Sistxrs in Solidarity: Prioritizing Wellbeing While Fighting for Our Spaces as Black Women
By: Chia Okwaraibekwe ‘26 (USC Student Life Guest Blogger)
Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor. Every time I found myself at a hospital or clinic, I desperately searched for people who looked like me. Most times, I was left disappointed. As I grew older and started to become more knowledgeable of the hidden truths in life, I began to realize that being both Black and a woman would make navigating the medical field more difficult than anticipated.
Now I’m in a program at USC’s Student Health Center meant to raise awareness among students about how they can preserve or enhance their health. That’s why when I had the opportunity to attend a new conference focused on Black student health, I quickly took it. It was an experience that both inspired and motivated me.
Hosted by The Center of Black Students and Cultural Affairs with support from USC Student Health’s Counseling and Mental Health team, the “Sistxrs in Solidarity Summit” happened in late September. It focused on uplifting and acknowledging the mental wellness of Black women, deep diving into topics such as leadership, identity, intersectionality, and more.
While the event represented a wide range of studies (not just health) I found myself immediately connecting with the speakers. During an interactive panel and Q&A with Councilwoman Yasmine-Iman McCorrin, Dr. Shalonda K. Crawford, and Dr. Sharoni Little on their mental wellness journey, the three women spoke about what it’s like being in predominantly white, conservative spaces as a Black Woman and the importance of making room for yourself in these spaces that are too often run by white men.
During the panel, Dr. Shalonda K. Crawford touched on the pressures of trailblazing which I was all too familiar with as the oldest child with siblings who also want to go into the medical field. She spoke about the pressures that come with being the first, especially as a Black woman, and the struggles that come with finding support while waiting to reach the finish line. “You are holding the vision”, she said while looking out to an audience filled with women who all held on to their own dreams.
Dr. Sharoni Little spoke more about this as she talked about being the first Black Woman to be admitted to her graduate program in years. “Don’t let people get too comfortable with making you feel like the anomaly,” she pleaded to the audience. She continued saying, “Remember who you are and why you are.”
Toward the end of the panel, the three women were asked to give advice to their younger selves. Dr. Crawford began by uttering a brief but heartfelt statement, “You’re okay.” Dr. Little followed by saying, “Be young [and] look at what you’ve accomplished. Be gracious and kind to yourself. Live for today, experience today. Be present.” McCorrin wrapped it up by saying, “There’s beauty in being present and in the moments where you’re not okay. Trust yourself. Spend just a little bit less time on worrying because it will be okay”.
After experiencing this summit, I couldn’t help but feel a little more confident in myself and my plans for the future. Although changes are being made to make the medical field and other professional fields more accessible for women and POC, we still have a long way to go to make sure that minorities are heard and respected in these fields. In the meantime, as we continue to fight for our spaces, we must do so in a way that prioritizes our well-being.
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