The Strong Black Woman Identity

Researcher Geneva Briggs

In 2020, I decided to move to Scotland with my son to do a Master’s in Criminology. Being an American in Scotland was already an adjustment, but when lockdown hit, it changed everything. I was doing my course work online and, like many other mums, taking on the role of a teacher. With no family nearby, the closest interactions I had were behind a 12-inch MAC screen. I was isolated, and it pushed me to become this superhuman. I succeeded, but my mental health took a backseat.  I was doing what I had to do. Fortunately, I realized that early on and made sure to take care of myself.

‘Doing what we have to do’ is the exact mentality that is harming Black Women. It is rooted in a history of surviving a racist system that has persistently inflicted harm, denying Black women equality and inclusion for generations. In other words, we are still surviving continuous barriers to get on in life. For some of us, just getting through the day affords us the title, The Strong Black Woman. The Strong Black Woman lives the pressures society places on her and the intersectionality of being a woman and a minority. My experience informed my thinking: Whose story isn’t told, and who is often left on the sidelines as the benchwarmers of society?

I decided I wanted to dig deeper to unveil the myth of The Strong Black Woman that society has imposed on us and how the myth has become detrimental to Black Women’s mental health. I wanted to find out why there is a stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community. This was also a chance for me to learn more about myself as someone who is, every day, trying to renounce the Strong Black Woman title. 

As a Black American, I know what we go through every day. However, I was not familiar with the Black Scottish Woman’s experience. Do they endure what we endure? Do they identify with the Strong Black Woman? 

I decided to conduct a focus group in America and another in Scotland. It’s worth noting that the Scottish group included participants born and raised in Scotland and those who lived in Scotland but were originally from another country. There were critical differences in the findings between the two groups.

For example, American participants had no attachment to African or Caribbean countries because of the slave trade. Scottish participants represented Scottish culture and had a solid attachment to various countries in Africa and the Caribbean. This is significant because Americans have only American culture to speak of and no attachments to other countries (which is a surprise to many). Our perspective is limited.

When it came to the topic of self-hate, some of the participants based in Scotland and raised in Africa had different experiences nurtured by their motherland.  When specifically speaking about Zimbabwe, black features were embraced and celebrated.  In America, without a historical connection to any African or Caribbean country, we have been taught to embrace western features (slim, fair, and long straight hair) and what is appealing to western society. 

Another key difference emerged from the topic of mental health and whether it is killing the Black community. A few of the Scottish participants were not fully aware of what Black women go through universally and how Black women struggle massively with mental health. Possibly, this is because of the isolation of their background in having been raised in predominantly white communities away from the universal experience of Black women. It tells how broad society continues to mask mental health within the Black community, especially Black women. I found it very interesting how we are all Black women, but the Black experience varies on where one is in the world.

I want to use my research to raise awareness of how Black women suffer from mental health daily due to society’s pressures. It is okay to hurt and feel defeated. This does not signify weakness, but the courage to admit and own that Black women too are human and live with a disproportionate level of inequality and exclusion compared to their white counterparts. I want this research to be an eye-opener for Black women to realise that just because strength is ingrained in us, does not mean it has to take control. Black women, renounce the title of The Strong Black woman because it is only causing us harm.

Stay tuned to True & Woke as I will be updating these lovely ladies if anything shall come of my research. You can also contact me personally at genevabriggs25@gmail.com. I would love to get feedback or your thoughts on the Strong Black Woman Identity.