I’m just gonna say it — I get annoyed when I see Black women using the phrase “women of color” when I know they mean Black women.

In this episode, I’m talking about why that bothers me, where I think it comes from, and what it’s actually costing us to keep softening, shrinking, or diluting our language — especially in spaces that are supposed to be built for us.

I share a recent moment that made me want to reflect out loud. Not to be messy, but because I think it’s time we talk about what happens when we keep trying to make ourselves more acceptable — even in our own healing work.

This isn’t about being divisive.It’s about being clear.Because when we say Black women, we’re not excluding anybody — we’re finally being honest.

Resources to Support You:

Get the Guide: "You Know Your Support Language™—Now What?"

Take the Support Language™ Quiz. and learn how you actually receive support best.

Join Shades of Strong on Substack  for deeper convos that don’t always make it to the mic

Follow Shades of Strong on Instagram for daily inspiration.

Be a Guest on the Show

www.shadesofstrong.com

Shirl is the creator of Support Languages™ and host of Shades of Strong® — a movement shifting the narrative from Strong Black Woman to Supported Black Woman™ through language, rest, and real support.