Your Voice, Your Strength

As we approach Mother’s Day and observe Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (May 5–11, 2025), we hold space for the full spectrum of Black motherhood—the joy, the pain, the resilience, and the healing. This year's theme, “Your Voice, Your Strength,” reminds us that speaking our truths is a radical act of self-care and community care.

The Silent Struggles

Motherhood is often portrayed as a time of bliss, but for many Black women, it includes silent battles with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Systemic inequities, racial biases in healthcare, and cultural stigmas around mental health compound these challenges, leaving many to suffer in silence.

🗣️ Breaking the Silence

At The Womb Space Movement, we believe that sharing our stories is a powerful step toward healing. By voicing our experiences, we not only validate our journeys but also create a supportive space for others to do the same.

What’s Your Woman Story?

Honoring Real Voices, Real Experiences

To highlight the lived experiences of Black mothers, we’re sharing personal stories that reflect the mental and emotional landscape of motherhood. From the postpartum period to long-term mental health challenges, these stories remind us that healing often begins when one woman speaks her truth—and another realizes she’s not alone.

This week, we share my story, “I Loved My Girls More Than My Ego”
By Keisha “Ankhti” Washington

It was 2001. My babies were 6 months and 2 years old. I should have been happy. I had a family, a roof over my head, and support from my parents, even if we were living in their basement at the time. But instead, I felt worn down, exhausted, no matter how many hours I slept.

My patience was paper-thin. The sounds of my baby’s cries or my toddler’s whining didn’t just frustrate me—they stirred something deeper. Something darker. It felt like my entire being was unraveling.

On a bright Spring day, I had a vision that scared me. I saw myself as Sethe from Beloved, you know the scene, of her desperation, of what unhealed trauma can do to a mother. That image shook me. I laid my daughters down for a nap and ran out of the house, straight up the street to the library. I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for, but I knew something was wrong.

I started reading about postpartum depression, hoping for an answer. But the experts at the time said it was only a postpartum issue within the first few months—my baby was “too old” for that diagnosis. Still, I kept searching. Eventually, I found a book by a Black woman psychologist. She talked about something that finally made sense: Major Depressive Disorder.

Her words opened a door for me. I realized I wasn’t lazy, crazy, or ungrateful. I was in pain. And I needed help.

It didn’t happen overnight. I had to fight through stigma, shame, and fear, especially as a Black woman raised to “pray it away” or “push through.” But I read until I understood what I was facing. And then I found a therapist.

That therapist gave me tools, space, and language. She helped me piece myself back together.

I tell this story now because someone out there might be feeling what I felt: overwhelmed, disconnected, ashamed of their exhaustion.

If that’s you, please know this:

You are not alone.
You are not broken.
And you are deeply worthy of care.

I loved my girls more than my ego, so I got help. I hope you will, too.

Mental Health Resources for Black Mothers

• Therapy for Black Girls – Find a culturally competent therapist near you.
  www.therapyforblackgirls.com

• Postpartum Support International (PSI) – Offers support groups, a helpline, and a directory of trained professionals.
  www.postpartum.net

• The Oshun Center for Interdisciplinary Studies – Offers healing-centered programs rooted in Black women's mental health.
  www.theoshuncenter.com

• Sista Afya – Focuses on sustainable mental wellness for Black women, especially those with limited access to care.
  www.sistaafya.com

🤝 Building a Supportive Community

This week, we encourage you to:

Share Your Story: Whether it's a whisper or a roar, your voice matters.

Reach Out: Check in on the mothers in your life—not just this week, but always.

Seek Support: Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Honoring All Forms of Motherhood

We honor:

Those who are navigating the early days of motherhood.

Those who have experienced loss and are grieving.

Those who are mothering in non-traditional ways.

Those who are choosing not to mother but still nurture their communities.

📅 Upcoming Events

Join us for our upcoming What’s Your Woman Story? gatherings, where we create safe spaces to share, listen, and heal together.

This Mother’s Day, let's celebrate by acknowledging the full, complex, and beautiful realities of Black motherhood. Your voice is your strength, and together, we rise.