….began to see the abundance of melanin in my skin as beautiful, rather than something to be ashamed of. I started to consider letting my hair down and beginning the journey of transitioning back to my natural curls.
I wanted to be well-educated as far as hair care was concerned so I sought out and devoured all the information and personal testimonials I could find. As part of my newly minted self-care routine, I would designate time each morning to feed my soul by writing, then feed my mind by learning something new. This led to me to TED, and more specifically, to a talk by Cheyenne Cochrane on African-American women and natural hair. I was further awed and inspired by her words, and felt a call to seek out more content from fierce Black Women.
The next talk I viewed was titled, “When Black Women Walk, Things Change.” I was captivated instantly by the words and intense, raw emotion flowing from the two women giving the talk. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison were leading a movement, creating change, and I knew in my bones that I had to be a part of it.
WATCH: GirlTrek Co-Founders, “When Black Women Walk, Things Change”
In Search of Sisterhood
Immediately after watching the TED talk, I reached out to Organizer Onika Jervis at GirlTrek. She gave me all the information and materials I needed to get started as an organizer in my small South Dakota town and I quickly got to work. Initially, my goal was to connect with Black women and heal the hurt that I had been carrying around inside my heart. I aimed to build a community in our predominantly white city in which we could be a support to one another on this journey to better health.
What I got was a team of intelligent, strong, motivated women with some of the kindest souls anyone could ever hope to meet. We now meet weekly in a local park where we walk, talk, and work to sow the bonds of sisterhood. This organization and these women have provided me with something vital I never thought I would ever have; that is, they have provided me with the love and support of Black women. They have made me feel whole.
–Taylor Newcomb, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, GirlTrek
BlackDoctor.org is excited for this content partnership with GirlTrek to feature #BlackGirlHealing, an initiative created to document the narratives, struggles and successes of Black women on the journey to living their healthiest, most fulfilled lives through the habit of daily walking. This initiative will further the mission of decreasing health disparities and stigma among women and girls, and further the conversation that self care is a revolutionary act of love. Join the movement at www.girltrek.org.