We’ve all heard it: “Just take the high road.”

For Black women, it feels like that’s the only road we’re ever allowed to walk. At work, in marriages, raising kids, even in casual day-to-day interactions—we’re expected to be the ones who keep it together. The calm ones. The fixers. The peacemakers.

But that expectation? It’s not a compliment. It’s a weight.

When “Strength” Turns Into a Job Description

In the workplace, Black women are asked to smile through microaggressions and manage conflicts with grace, all while doing extra labor just to be recognized.

At home, it often continues—being the steady partner, the patient mom, the one who absorbs the hard moments. We don’t just take the high road—we’re pushed onto it, even when the road is crumbling beneath us.

Not a Savior, a Human

There’s this myth that Black women are built to save everyone. Strong. Unbreakable. Always ready to pick up the pieces.

But the truth? We’re human. We get tired. We need rest. We deserve the freedom to feel angry, to be vulnerable, to not carry the world on our shoulders.

Real Allyship: How You Can Show Up

If you want to support Black women, don’t just say it. Do it.

Educate yourself. Don’t put the burden of teaching on us. Amplify, don’t overshadow. Support our ideas, don’t steal them. Speak up. Step in when you witness bias. Share the work. Don’t leave organizing, mediating, or caretaking always to us. Champion us. Trust our leadership. Invest in our growth.

Allyship isn’t applause—it’s action.

On the Court: Taylor Townsend’s Moment

Last year’s U.S. Open gave us a powerful reminder. Taylor Townsend, ranked No. 143, took the court against world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva—and walked away with a stunning straight-set win, 7-5, 6-2.

She didn’t just win a match; she made a statement. Townsend said afterward, “It’s bigger than me.” And she was right. Her victory wasn’t only about tennis—it was about representation, resilience, and being unapologetically herself.

That’s what happens when Black women are allowed to simply be. Not saviors. Not stereotypes. Just fully present, fully powerful.

Final Thoughts

Taking the high road all the time isn’t liberation—it’s survival. And Black women deserve so much more than survival.

So if you truly want to be an ally? Don’t just celebrate our strength. Help build a world where we don’t always have to be strong.

Sources

CNN – Taylor Townsend defeats No. 5 Mirra Andreeva at US Open The Washington Post – Taylor Townsend’s US Open triumph The Guardian – Townsend’s victory and its cultural impact McKinsey & LeanIn – Women in the Workplace LeanIn.org – Women of Color in the Workplace

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