By Tracey Morrison, Contributing Author
The month of March introduces Women’s History Month, recognizing the history such as the Women Suffrage Movement, accomplishments of women and reflect on the advancements they have made in a society that has long ignored and devalued them.
As seen by the expanding number of women-led enterprises and their increasing representation in leadership positions, women have demonstrated that they can continue to succeed in a society that is dominated by male ideologies by working hard in the corporate sector and succeeding in entrepreneurship. Many women and organization such as, Win With Black Women (WWBW), have taken it upon themselves to gateway new avenues during difficult times when politicians and systematic structures try to marginalize women, especially Black women.
In a society where Black women often face devaluation, objectification, and judgment based on harmful beliefs, it’s crucial to reclaim the value of womanhood and sisterhood. Women must support each other in a world that subtly resists female success, especially in politics and leadership. They should also distance themselves from systems that try to boost confidence of insecure men by putting women down, by recognizing their own worth.
True sisterhood means building one another up, not tearing each other down through cattiness, jealousy, gossip, vindictive behavior, emotional manipulation, or superficial comparisons. The “clique” mentality that assumes other women don’t deserve certain blessings because of their past, appearance, demeanor, or other factors is long overdue and time to change.
I want to reference the biblical scripture from 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV):
“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height,
for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’”
Judging others superficially is not a prospective move in improving one’s own perspective. That mindset only limits one’s growth and prevents one from thinking outside embedded ideologies and negative cultural systems, as a result can hinder personal development and the ability to engage with diverse perspectives.
Creating a positive environment, building positive rapport, fostering cohesiveness, pausing before reacting, avoiding gossip, and speaking up when necessary are also important aspects of sisterhood. Use your voice thoughtfully, and try to understand where others are coming from. It also means to give others the opportunity to utilize their voice without cutting them off and being dismissive. Share in your sisters’ joys, and don’t give in to the temptation to spread bad news.
Respecting each woman’s dignity and honoring trust means avoiding the spread of screenshots or private conversations that encourage gossip in group chats. Remember, you can only be trusted if you display the heart and character that a sister can rely on in times of need.
Sisterhood is about encouraging each other, offering genuine support, and doing so with love. Every act of help matters and should be done sincerely, not for spotlight attention. At its core, sisterhood involves loving others as we love ourselves and avoiding relationships built on gossip or negative talk.
We, as Black women, must persist in redefining beauty according to our own standards, valuing our diverse skin tones, which encompass a wide range of hues such as dark chocolate, caramel, coffee mocha, light brown, and brown sugar. Generations have been taught to internalize European beauty standards, using measures like the 20th-century “brown paper bag test,” minimizing the value of our natural hair and skin, and even joking about it through phrases like “Yo Momma is so Black,” “Tar Baby,” or “Nappy Hair” jokes. It’s time to reclaim our beauty and worth, free from these imposed ideals, particularly those perpetuated by the colonial era and entertainment industry.
My Black sisters, you don’t have to be everything for everyone. You can take off the superwoman cape. Rest, ask for help, and accept that you cannot do it all alone. Set boundaries and lean on your sisters.
Let’s create a culture of random acts of kindness, genuine listening, and building relationships without judgment based on insufficient evidence of character. Let’s value our worth in relationships and be willing to walk away from situations that do not serve us. Let’s live and act in love.
Let’s honor women through action by lifting each other up, celebrating our strength and beauty, and embodying the true meaning of sisterhood every day. Don’t make it a hashtag! Make it a lifestyle!
