Am I My Sister's Keeper?

Picture courtesy of theaneoter.wordpress.com

Well the topic of sisterhood among the African American community as long been debated, discussed, and fought over. Many classify us as catty, envious, and just outright mean to one another. The term "haters" as tired as that phrase is best describes how many view us and misguidedly, even by some of our very own. Despite my experiences that suggest otherwise, I have seen and been involved in conversations where people have accused black women of being combative and possessing stank attitudes. Not to down play what others may have experienced but nothing is more farther from my truth. 

Black women (black people in general) seem to be held hostage to characterizations that lump us all together regardless of how varied and unique the African Diaspora actually is. There is no way that people would look at the antics of the likes of lets say Amanda Bynes and legitimately say that all white women are bat shit crazy. Yet the black women are held to the mystical characterizations that we are all snappy or are always on the defensive. This may be true of some black women but the same can be said for some white, asian, or hispanic women as well. Ones actions stem from their upbringing, circumstance, and many other factors that shape who we are. 

With all the obstacles black women face I will agree to the fact that we must champion and support one another to the fullest. Our excellence shines the brightest when we gather and uplift ourselves as well as our communities. Similar to other races, most black people associate with people that come from similar economic statuses, neighborhoods, and social classes. It seems pretty natural that the human race bonds with people that pretty much mirror ourselves. This separation that we build within ourselves seems to be more divisive than the opinions of what people think black women are like. Crossing boundaries and reaching out to a sistah that may be lacking in areas in which you are strong can only help to make us a stronger unit.  

Photo courtesy of
definingherskin.tumblr.com

Some of us may be guilty of judging one another off of superficial things such as the hairstyles we choose or our fashion style but that does not mean that we can never offer a helping hand when needed. As black women become more educated and reach certain levels of success we must remember the principles that allowed us to survive long before we have the opportunities we do today. We must uplift each other as well as sow the seeds of progress in our communities so that they can grow stronger. 

But that is just Ms. Yaya's two cents.