BECAUSE OF A BLACK WOMAN Shirley Strong
We’re celebrating our 10th Anniversary! Our theme, Because of a Black Woman, acknowledges and expresses gratitude for the icons who’ve inspired us from afar and for the Black women who have invested their time and talents to support the growth of BlackFemaleProject.
Read BlackFemaleProject advisor Ché Abram’s Because of a Black Woman reflection below.
Who is one of the Black women who's most impacted your personal life and/or career?
Shirley Strong
What's one of the most memorable lessons or practices she taught you? How do you continue to apply it in your personal and/or professional life?
I love to say Shirley missed her calling as a counselor. She’s taught me two valuable lessons over the time we have worked together. The first was, “Give it to God.” It was a quick way of telling me to get out of the way of what’s destined for me or anyone else; let go of control. It has served me well when my environment feels frantic or I get stuck on my vision for something I want to create. The second valuable lesson she taught me, especially when moving into leadership, was to take good care of myself, meaning: eat well, move my body, do my spiritual practices, vacation, and all the other things that serve my ability to be whole. It’s probably the most precious lesson from her and I cherish it.
What advice would you give to a young Black woman or girl trying to find her place in the world?
My advice for young Black women is try a new thing: hair style, book, place to travel, food, form of movement, friends to spend time with (or not). This is a small way of caring for yourself and growing into your womanhood.