Sisterhood is a second family of our choosing and is invaluable to our well-being mentally and physically. A black woman’s relationship with her sisters, be it, a business group, womanist group, or best friends, are effective and successful because they share a racial identity and history, which creates a truly empathic, unconditional bond. Feeling comfortable and safe in self-disclosing to one another; accepting each other; teaching one another; the well-being remarkable of healing together; the empowerment awe-inspiring; loyalty demonstrated noble; humour shared jubilant during happy times; support during the tough times consoling and life-changing. Being truly seen for who they are, is what makes sisterhood powerful and meaningful.
Business Community
This powerhouse community is instrumental in where black women continue to experience the preposterous repugnant challenges faced in the workplace, where double standards are rife. Several networks are now available, such as the ‘Black Women Business Network’. Researching the web offers other options or simply sites such as LinkedIn.
Mental Health Support
In the medical field, typically, counselling and psychotherapy are rarely offered in the first instance, instead, psychotic drugs are the only option. It’s a wonder there isn’t an astronomical percentage of mental illness amongst black women, considering being denied their basic human rights. The common coping tendency is to sometimes simply swallow the hurts and unfairness, pushing it down out of the way or so they think. Thankfully there are now organisations such as ‘Black Minds Matter UK’ and ‘Therapy for Black Girls’ that offer free mental health support by black therapists.
Education Field
On the education front, to be commended is a UK Womanism Activism and Higher Education Research Network. Consisting of a group of educated, talented black women, who diligently work for inclusivity, a fair playing field in education and undertaking research that will serve as a documented record for future generations.
BFF Support
We all have a story to tell of our sisters’ invaluable solace; advice and encouragement. Whether to help with domestic violence and abuse; get us back on track career-wise or encourage the development of confidence, to emotional support during grieving. I remember my sister BFFs attending my mother’s funeral, taking the time out of their workday to offer me support. Seeing their faces in the congregation whilst reading the eulogy was very comforting and appreciated, my love for them at that moment was overwhelming. Equally so when during the pandemic lockdowns, our regular chit chats on our WhatsApp group, calling ourselves ‘soul sisters posse’, and checking in to see how we all were, was heartening.
The times are changing and the playing field is opening, albeit slowly, but hallelujah to sisterhood as this apt, succinct quote exemplifies:
“Sisterhood is many wonderful things. It’s a warm smile on a cold and rainy day, a friendly hug, and a cheerful hello. It’s treasured. It’s sacred. It’s eternal. It’s knowing that there will always be someone there for you. Its dreams are shared and goals achieved. It’s counting on others and being counted on. It is real (therandomvibez.com)
