While struggling with the reality of being a human instead of a myth, the strong black woman passed away. Medical sources say she died of natural causes, but those who knew her know she died from being silent when she should have been screaming, smiling when she should have been raging, from being sick and not wanting anyone to know because her pain might inconvenience them. She died from an overdose of other people clinging to her when she didn’t even have energy for herself.
She died from loving people who didn’t love themselves and could only offer her a crippled reflection. She died from raising children alone. She died from the love her grandmother told her mother and her mother told her about life, men & the world She died from being married as a child and having to take that truth everywhere she went every day of her life, exchanging the pain for faith and back again.
She died from asphyxiation, from secrets she kept trying to burn away instead of allowing herself the kind of nervous breakdown she was
entitled to, but only weak girls could afford. She died from being responsible, because she was the last rung on the ladder and there was no one under her she could dump on. The strong black woman is dead.
She died from being dragged down and sat upon by un-evolved women posing as sisters and friends. She died from tolerating Mr. Pitiful, just to have a son around the house. She died from sacrificing herself for everybody and everything when what she really wanted to do was be a mother to a lovely family .She died from saying to herself every thing was gonna be alright when we all know it’s only a dream !
She died from myths that would not allow her to show weakness without being chastised by the lazy and ugly . She died from hiding her real feelings until they
became hard and bitter enough to invade her womb and breasts like angry tumors. She died from never being enough of what people wanted, or being too much for the people she loved.She died from being too humble and too selfless and died again for not being cruel enough.
She died from being too good about her mind, her body & the extent of her womanly capabilities. She died from knees pressed too close together because she prayed for everyone .And sometimes when she refused to die, when she just refused to give in she was killed by failings of her children and betrayal from her loved ones
This is the only woman I
Know who
Gave without counting the cost
This is the only woman I
Know who loved with no bounds
This is the only woman I
Know who did not look at your bank account to love you !
She gave and forgave !
The strong black woman is dead!
I’m glad I learnt a lot from her and I am not ashamed to say she was my mother …!
Rip Mbuya Manyere
I will always love you !
And will live my days trying to be like you for no one can be like you !
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