Why it’s time for me to step back so more Black women can step up.
Making this decision feels appropriate and authentic to my purpose. It’s the best form of love and appreciation I can share with the people who deserve it most.
Starting in January 2024, I will no longer accept many #LongCovid speaking and panelist invitations from health organizations, universities, and media. I will now be passing along these invitations to other Black women living with #LongCovid who want to tell their stories and become activists. Also, rightfully, these women are also interested in crafting businesses and financial stability for themselves so the paid opportunities will be the perfect start.
I never imagined that there would be so many opportunities for me to share my story. I’ve told it so often that I can tell it to myself. My story has empowered me many times when I felt like quitting my unique career as a #LongCovid activist. And I know it’s helped many others. I am grateful for each invitation and referral from people who believe in my message and experience.
But what I don’t love about how we embrace Black women in a mostly-white world is we allow people who can’t tell our stories to become so smitten with one of us that we forget the many others who are capable, brilliant, and just as effective. And in what Tricia Hersey calls “grind culture,” we take every opportunity because we want to make a living and be validated by other people on how hard-working we are.
I want to rest and pace more, love on my handsome, gentle husband—Taurean, and work on a very special The Black Long Covid Experience project that may take the entire 2024. I’ve worked hard enough and I am not the Black face of #LongCovid. I welcome the women who are ready to come forward to achieve justice and change systems as we manage, treat, and someday cure #LongCovid.
Happy holidays to you. And Happy 2024!
Love, Chimmy