How Vulnerability Is the Bravest Act as a Woman of Color
Black women continue to make history paving the path forward. We have a unique talent for taking on the weight of the world. Although we are perceived and applauded for displaying superhuman strength and endurance, do not be fooled. We are just as human as the next person.
Suffering as a badge of honor may be generational but it does not and should not have to be a part of the continuum. In an effort to “save face” so many women feel the need to hold themselves to standards that no one actually put there but us.
It’s time for the narrative to change.
Say it with me:
Vulnerability is the new strength.
I am allowed to show my wounds so that I may foster deeper connections and inspire others to do the same.
I deserve to be nurtured too.
For anyone who has ever truly cracked, it is sometimes the tiniest impetus that can cue a biblical flood of emotions. Letting go of the armor, even when your guards look super glamorous and polished on the outside can be scary and unfamiliar territory. It can feel like the opposite of cool confidence, and most “strong black women” would rather die than be seen crumbling. Yet if we don’t take care of ourselves first, we will be ground to dust by the responsibilities we so eagerly take on.
It is only when you are able to push those fears and insecurities aside, honor your feelings, and speak your truth. That is the greatest courage of all and the sign of a true leader.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s journey of self-advocacy is an inspiring one of a powerful woman of color choosing to find the power in her pain and sharing it with the world.
How do you recognize yourself?
Congresswoman Pressley was elected to represent Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In 2019, Representative Ayanna broke her silence and boldly shared with the world her struggles with Alopecia, a disease that causes hair loss when the body attacks its own hair follicles. When it comes to black women in particular, certain types of Alopecia are more common. One is traction alopecia, which occurs from stress on hair follicles from the use of things like braids, weaves, and other extensions.
Pressley’s battle began with the Senegalaise twists she began donning several years ago, and quickly became synonymous with her political brand. She attests when she first got the twists, It was “like I met myself fully for the first time.” The Democratic lawmaker says she was aware that her hairstyle might be seen as a “political statement that was militant.” But she was deeply moved by the positive reception it garnered.
“Now, I walk into rooms and little girls are wearing T-shirts that say ‘My Congresswoman Wears Braids,’ “ Pressley says, adding that she has gotten letters from women who “talk about their own emancipation, that they feel that they feel like I’ve given them permission.”
Living a life dedicated to the advocacy of others, and choosing to go public with her hair loss struggle exclusively for The Root, gave her the agency, power, and freedom that she, a woman — a black woman — deserves.
In the interview, Congresswoman Pressley admits the process has not been easy and she’s had to meet herself anew every day since.
She also shares that it was on the eve of the 2020 impeachment that she watched the very last patch of hair she had, collapse in the sink. That next morning, after casting her vote on the House floor she recounts quickly exiting to a bathroom stall still grappling with the feelings of shame, embarrassment, and the feeling of no longer being herself.
Choosing to go public soon after that, and shining a light on her fresh wound allowed for so many others to connect, relate, and applaud her for her.
Not the unapologetic public perception of her, but her whose body could not physically hold up the weight of representing for an entire community any longer.
Thousands of women flocked to Twitter after the video debut standing in solidarity and sharing their feelings of empowerment and feeling seen by the Congresswoman.
In a moment of perceived loss, sisterhood and new standards of strength were celebrated despite fear.
May we learn from her and others who have gracefully shown vulnerability and implement it into all our relationships.
While Physical + Mental strength will always be important, what if we took stock of our emotional health too?
Imagine the personal growth if we put as much importance on how “put together” we look on Instagram into how we genuinely connect with someone over a shared experience or tribulation.
Black Hair Management
Healthy hair is a function of mental health, wellness, and excellent hair care products.
We provide all three.
Sign Up Now to learn about all the ways BHM celebrates Black Women and Women of Color on their natural hair journey.
And don’t forget to follow BHM on Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.
Please forward any press inquiries to press@blackhair.management.
