Beyond Strength: I Don't Want to be a "Strong Black Woman"

Beyond Strength

I am a tapestry woven with threads of resilience,

Yet I tire of the label, the weight of expectation,

Of being the strong black woman,

A shield forged in fire,

A warrior in a world that demands my armor.

I want to breathe without the burden,

To express my heart without the fear of being labeled weak.

I want to cry without the weight of judgment,

To feel without the need to stand tall,

To unravel the strength that binds me,

And simply be.

In the depths of my soul, I carry stories,

Of joy and pain, of triumph and loss,

But I yearn for the space to be vulnerable,

To share my truth without the need for a crown,

To shed the armor and embrace the softness,

To let my spirit flow freely,

Like a river unconfined.

I am not just strength; I am softness,

I am laughter that dances in the air,

I am the quiet moments of reflection,

The gentle touch of a hand,

The vulnerability that blooms like a flower,

In the light of understanding.

I want to be seen in my entirety,

Not just as a pillar, but as a spectrum,

A canvas painted with every hue of emotion,

Where weakness is not a flaw,

But a facet of my humanity,

A reminder that I am real,

And I am enough.

So let me express my heart,

Let me speak my truth without the weight of labels,

For I am strong, yes,

But I am also tender,

I am fierce, but I am fragile,

I am a woman, whole and complete,

And in my vulnerability,

I find my true power.

I am not just a strong black woman;

I am a symphony of existence,

A melody of strength and softness,

And I refuse to be confined,

For I am free to be me.