For Black women in the United States, and increasingly for women across the African diaspora navigating systems built without their safety in mind, maternal health is a landscape of both profound love and acute danger.
Across the continent, the wedding traditions take different forms. In some communities, it is the way a bride greets elders. In others, it is how she serves her husband. But among the Bemba people of Zambia, one of the most fascinating and deeply symbolic traditions centers on something both simple and powerful: food.
As the definition of “family” expands, so do the responsibilities that mothers carry. For Black mothers in particular, these challenges often show up in distinct and layered ways.
It started as a journey, but not long after, it grew into several questions: Where are we headed? Is this how far you came in search of love? Are we ever going to get to our destination?
As the calendar inches closer to February 14, some hearts around the world are beginning to beat a little faster, and singles are already having FOMO (fear of missing out). Just a month ago, in December, they had to deal with couples in matching Christmas-themed pajamas flooding social media with lovey-dovey photos.
Our home is a beautiful fusion of traditional Black American Christmas soul and vibrant Ghanaian festivities. In our blended home, harmony isn’t just a nice idea, it’s the foundation that helps our children grow up knowing their heritage is a gift, not something they ever have to choose between.
Motherhood always comes with questions, but raising children in the African diaspora adds even more questions: How do I teach them where they’re from while helping them thrive where they are?
While I personally enjoy the festivities that come with this time of year, I know there is a crucial, often darker perspective to consider: the relentless cultural demand for endless cheer. This hides a very tough mental health challenge that stems less from the changing weather and much more from overwhelming social and familial expectations.
When it comes to celebrating the marriage union in Africa, the people tend to go above and beyond to make it a memorable day, infusing their traditions and other rituals.
Growing up in the 90s, our neighborhood thrived on deeply rooted cultural and moral values. The rules of respect were unwritten, but every child knew to always greet those older and never to speak back to an elder. Every young adult knew to give up their seats when they saw an elder without one.
