Written by: Aisha Saintiche, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Isn’t it amazing how we can be celebrated one day and annihilated the next day, but expected to take the beating with grace, posture, and silence.
Funny how the very credentials and experience that made us the “perfect” candidate to take things to the next level, also become the same credentials that are questioned and scrutinized.
Interesting how we reflect a “new wave” of “much needed leadership” but in the same breadth, reflect what STILL remains taboo and undesired.
Chapter 84 of the Black Woman is filled with pages of pictures, captions, words, and statements that reflect our continuous pain at the hands of structures, institutions and systems that celebrate us openly to paint a “pretty picture” of inclusion, but behind closed doors offers the whipping by a systemic master that every so incrementally reminds us of our actual place in society.
If this seems harsh, uncomfortable, and perhaps unfathomable, understand that we are no longer seeking your approval or “hoping” that you understand our pain. For the truth of what the lives of Black women are showcased for all the world to see.
Understand that as I write this article (and it has been quite some time since I’ve written one) I am not angry, I am not bitter, nor am I resentful. In fact, I am what many Black women are…affirmed. You see the public lynching of Claudine Gaye (and believe that what took place was just that) reflects not just the stories of the many Black women who’s shoulders WE stand on, but the lived experiences of the many women we see, work with, love and support today.
I may be dating myself…and apologies for the small diversion – but does anyone remember the episode of Sesame Street where Kermit sang his song “It Ain’t Easy Being Green”…well chile…’it ain’t easy being a Black woman!” The requirement to shape shift, be ALL that they need us to be, but stay in our lane is a skill held securely by the Black woman.
I’m sure as some read this, there may be eye rolls, there may be deep breadths of fatigue at yet again our cry at injustice, anti-black racism and misogynoir – but hear me when I say this. DESPITE the attempt to dismantle our spirits, disrupt our journey, create doubt in our abilities, capabilities and capacity – We are the great great grand-daughters of women who nursed babies that weren’t their own. We ain’t phased!
Are we tired. Yes.
Are we saddened. Yes.
Are we angry. Yes.
Are we hurt. Yes.
Are we broken. No
You see while the lived experience of the Black woman is filled with pages and pages and pages of stories just like Claudine Gaye, there are also pages and pages and pages of women just like Claudine Gaye who chose peace, self-preservation and power over a system that thought it could destroy her.
There’s a beautiful passage by Stephanie Lahart that goes, “They tried to stop her, but they failed miserably. They overlooked her, tried to discourage her, and sabotaged her, but she persevered through it all with her head held high. They talked behind her back and plotted against her, but they didn’t realize that they were messing with an unstoppable, resilient Black Queen.”
To all of my melanated sisters…feel what you need to feel. Share what you need to share. Cry, scream, shout, yell – do all that your mind, body and soul call you to do. But when all is said and done, and you have nothing more to release – pick your head back up, puff up your hair and affix that crown at the top of your head Queen – e got sh** to do!
Aisha Saintiche, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
Aisha also holds a Masters in Public Policy Administration and Law, as well as a certification in Change Management, Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counselling and Health Coaching. She is also an Integral Master for the Canadian Olympic Committee of Canada, and most recently she became a Published Author.
Always seeking opportunities to bring about change, she is also an active member and Board of Director for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) and the Board Chair for Afiwi Groove School.
