There’s a war that no one sees. It’s very dark and private. It’s brutally violent and dangerous. It doesn’t happen in the streets or in the headlines—it happens inside.
And for many Black women, it’s a battle we fight every single day.
It’s the voice that tells you your natural hair is “unprofessional.”
The glance that makes you second-guess if your skin tone is “too dark” or “too light”. The knot in your stomach when you speak up in a meeting, fearing you’ll be labeled “angry” or “difficult.” The frustration you feel every time you change your speech to make someone else feel comfortable. The dull pain in your heart when think about having to work twice as hard to get half as far. This is internalized racism—when the lies of white supremacy are planted so deep in our spirit that they start to sound like our own thoughts.
The Shape It Takes in Our Lives
For Black women, internalized racism doesn’t always show up as loud shame—it can be quiet, almost invisible. It’s in the choices we make without even realizing why.
- We change our hair before a job interview.
- We switch our tone and words to “fit in.”
- We shrink in spaces where our brilliance should shine.
- We judge other Black women for choices that reflect the same survival strategies we’ve used.
And with every small compromise, a piece of our authentic self slips further away.
Why It Hurts So Deeply
Internalized racism is not just about self-image—it’s about survival in a world built to erase us. We learn these behaviors to protect ourselves from being targeted, dismissed, or harmed. But over time, these survival skills start to feel like chains. We begin to believe the rules of the system are the truth about who we are. The toll is heavy—stress, anxiety, depression, and an unshakable feeling that we will never be “enough.”
The Turning Point
There comes a moment when we finally get tired of being tired.
Tired of straightening, shrinking, softening, fixing, consoling, silencing.
Tired of carrying other people’s comfort on our backs while our own joy dwindles and dries up.
It’s the point where the only hope is to hope.
That’s the moment healing begins—not because the world suddenly changes, but because we decide to reclaim and restore ourselves.
What Healing Looks Like
Healing from internalized racism is an act of rebellion. It’s also an act of love. You deserve it. Your family deserves it. You community deserves. Make it your legacy.
- Name It: Call out the lies when you hear them—especially when they come from within.
- Reclaim Your Roots: Learn the history of Black women’s beauty, brilliance, and resistance.
- Celebrate Your Wholeness: Love your skin, your body, your hair, your voice exactly as they are.
- Find Your People: Build a circle that affirms and uplifts you without condition.
- Get Support: Therapy rooted in cultural humility can help you unpack the weight you’ve carried and replace it with pride.
The Collective Rise
Every time a Black woman heals from internalized racism, it’s not just personal—it’s generational. It motivates our kings.
Our daughters and sons see us living in our truth. Our communities grow stronger. Our ancestors rest easier.
Sistahs, Queens.
We are not too loud. We are not too much. We are not unworthy.
We are exactly enough, and our liberation is unstoppable.
If you’re ready to start your own healing journey, you don’t have to do it alone.
At The Social Work Concierge, LLC, we honor your identity, history, and voice. Let’s heal together—on your terms.
📍 Serving clients across Michigan virtually
🌐 www.SocialWorkConcierge.com
📧 Leonica@SocialWorkConcierge.com | 📞 (616) 345-0616
The Social Work Concierge, LLC 
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