If You Mean Black Women, Say Black Women

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.