a feather thrown at you. Ladies, you are still talking to people whether you admit it or not. The fights that have happened here completely nullify the belief that "it is just the internet; it is not that serious."

You are not the invincible being you have tried to portray yourself as. You are human and that is perfectly fine.

“As racist and sexist in origin as it may be, contemporary black women perpetuate the myth of the STRONGBLACKWOMAN (SBW) for reasons very similar to our antebellum counterparts: It boosts our fractured self-esteems. As the granddaughters of the Civil Rights, Black Power, and Feminist movements, this is a difficult thing to admit. Most of us want to believe that we’re finally over some shit - that our egos are finally immune to daily assaults of racism and sexism - but that’s far from the case. We’ve just learned to suffer on the hush-hush […] Perhaps one of the most loving things sistas can do for themselves is to erase this tired obligation of super strength. Instead, let’s claim our God/dess-given right to imperfections and vulnerability. As black women it’s time to grant ourselves our humanity.” — Joan Morgan in When Chickenheads Come to Roost