Durable.
In order to justify the atrocities they meted out to black men, women and children, the human rights violators who powered the slave trade convinced themselves that black people were durable…willing and physically capable of handling the abuse they faced.
Unfortunately, this idea did not die with the trade’s demise and made its way into present day where people of African descent are deemed to be “stronger” or more durable than the white counterparts. The sum of this idea has deadly consequences.
Now find out why Taraji P. Henson hopes to make a change.
When asked about the “strong black woman” trope, she told ‘Essence‘:
It dehumanizes our pain. It belittles our tears. It belittles our pain. We’re supposed to be able to watch our brothers and sons and fathers get murdered in the street but we can take it because we’re strong.
We can deal with it, we can handle it. And that’s just not true. We’re not fairies. We don’t magically rebound from pain.We hurt and suffer just like others.
The concept that black women are “stronger” has to been used to justify violence against them as well harm them negatively when they seek medical attention.
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We have to be careful with that. Very careful with that term.
Strength is in being vulnerable, and that’s what I want my people to understand.The strength is in being vulnerable and being honest with yourself and saying, you know what, I’m scared right now. Or, I honestly don’t know what to do right now.