Three Harmful Habits Black Women Are Ditching

Black women are winning in education. We are writing and telling our stories. We are CEOs and Madame Vice Presidents, we are flipping states in elections. We are building our own table instead of waiting for a seat. Black women are also dying earlier. Stress is killing us. But we have some control of this. We are ditching some of those learned patterns of behavior and taking charge of our futures. It’s time we STOP…

Letting our Hair Deter Us from Exercising

According to the American Heart Association, Black people at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. In fact, we are 77% more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. While diet plays a big role, a diagnosis of diabetes is also related to a sedentary lifestyle. So, it’s surprising that even with the natural hair movement, there are still women who won’t break a sweat because they don’t want to mess up their ‘do. But it could cost them their lives. The amount it costs to go to the hairdresser is much less than the medical bills associated with illness. There are so many hair protection products and caps available, there is no excuse. Don’t want to sweat? Even walking at a moderate pace has health benefits. It’s time to leave vanity behind and start to move yours.

Wearing the “Strong Black Woman” Banner

While we are on the topic of health, we are no longer subscribing to the idea that because we are black women, we are invincible. According to recent studies, physicians were found to believe that Black women have higher thresholds for pain and treat us accordingly. It is the reason for missed diagnoses, disproportionate maternal mortality rates, and more later-stage diagnoses for cancers. In addition, it sends the internal message that we must tolerate more… more marginalization, mistreatment, and abuse from mainstream society and our male counterparts. Black women have been the initiators of many moments that changed America. Yes, we are resilient. Strong, even. But we are also soft, vulnerable, and deserving of empathy, support, protection, and a break!

Suffering in Silence

The Strong Black woman ideation is why many of us suffer in silence. Here we are struggling because we are tired, overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious and we don’t want to burden anyone. Instead, we wear the mask, smiling through the pain. Not anymore. We are ditching that for the new decade. No more “push through.” It is killing us slowly. Our families and friends love us, and it’s okay to let them know when we extra attention when we are grieving, stressed out, or frustrated.

Part Two: More Harmful Habits Black Women are Ditching is coming soon