Episode 175: Rejecting Resilience
/“It’s learning that you can be more than that and that you can say no, and it’s okay to say, ‘I don’t have time to do that. And no, I’m not as strong as you think I am and I can’t do five jobs.’”
Ashley and omolara during our interview
“For me it was important to say that Black women deserve quality mental healthcare, they deserve the space to connect with one another, to receive support and to heal.”
In this show we consider the idea that resilience is overrated.
When Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo attended medical school she learned to be stoic and to power through. But during her career as a pediatrician and professor, she powered through so much that her body turned on her. She says too many Black women are supporting their workplaces - and everyone else - to the detriment of their health. They’re putting up with a lot and keeping their heads down when they need to speak up. She wants to change that.
camesha jones
Therapist Camesha Jones was a student when she experienced a mental health crisis. Today she's bringing mental healthcare to women in Chicago whose needs have too often not been met. Mental health, she says, "is the gateway to having the life that you want."
You can also read a transcript of the show.
Show notes:
Camesha Jones’ social venture is Chicago-based Sista Afya.
Melanin & Medicine is the business Omolara Uwemedimo founded in the wake of her health crisis. She works with other Black women in medicine and academia on their careers, work/life balance, and tackling racism and sexism at their institutions. She is also the CEO of Strong Children Wellness, which provides holistic care to children and families.
One thing Omolara mentioned that didn’t make it into the finished show: these days far more Black women than men become doctors. This page from the Association of American Medical Colleges bears that out. Since the mid-’80s the percentage of Black women graduating from medical school has leapt from around 40% of Black graduates to about 65%.