The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women (African American Studies)

Major Health Crisis Among Black Women Generated from Systemic Racism

"Marita Golden's The Strong Black Woman busts the myth that Black women are fierce and resilient by letting the reader in under the mask that proclaims 'Black don't crack.'" ―Karen Arrington, coach, mentor, philanthropist, and author of NAACP Image Award-winning Your Next Level Life

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Meet Black women who have learned though hard lessons the importance of self-care and how to break through the cultural and family resistance to seeking therapy and professional mental health care.

The Strong Black Woman Syndrome. For generations, in response to systemic racism, Black women and African American culture created the persona of the Strong Black Woman, a woman who, motivated by service and sacrifice, handles, manages, and overcomes any problem, any obstacle. The syndrome calls on Black women to be the problem-solvers and chief caretakers for everyone in their lives―never buckling, never feeling vulnerable, and never bothering with their pain.

Hidden mental health crisis of anxiety and depression. To be a Black woman in America is to know you cannot protect your children or guarantee their safety, your value is consistently questioned, and even being "twice as good" is often not good enough. Consequently, Black women disproportionately experience anxiety and depression. Studies now conclusively connect racism and mental health―and physical health.

Take care of your emotional health. You deserve to be emotionally healthy for yourself and those you love. More and more young Black women are re-examining the Strong Black Woman syndrome and engaging in self-care practices that change their lives.

Hear the stories of Black women who:
• Asked for help
• Built lives that offer healing
• Learned to accept healing

If you have read The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, The Racial Healing Handbook, or Black Fatigue, The Strong Black Woman should be your next read.