Black women are beautiful,
intelligent and capable --but mostly they embrace strong. Esteemed clinical psychologist,
Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, praises the strength of women, while exploring how
trauma and adversity have led to deep emotional pain and shaped how they walk
through the world.
Black
women's strength is intimately tied to their unacknowledged suffering. An estimated
eight in ten have endured some form of trauma--sexual abuse, domestic abuse,
poverty, childhood abandonment, victim/witness to violence, and regular
confrontation with racism and sexism. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
shows that trauma often impacts mental and physical well-being. It can
contribute to stress, anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Unaddressed it can lead to
hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, overeating, and alcohol and drug abuse,
and other chronic health issues.
Dr.
Burnett-Zeigler explains that the strong Black woman image does not take into
account the urgency of Black women's needs, which must be identified in order to
lead abundant lives. It interferes with her relationships and ability to
function day to day. Through mindfulness and compassionate self-care, the
psychologist offers methods for establishing authentic strength from the inside
out.