Invisible Yet Indispensable

Everywhere we look, Black women are at work behind the scenes—transforming organizations, calming crises, and addressing issues that were never ours to solve in the first place. We’ve been the quiet, resilient “fixers” of our communities, families, and workplaces, carrying the weight of responsibilities with grace and strength. But as we evolve in our journeys, Black women everywhere are letting out a collective, freeing sigh. We’re reclaiming our time, creating our own seats at the table, and—most importantly—choosing when to “sit this one out.”

For too long, Black women have been both indispensable and invisible, celebrated for our resilience yet denied the recognition and respect that we deserve. Today, that’s changing. We’re stepping back from cleaning up the messes others create, especially in spaces where our work has been expected but undervalued. We’re choosing where to invest our time and energy and deciding when it’s time to simply say, “No more.”

The Hidden Burden of the Black Woman “Fixer”

Across industries, Black women have been expected to take on the role of “fixers”—handling diversity initiatives, addressing cultural misunderstandings, and navigating crises far outside our official job descriptions. In many ways, we’ve been seen as “magical,” effortlessly resilient beings who can handle anything. But that myth of the “strong Black woman” is a double-edged sword, placing unrealistic expectations on us to endure without end.

It’s time to shatter that myth and call it what it is—a stereotype that dehumanizes us and expects us to give endlessly without support. Black women deserve more than the weight of these invisible labors. We deserve spaces that see our full humanity and value our contributions without burdening us with tasks we didn’t ask for.

Reclaiming Our Time and Choosing Our Seats

As Black women, we’re done waiting for permission to be respected and valued. Instead, we’re choosing our own seats—creating businesses, launching nonprofits, and establishing communities like the Melanated Goddess Circle where we can uplift and support one another. But it’s not just about “taking a seat at the table”; it’s about choosing when and where we want to invest our energy.

Sometimes, choosing our seat means stepping back and saying, “I’m going to sit this one out.” We’re no longer cleaning up the messes that others create, especially without fair compensation or acknowledgment. When organizations or leaders call on us to fix issues that stem from their own failures, we have every right to say, “Not today.” Black women are reclaiming our time, our peace, and our right to say “no” to unpaid emotional labor.

Reclaiming Our Power in the Face of “Magical” Stereotypes

The world’s fascination with the “strong Black woman” stereotype has led to an expectation that we will continuously endure without support, compensation, or genuine recognition. This label isn’t praise; it’s a societal cop-out that allows others to lean on our strength while neglecting our needs. Black women are not mythical beings. We are real people who deserve empathy, rest, and respect.

The truth is that while we are resilient, we should not have to be endlessly so. We deserve spaces that honor our humanity and allow us to exist without being on-call fixers for the problems of the world. In the Melanated Goddess Circle, we acknowledge that it’s okay to sit back, rest, and refuse responsibilities that were never truly ours. After all, rest and self-preservation are forms of resistance.

Overqualified, Underappreciated, and Underpaid: No More

Black women are among the most qualified in the workforce, yet we remain underappreciated and underpaid. We’re often told to work twice as hard just to be seen as half as capable, while our contributions are taken for granted. We’re done accepting this inequity. If you want our energy, insights, and labor, it must come with fair compensation and respect.

The old narrative of the Black woman “cleaning up after everyone else” is over. We are saying goodbye to roles that undervalue us and instead embracing roles and spaces that allow us to thrive authentically. We’re creating our own platforms, our own success stories, and, yes, our own seats at the table.

How Allies Can Support Black Women Meaningfully

If you are truly committed to supporting Black women, let your actions speak. Here’s how:

• Acknowledge and Amplify Our Contributions
  Don’t just watch us work. Recognize, celebrate, and amplify our achievements in real, tangible ways.
• Offer Fair Opportunities and Compensation
  Consider Black women for roles, promotions, and projects that align with our skills and contributions. Fair hiring, promotion, and pay practices are essential.
• Invest in Black-Owned Businesses and Initiatives
  When Black women create spaces of their own, support them financially. Buy from Black-owned businesses, hire Black consultants, and invest in our ventures.
• Challenge Stereotypes and Bias
  Dispel the myth of the “strong Black woman” by treating Black women with empathy and care. Understand that we are human, and we deserve support, rest, and recognition.
• Provide Real Mentorship and Sponsorship
  Help Black women advance by providing genuine mentorship and sponsorship. It’s not enough to stand with us in solidarity; actively support us in achieving our goals.

The Power of Reclaiming Our Time

The resilience of Black women is undeniable, but it should not be exploited. We are done waiting for spaces to value us on their terms. Instead, we are creating our own tables, telling our own stories, and embracing our right to rest, choose, and reclaim our time. The days of Black women cleaning up after others without fair compensation are over.

This is a new era—an era where Black women no longer need to be “magical” to be respected, nor do we have to sit at tables that weren’t built for us. We’re establishing our own spaces, supporting each other, and claiming the freedom to say “no” when necessary.

So, to all the Black women reading this, remember: You are worthy of rest, respect, and recognition. You are more than capable of creating your own seat at the table, but you’re also free to “sit this one out” whenever it doesn’t serve you.

Let’s continue to rise, to build, and to thrive—on our own terms.