Y’all, let’s keep it real—the political landscape just hit different after this election, and Black women across the country are saying what needs to be said: “We’re choosing peace over politics.”
When sister-girl Teja Smith was heading out for her Mexican vacation, she couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of joining another Women’s March. After watching Trump secure not just the presidency but the popular vote (first Republican to do that in 20 years, mind you), she’s speaking that truth many of us feel: “This is what America looks like, and we can’t keep fighting at the expense of our sanity.”
America is going to have to save herself
Let’s talk facts: Black women showed up and showed out for Kamala Harris – we’re talking 90% strong backing our sister’s historic run. But despite carrying the weight of get-out-the-vote efforts on our shoulders (as usual), watching Trump’s return to office got many of us questioning everything.
“America is going to have to save herself,” says LaTosha Brown, dropping that wisdom as co-founder of Black Voters Matter. And she ain’t wrong. For too long, we’ve been the North Star of social justice movements, but baby, times are changing.
The numbers don’t lie – 6 in 10 Black women said democracy was their top priority this election. We saw the warning signs about authoritarianism, we worried about the economy, and yes, we cared about abortion rights and racism while others stressed about immigration.
But here’s the tea: After generations of being on the frontlines – from the suffrage movement (when we couldn’t even vote ourselves) to Selma to Black Lives Matter – sisters across social media are saying it’s time to prioritize ourselves. We’re talking mental health, rest, and being selective about our battles.
As Atlanta’s own Tenita Taylor puts it, sometimes you gotta look out for yourself first. With grocery bills sky-high and five kids to feed, she made her choice based on her immediate needs.
But let’s be clear – this ain’t about completely checking out. It’s about setting boundaries and demanding that others step up to the plate. As therapist Nicole Lewis says, maybe it’s time for America to see what happens when its backbone takes a break.
The message is crystal: We’ve done our part, and then some. Now it’s time for self-preservation, and as LaTosha Brown reminds us, “We don’t want that title… I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me.”
Y’all can call it what you want, but Black women are choosing themselves in 2024 – and there’s not a thing wrong with that.
