Black women are often celebrated for our resilience, strength, and power, which can feel almost superhuman at times.
This “superpower” manifests in various forms including culturally, socially, and personally and is deeply rooted in the history and lived experiences of Black women across the globe.
Our ability to thrive despite systemic challenges, discrimination, and societal pressures is awe-inspiring and should be studied. In essence, Black women are superheroes not superwomen. Do you know the difference?
SuperHero: Someone with extraordinary or superhuman abilities, who fights evil, protects the public, and upholds justice, often at great personal sacrifice.
SuperWoman: Someone who seems to do it all: balancing work, family, social commitments, and self-care, all while maintaining an admirable level of competence, grace, and resilience.
Some of the “superpowers” attributed to Black women are not just metaphorical “superpowers,” they are the lived reality of Black women. In order to understand how to use our superpowers as superheroes and maximize the outcomes, we must first understand what each attribute represents:
Resiliency: The ability to endure and overcome adversity passed down through generations. From the era of slavery to modern-day battles for racial justice and equality, Black women must continue to push forward, building strong communities and legacies of activism.
Cultural Influence: Black women play a central role in shaping global culture, particularly in music, fashion, literature, and the arts. Icons like Maya Angelou have used their voices and talents to inspire change and challenge the status quo.
Unyielding Strength: In the face of oppression, Black women are often at the forefront of social movements, whether it’s the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Lives Matter movement, or grassroots efforts for economic and racial equity.
Multidimensionality: Unlike any other race, Black women frequently embody multiple identities, from racial, cultural, gender, and sometimes socio-economic while navigating with grace and strength.
Community-Building: Black women have long been the backbone of our communities, providing care, support, and guidance.
Creative Expression and Innovation: Whether through music, fashion, visual arts, or entrepreneurship, Black women often drive cultural innovation.
A Day Without My Cape!
Every superhero wears a cape, symbolizing their identity, their mission, and elevated status. But Black women are the exception. We’re the true embodiment of what it means to be a superhero, or “She-Ro”, as I prefer to call it. However, unlike a typical superhero, a Black woman wears countless capes.
I’m not talking about a literal cape. When I say “capes” plural that’s because the average Black woman wears at least three different capes in a day. The only time we’re without one is when we’re going to bed. But even then, sometimes, there’s another cape.
One of the most recognizable capes worn by a Black woman is the “mom cape.” It’s the one that has you up at the crack of dawn, after only four to five hours of sleep, making sure breakfast is ready, lunches are packed, and the dogs are fed.
Then there’s the wife, girlfriend, or significant other cape. This is the one we wear when everything’s going smoothly in the relationship, and even when it’s not.
When things are good, we’re the ones planning date nights with bae, organizing weekend getaways, or even throwing our own birthday celebrations.
But when the relationship hits a rough patch, we switch into the “repair woman” cape. The one where we’re putting in overtime, doing everything we can to keep things from falling apart.
And let’s not forget about the “work cape”. Most Black women work outside the home, spending eight to 12 hours a day hustling just to make a living. But 2025 feels different. Women are finally giving themselves permission to say “no” or “not right now.” We’ve reached a place where we understand it’s okay to take a break from wearing the cape and not feel guilty or ashamed for doing so.
It’s Okay Not to Be Strong!
At the core of every superhero is the idea of strength and selfless service, whether it’s to society, family, friends, or being a beacon of hope and justice.
Black women, however, have been conditioned to be everything to everyone, all the time, without regard for the toll it takes on us. Even when we’re exhausted and on the verge of breaking down, we’re taught that we must keep it all together to avoid seeming weak. But this year is different.
This year, we’re giving ourselves permission to be gentle, passive, meek, and even vulnerable, remembering that we no longer have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, especially in the face of hardship and struggle.
2025 is the Year of Reclamation
What excites me the most is there’s a resounding theme, “Black Women Living Well 2025”, which is a total focus on ourselves and reclaiming our power.
We’re on a healing journey and Tulsa, Oklahoma is ground zero for the revolution. This year and beyond, our reclamation is a “rebirth” of self. As Black women, we are going to focus on 10 transformative principles that are integral to our personal growth and the living well journey.
1. Black Women and “Healing”
The first step in the rebirth, transformation and healing journey is the process of recovering from physical, emotional, or psychological wounds. It involves letting go of past pain, nurturing oneself, and finding a path toward balance and peace.
Healing isn’t linear and often requires self-compassion and patience. Remember, be patient with yourself.
2. Black Women “Liberation”
Black women are finally embracing liberation. We are breaking free from oppressive systems, limiting ideas, and circumstances that fail to honor and amplify us. Liberation is both an internal and external journey.
3. Black Women “Acceptance”
Black women are learning to embrace reality as it is, without judgment or resistance. It’s about accepting situations, people, and even ourselves, flaws and all, and finding peace in that acceptance.
4. Black Women “Reconciliation”
Black women are masters of reconciliation, often carrying the weight of the world, even in the most challenging situations. However, true reconciliation starts within. Before seeking mutual respect and healing with others, we must first reconcile with ourselves.
5. Black Women and “Forgiveness”
This year, Black women are making self-forgiveness a top priority. The conscious decision to release resentment, anger, and blame from past and present trauma is the crucial first step on the rebirth, transformation and healing journey. Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing wrongdoings or overlooking harmful behavior, it’s about finding peace within ourselves, freeing our hearts from the weight of past wounds, and reclaiming our power.
6. Black Women and “Wholeness”
When we embrace the 10 transformative principles that govern our lives and personal growth, we become truly whole. Spiritually, emotionally, and physically, we align with the balance we seek in life.
Ultimately, we reach a state where mind, body, and spirit work in harmony and are able to embrace every part of ourselves, both the light and the darkness. It’s about recognizing that true personal growth comes from accepting all aspects of who we are, without judgment or fear.
7. Black Women and “Self-love”
At the core of who we are is Self-Love. For far too long, society and the pressures we place on ourselves as Black women have taught us to doubt, and even hate, who we are and what we stand for. But this year and beyond, we are shifting that narrative. We are committing to value and nurture ourselves with kindness, care, and compassion.
We will honor our worth and take intentional actions that promote our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, knowing that we deserve nothing less.
8. Black Women and “Restoration”
Restoration often follows a period of depletion or loss, bringing renewal and balance. Black women, having endured centuries of abuse, racism, sexism, and hate, carry the weight of that history.
Yet, just like our ancestors who, against all odds, found the strength to endure and cultivate a mindset of balance and peace, we too can rise. It’s about replenishing what was lost, filling ourselves with boundless love, light, and resilience, and reclaiming the fullness of who we are.
9. Black Women and “Renewal”
The best part about the rebirth, transformation and healing journey is the act of starting fresh or reinvigorating one’s spirit, mind, or body.
For Black women, renewal involves shedding old layers, embracing new beginnings, and experiencing a sense of revitalization that leads to growth, change, and a renewed sense of purpose.
10. Black Women “Empowerment”
When we’ve invoked all the principles of the rebirth, transformation and healing journey, we’re totally empowered. We now have the confidence, control, and the ability to make decisions that positively affect our lives.
Black women can take ownership of our voices, choices, and actions, without being typecast as loud or angry. Remember, the real definition of a Black Woman is “Superhero.” You no longer have to be a Superwoman to the world.
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- Week 4: 12 Weeks of Healing: Do DEI initiatives help or hinder Black-owned beauty brands?
- Week 3: The 3 B’s: Black women spend billions on beauty; how to take ownership
- Week 2: My Black is beautiful: How to erase hundreds of years of programming