Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

Adult nonfiction 

     "Society puts pressure on us to be everything to everybody--to be superwomen--and we accept the charge.  We are constantly pouring out and rarely receive the care we so urgently need.  We fight tooth and nail to defy the negative expectations people have of us and to prove our worth.  And yet, it seems like it's never enough."

     You probably have seen the strong Black woman.  She may be in your school or workplace, in your neighborhood, or in your house of worship.  Her children may play with your kids.  

     You may see her in the mirror.

     Or at least you've seen her at a distance in TV shows and movies, in elected office, in sports or on social media.  You know that whether she's representing you in Congress, performing surgery, preaching the Gospel, or single parenting while juggling the several jobs it takes to make rent and put food on the table she's a force to be reckoned with.  She'll do what needs to be done, often on minimal amounts of sleep, tend to everyone around her, and never let her mask of invulnerability slip or ask for help or healing for herself.  

     In Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women licensed clinical psychologist and college professor Inger Burnett-Zeigler shows readers the toxicity of the role.  She reminds us that racism, including daily microaggressions, is still going strong and that most Black women must cope with unresolved trauma in addition to the challenges of daily living.  She explains how this all often leads to unhealthy coping habits, physical and psychological illness, and premature death.

     Burnett-Zeigler, herself a trauma survivor and strong Black woman, has written this book for her peers.  In addition to describing the harm associated with keeping the mask on, she lovingly describes ways to seek essential self care.

     However, I believe that white women can benefit from reading this book and catching a glimpse of what strong Black women are up against in our far from equitable society.

On a purrrsonal note, this was a truly amazing day including two of my favorite signs of approaching spring other than the time change.  I was able to hang my clothes on my porch to dry outside.  Over half of them dried all the way out there.  And I was able to do do homework outside on my clear, dry glider.  What's funny is it still faces a snow mountain.  So while the sun shone down on me my boots rested on the white stuff.  Yesterday had been special because of my rare, precious time with Katie and  Adam.  Today was special just because.  When Eugene and I were eating supper with sunlight still streaming through the kitchen windows it just felt so good to be alive.  (Jules)

So much sun to bask in!  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to you, our readers, in the hope that you too are enjoying signs of approaching spring.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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