Black Women Handle Business

Today is World Mental Health Day, so I wanted to share an excerpt from my book Protecting My Peace: For me, the journey to healing began when I finally took the first step to acknowledge my pain. I sank to the worst depths of despair I could ever imagine. It was then that I realized something had to change. So, one afternoon in the middle of the week, I packed one duffle bag with only my clothes and fled my home state to escape a cycle of physical, emotional, and financial domestic abuse that had lasted more than a decade. I didn’t know what faced me ahead, but I knew nothing could be worse than everything I had already endured. My job, marriage, family, and relationships were shredded at the seams from my exhaustion and lack of focus on putting myself first. I didn’t even know how to attend to my own needs because I never had. But now I had no choice. If I didn’t commit to taking care of myself, the consequences would be disastrous for my health and even my life. Eventually, I found a Black woman psychiatrist who was 70 years old—the same age as my mom. And at the end of our first session, she told me to give myself a big hug. She congratulated me for overcoming fear and taking the first step to take care of myself and what she called the chemicals in my brain. Not that I was sick. Not that I was bad. Not that I was a disappointment. I had chemicals in my brain that needed to be managed so I could feel better and heal. I received confirmation of the anxiety and PTSD I suspected I was suffering from as a result of more than a decade of unaddressed trauma. In addition, I found out I was also struggling with the symptoms of both bipolar disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Initially, I cried—a mixture of relief, sadness, and fear. I felt like the bottom of my world had fallen out from underneath me. But it explained so much about what I was going through in the present and how I had handled most of my life. I often couldn’t think clearly or concentrate, even though I was an “A” student as an undergrad at a top university and had earned three master’s degrees in business, organizational management, and interdisciplinary studies with a focus in English and writing. I was also a college professor for more than a decade. But for reasons I couldn’t articulate during that time, I had largely not been happy. And when I did feel joy, it was fleeting and hard to recapture. I had always felt like there was something more that would relieve this feeling of emptiness. With each degree, accomplishment, promotion, and milestone like marriage and children, the emptiness only subsided temporarily, then came back with a vengeance as if to let me know it would not go quietly. I knew that the peace I sought wouldn’t be found in any of those things. It was inside me, and I needed to take my doctor’s advice. I needed to take care of myself. I needed to love myself with everything I had inside. I needed to hug myself and not let go.

😍😍😍

✨ A Transformative Meet & Greet for the Next Generation of Black Women Authors ✨ Last night’s meet & greet with the TWENTY SEVEN incredible women in the inaugural cohort of my “From Blank Page to Bestseller” Book Writing Bootcamp was nothing short of transformative. I’m truly inspired by the passion, determination, and brilliance each of these women brought to the virtual room. As we embark on this journey together, the energy was palpable—2024 is undeniably the year of the Black woman! This program is not just about writing books; it’s about immortalizing our stories, our struggles, and our triumphs. It’s about creating a legacy that will uplift and empower the next generation. Black women have always been the backbone of our communities, and now, through their voices, they will cement their place in history. My mission with this program is to amplify the power of Black women’s voices, ensuring that our stories are told, our experiences are validated, and our wisdom is passed down. The impact of this work extends far beyond the pages of a book—it’s about building a stronger, more resilient community that celebrates and honors the contributions of Black women. I invite you all to support these phenomenal women on their journey to becoming published authors. Follow them, encourage them, and stand with them as they take this brave step towards sharing their stories with the world. Together, we are not just writing books—we are writing the future. Thank you for trusting me, Queens!! 👑 ❤️ Shayla N. Atkins, PHR, SHRM-CP, LSSBB Shirelle N. Francis PMP CSM Keynote Speaker Founder Jocelyn Brown (Smith) Nicole D. Murphy Tanesha Mondestin, MSPH Delida Costin Ronnie Cyrus-Jackson, MPA, MBTS, CPM®, PMP® Dr. Cheryl Cooper, PhD Dr. Michelle Burroughs Radiah Shabazz Harold, MSW Hope Venetta, MA, LCMHCA, NCC Lark Ambris Natasha Gilliard, M. Ed. Abi Iyuanna Pease, Ed.D. Debbie P. Afton Howard Paulette Luckett BSN, RN, NCSN Stephanie Obadare Heidi L. Richards Elo Okah Nicole Rankins, MD, MPH #culture #education #motivation #personaldevelopment #whatinspiresme #bestadvice #crownandquill

26 Black Women in a book writing cohort. Very Demure,Very classy. You see how we write our stories and don’t let others hold us back! Elizabeth Leiba #imnotyelling #writingcohort #demure #writingjourney

📚Keisha N. Jackson, Esq.💡 Farida Habeeb, PhD Maikel Groenewoud Ashani Mfuko (She/Her) People who are demanding the support of the Black community and want to understand what real social justice activism looks like need to watch this carefully. Not just her words but the emotion and frustration behind them. What I’ve been observing from many of the Palestine activists is exactly this — conditional allyship. For those who don’t realize, that is exactly the same as NO allyship. It means NOTHING, which is why most Black people say we have no allies. Or as • Theresa M. Robinson, ABD always reminds us, All Lies. 🤷🏽♀️

A follow-up on my post on anti-Blackness and the diaspora wars, which received a TON of engagement (and 325 new followers!):   1. As a scholar of critical race theory, I am always indebted to Black folx and women for shaping my thinking. Go pay reparations to the two Black folx who inspired my post: L C De Shay and Elizabeth Leiba👇🏽   LC's Venmo: @L C De Shay-Evans. Elizabeth's Linktree is in the comments.   2. I am ashamed that my post resonated as much as it did, because everything it says has been said by Black people for centuries. While I understand that a message can feel more powerful / rhetorically effective because someone outside the racial group is validating that group’s experience, the way y’all don’t listen to, silence, and dismiss Black people is another reflection of your anti-Blackness. Check that too.   3. Although non-Black Muslims did engage with my post, most of them were strangers – by my count, about 15 of my vocally pro-Palestine Muslim connections liked or commented on it, even after I sent it to our group chat. And the Muslims who did comment on it were mostly Black. I think that speaks volumes.   4. An overwhelming number of Black women DMed me after reading my post. They mentioned how moved they were, how they cried, how they felt seen, and how they exhaled because someone finally got it.   While I’m honored that my words resonated, I’m also sorry that being seen and feeling heard are such uncommon experiences for Black women in America. It is this group of women to whom we owe so much – they have been holding it down for *years* to save whatever is left of this country’s soul. They deserve protection and peace.   5. A few of you missed the point of my post, which is not about voting for Kamala Harris or blaming Indigenous people for their own genocide (the first sentence excludes this group for a very good reason). It is about anti-Blackness being the root of genocides across the world. It is about educating yourself, pushing back against false narratives, and doing the inner work.    That work never ends. I am very grateful to be in community with Black people who have educated me, corrected me, redirected me, and pushed me to think beyond my own perspective. See this labor – because it is labor – as a gift, rather than a personal attack. Remove your ego from the equation. You, and the rest of the world, will be so much better off for it.

“So, your source is ‘Trust me, Bro?’ That’s your source?” 🤣😂🤣 Mic drop, 🎤 Young King!! 👑 🔥 The way he walked off at the end!! 😭😭😭

Protecting My Peace isn't just a book—it's a movement. In a world that too often attacks the strength, beauty, and resilience of Black women, it's more important than ever to find solace in our inner power and the legacy of our ancestors. 🌟 📢 Limited-Time Offer: Right now, you can get the audiobook version of Protecting My Peace: Embracing Inner Beauty and Ancestral Power on sale NOW!! 🎉 This is your chance to dive into powerful strategies for self-care, mental health, and emotional well-being at a special price. 💔 With the recent heartbreaking events and media narratives, centering ourselves and our peace has never been more critical. This isn't just about surviving—it's about thriving with the strength of our foremothers and the beauty that radiates from within. 🎧 Don’t miss out! Listen to the audiobook now and join me on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Let's reclaim our peace, together. 👉🏽 Grab it on sale here!! https://lnkd.in/eWtThG3T #Education #MentalHealth #SelfCare #PersonalDevelopment #Culture

Remember that the media, talking heads, and yes, RACIST propaganda frames the way Black people in Amerika are viewed and TREATED. So, everyone knows that I’m a College Professor. I have an assignment for you. 📝 1️⃣ Think of anytime you have heard the phrase “Black on Black Crime.” 🤔 2️⃣ Now, what city was thrown out as an example when the “phenomenon” of “Black on Black Crime” is mentioned? 🤔 Still with me?! 3️⃣ Drop the name of the city 🏙️ in the comments below.👇🏽 4️⃣ Now, refer to the map. 🗺️ 5️⃣ In what state is the “Black on Black Crime” city located? 📍 6️⃣ Report 💻 your observations to the class… What do you notice about what the FBI statistics 📈 actually say about the crime rate in that state? 7️⃣ What conclusions did you draw from your review of the statistics 📈 and how does that relate to my initial statement about the power of RACIST propaganda? EDIT: 8️⃣ And please use CRITICAL THINKING. Remember ALL states have violent crime. What does the SCALE indicate about the DEGREE of violence around the cities considered the most violent in comparison to RHETORIC we hear in the media regarding those cities? Bonus points for anyone who provides historical context around the reasons any of these “Black on Black Crime” cities came to be known as such. Source for graphic: https://lnkd.in/eChhgsY9 #socialmedia #future #education #datadriven #law