“I struggle with calling my mother a superhero, not because she isn't one, but after all that she's lived through, she deserves to be able to rest. Black women are often saddled with the "strong Black woman" trope, and it can undermine their humanity. We have tasked Black women with the pressure to play this part of the superwoman, a protective measure in order to cope with the constant stressors of racial discrimination. Yes, they are resilient. Yes, they seem to come to the aid of the whole world. But Black women cry. They feel. They grieve. They hurt. They deserve their own healing. My mother deserves her healing.”
―
Yusef Salaam,
Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice