To rise or drown: A Black woman's dilemma

If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive- Audre Lorde

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It’s morning. I turn on the light and see that I am only a woman, but they see the extraordinary. An invisible mask covers the struggle written within the creases on my forehead. Each gray strand hides under the halo of dark coils surrounding my face, representing each challenge I’ve overcome. For some reason, those who see me are oblivious to the dark circles underneath my eyes—a clear sign of the insomnia of overthinking that consumes my nights...

To read the article in its entirety, head over to my Substack by clicking here.

About the author:

Dr. Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo is the author of Black Girl Healing, a project whose mission is to reclaim humanity through words and find healing through writing.

She currently is the co-founder & CEO of Strong Children Wellness, a NYC-based network of community health practices in NYC providing primary care, mental health services and social care coordination to low-income children & families. She has been a pediatrician for 2 decades and previously was a public health services researcher and professor. She is the mother of two girls and is based in NY.

Black Girl Healing was created as a creative outlet to reflect and heal from the chaos that often comes with navigating our personal & professional lives as a Black woman in healthcare. When you become a subscriber in our Substack community, you get

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