Why I’m Empowered by our Black Women of the past.

It’s always fantastic to join conversations and events celebrating empowered women. We live in a time when despite having more than ever, us women are still fighting for equality and to be treated with fairness. For us black women, we are still fighting more than ever to be heard, to be empowered in our way.

Our first examples of being empowered

When I think about the word empowered, I’m always drawn to thinking about or foremothers, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunties…. Those women who came long before us or maybe still in our lives now. But they have provided for us and influenced our lives in so many ways.

They didn’t know they were making a way for us – walking a path full of setbacks and problems; but they kept going.

They were often whispering in our ears “it’s alright – go out into the world and try”; not always telling us the horrors they endured because they wanted better for us.

From our foremothers who endured slavery to our grandmothers and mothers who came to the western world and raised us, here for me is the source of my empowerment.

They kept it moving while empowered

They knew what it was like to be ignored and pushed to the sidelines in society and at work. They had to keep on getting back up – showing up for work, drying their tears and holding their nerves together. Living in sub-standard accommodation, working two jobs and sometimes raising children single-handedly. These are the black women who despite the knots in their stomach found a courage to always face another day, holding onto the hope, that life would get better.

The fact that our black women did this while raising their children. Often whispering in our ears “it’s alright – go out into the world and try”; not always telling us the horrors they endured because they wanted better for us. Yes, this is why I’m empowered by our black women of the past.

Gratitude for these lessons in empowerment

I can’t explain how grateful I am to the women of my family and the other black women I know who have walked similar paths. How they survived and always tried to thrive and kept on pushing for better, no matter what happened. Without them and their lessons in empowerment, I know I wouldn’t be here with so many opportunities today.

These are the black women who despite the knots in their stomach found a courage to always face another day, holding onto the hope, that life would get better.

Our source for standing strong today

So whether it’s International Women’s Day, Black History Month or any other day – we can always know that we have the examples of being empowered and the source running through our veins. It’s our foremothers, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunties who got on with life, through good and bad, to give us the opportunity to stand as these empowered women today.

Who makes you feel empowered?

Who makes you feel empowered? Was it your mother or granny? Perhaps you had a coach or mentor? Is it one of your relatives or a someone else you know? Leave a comment below.

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