This young woman showed a measure of strength that a lot of us struggle to attain. The strength it takes to say that we are struggling. The strength is takes to say no to situations that do not serve us. The strength it takes to say, I need help and what you’re offering is not sufficient.
A Message for Y'all
Mainly because my anger, took me to a place beyond words, and that place was also a place of emotional, and physical exhaustion. Race related stress is real, microaggressions are real, overt acts of racism are real and are present throughout all levels of society. All of these things lead to and exacerbate mental health issues for Black people. So, a lot of us, have been exhausted, just by being Black in America and we experience further exhaustion by engaging in diversity work within the institutions to which we belong. Within that place of exhaustion and anger, I said “y’all (institutions, workplace managers) can figure it out!” But “y’all” out here doing damage to my people and I have to address it.