The Dilemma of Resilience: The Struggle(s) of the Black Man

Resilience is often highlighted as a positive trait that should be admired and developed. It’s the ability to recover from difficult situations and come out stronger. But when it comes to Black people, I question why we always have to be resilient? Why is it that we are constantly faced with systemic barriers and trauma that require us to be resilient in order to survive?

Our resilience has a history rooted in our survival from genocidal and insidious oppressors. As David Walker, the American abolitionist, once said, “We must fight for our lives, our families, our liberty and our happiness.” Our resilience is a direct response to the oppression and injustice we have faced for centuries. We have had to be resilient just to survive, and this is a deeply troubling reality.

While we have been praised for our resilience, many of our creative inventions and cultural contributions have been born out of necessity and struggle. For example, jazz music, one of the most iconic American art forms, was created by Black Americans who had to overcome segregation, discrimination, and racism to make their voices heard. This is just one example of how our resilience has led to cultural innovation, but it still begs the question - why must our resilience always be rooted in trauma?

Black people deserve to experience true liberation empowered by the Most High. We deserve a world where we can thrive without constantly overcoming systemic barriers and trauma. This plight has global implications, and we will all one day suffer from the seeds we have sown. The cost of not addressing this issue is too high. When we do not provide equitable access to support and resources to Black people, we risk losing valuable contributions to society.

It’s time to redefine resilience for Black people and create a world where we can experience true liberation and empowerment. As I have documented, resilience is a child of White Body Oppression and requires systematically dismantling our oppressive ideologies. This means addressing the "me" inside. Even the Black man has been coerced into aligning our thoughts and positions to our historical oppressors, so much so that we demean and oppress each other.

Ultimately, our resilience is a product of our survival, and resilience is not a choice but a necessity. As we move forward, we must continue to find ways to empower ourselves and each other and create a future where Black people can thrive without constantly having to be resilient. Let us inspire each other to be courageous, fearless and demand true liberation and empowerment. Only then can we experience the true freedom of The Highest's joy and love.

hashtag#redefiningresilience hashtag#trueempowerment hashtag#blacPEOPLEmatter hashtag#Equity hashtag#LOVE hashtag#Continuetheconversation