Came across this article this morning and I felt compelled to share. Read, comment, enjoy! Black Womens Health and Happiness: Insights into physical, mental, and spiritual health for women of color. by Melody T. McCloud, M.D. CRABS in a BARREL Syndrome: Will it ever end? Dont crawl over and compete; instead, celebrate each other. Published on March 21, 2011 by Melody T. McCloud, M.D. in Black Womens Health and Happiness Haters. Do you know some people who just cant celebrate when someone else is doing a good thing? People who dont want to see anyone else be celebrated for their good deeds, or even for just looking good? Well, heres a McCloudism from my book, Living Well: When you do your thing, remember...you will have haters; but never let people get you off track. Sometimes even family members will become jealous and try to derail your efforts and destroy your spirit. But no matter what obstacles come against you, you can make it if you treat people right, stay focused on your goal and stay true to yourself and your God. On a social network board (which Im sure Ill exit this summer), I recently saw a post from a new author in which she was asking about haters. Apparently she had received some negativity about her upcoming book, or perhaps other things shes doing or saying. Even though Ive never met the woman personally, we have been in regular communication because the theme of her book, Black Woman Redefined is, in many ways, similar to that of mine, Living Well, Despite Catchin Hell; (the hell is what I call psycho-social stressors,). Each of our books addresses the negative media images of Black women in our society and the social challenges many Black women face, some due to their own deeds. As a physician (an obstetrician-gynecologist), I add to that conversation by presenting how such negative imagery, low marriage statistics, social rejection, often disrespect, and the educational/work inequity with many Black men; plus already-present medical challenges, including the risk of HIV/AIDS, down-low men, and more can (and mostly does) have a negative effect on our physical health. In Nelsons book, she reportedly features Black women whose names you know from politics and the media; in mine, I give voice and visibility to some highly-accomplished sisters of whom you may not have heard. In her first email reply to me last fall, she expressed our synergy; I agreed, and together we celebrate. When I first joined that same social network, I asked another Black female physician (and author) who does national TV segments if shed be kind enough to simply post word of my new book on her page, for it is the first Black womens health book written by a physician in eight years, and no one else really gives voice to Black womens specific health concerns and challenges. Plus, I have great endorsements, from the medical, psychological, educational and celebrity world (the foreword is by Pauletta Washington, the beautiful wife of Academy Award winner, Denzel Washington). My colleagues reply: Congratulations on your book. Poof. That was it. Some people just dont want to see others succeed, or they feel threatened if a little light shines on someone else, even for a minute. This has been a well-known syndrome in the Black community, but is said to exist in lawyers, even preachers. It may in fact, just be human nature. But it doesnt have to be. As I mention in Living Well, do your thing; do it well. Your light will shine, and we can celebrate you. When its someone elses turn, celebrate them. This is America; there is plenty room at lifes table for everyone to get their slice. As people, as a race, as women...we dont have to compete, we can complement...and aint that a good thing?
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:13:24 +0000
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