The black woman is beautiful, bold, brave, sagacious, industrious; the list is endless. An essential and ultimately indispensable part of the community, the worth of the black woman cannot be overemphasized.
However, despite all these, the black woman faces various kinds of issues; issues that are so challenging that they have left the black woman is very deplorable situations most times. They include discrimination, abuse (physically, emotionally and mentally), and a lot more. The black woman has had to bear the wounds inflicted by these issues for so long, that the time has come to help heal these wounds.
For this to happen, the black woman cannot do this alone. She would need all the help she can get. For just like a house shaken by strong wind and has been left weak, the black woman would need the support of the following three pillars:
- The Black Community
The community exists because the black woman exists. A lot of support can come from the black community to the aid of the black woman. For this to happen, the community must begin to take every problem of the black woman as a collective problem. The community must come to the defence of the black woman when she suffers any form of discrimination, abuse or the sort. The community must protect her when she has no place to turn to.
- The Black Man
The opposite sex has a major role to play in the healing process of the black woman’s wounds. The black man must, at all cost, ensure that he does not contribute (directly or indirectly) to the wounds of the black woman. This includes not abusing her in any way; not discriminating against her; showing her the respect she deserves; and so on. The black man must ensure that he utilizes his role or position to the utmost benefit of the black woman, to enable her to stand tall, and not to hinder her in any way.
- The Black Woman
The most important of these pillars is the black woman herself. No one knows where the pain hurts more except the person that bears them. In that same vein, the black woman would have to spearhead the process that would lead to her full healing. She would have to face those problems and challenges and do her own part in curing herself.
For this to happen, she would start with embracing herself. Most black women are not confident enough because they consider themselves as being inferior, as a result of their skin colour. Rose Oji, a melanin advocate in Nigeria, has on various occasions, emphasized the need for black women to appreciate themselves more by accepting the fact that their skin colour does not make them inferior, but completely superior and domineering. So, your skin colour is your pride, wear it proudly.
Also, the black woman has to ensure that she does her best to stand out positively. By this, we imply that the black woman can only be truly acknowledged if she is able to distinguish herself in every sphere of life. She can be a scholar, she can be an entertainer, she can be an artist, she can be a businesswoman, and so on. Whatever it is, the black woman must ensure that she puts in extra effort to show her might to the world.
Finally, the black woman must unite to fight against the forces that continue to inflict these wounds on her. Be it the government, organizations, or individuals, she must take the battle to them. She must ensure that the message is loud and clear: No More Shall The Oppression Exist.
