Chapter 7: Amimysistah’s Keeper? or, a Broken Workhorse?

Am I My Sistah’s Keeper? Or a Broken Workhorse? examines the experiences that Black women face when we escape white supremacy and take refuge in Black community workspaces. As Black women, many of our adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are experienced within institutions that uphold white supremacy. Under the instruction of teachers, the crippling admonishment of judges, or the unyielding barriers of corporate executives, our humanity is devalued. We act as shields and advocates for our constituents. The emotional wear and tear are detrimental to our overall wellness. We resist by reserving our intellectual, emotional, and artistic gifts for our community. Often, our service is not compensated with living wages that ensure our livelihood. This chapter draws upon reflections on Black sanctuary and how sisterhood was used to cope with an economic crisis amid mass death and racial battle fatigue during a pandemic.