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…
Tag: monique Norington joseph
Matters of the Heart: A Love Letter to Black Women About Slowing Down and Choosing Ourselves
I originally went to urgent care thinking I was just dealing with a virus — something small I could push through, like we so often do. But within a few hours, everything shifted. After being evaluated, I was told to go to the emergency room immediately. In that moment, fear settled in, and I realized…
What the Federal Shutdown Means for Women & Mothers in Illinois
When the U.S. government shuts down, the ripple effects land hardest on families who depend on safety-net programs, childcare, and health care. For women and mothers in Illinois, understanding what continues, what may pause, and how to prepare is essential. Benefits That Continue During a Shutdown In Illinois, the Department of Human Services (IDHS) has…
Emotional Labor, Inclusion Burden, and Burnout: The Hidden Toll on Black Women at Work
Black women face hidden workplace burdens: emotional labor, inclusion work, and burnout. Here’s what organizations must do to create true equity.
A Silent Exodus: Over 300,000 Black Women Exit the U.S. Workforce in Months
In the past six months, more than 300,000 Black women have left or been forced out of the U.S. workforce. This is not a coincidence. It reflects deep structural challenges that stretch from federal layoffs to the rollback of DEI programs, to longstanding inequities in employment. Mentorship and networking, often lifelines for Black women navigating…
