Ebonee Davis penned a beautiful letter about being a black woman in America

We’ve been absolutely head over heels for model Ebonee Davis who, over the last year, has proven that she’s everything from a stunning style icon to an important voice on all things. Ebonee Davis always gives amazing advice and is continually so deep and thoughtful, so when she penned this open letter about racism, sexism, and what it means to be a black woman in America, we had to hear what she had to say.

In a word, Ebonee Davis’s letter is a reminder that intersectional feminism is complicated — but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t engage, listen, and work together to make our feminism as inclusive and uplifting as possible.

Ebonee Davis explained why strength, and the concept of a “strong woman,” is something she’s come to resent as a black woman. She writes,

"I have come to resent the word strong because it has fostered this belief that black women are somehow superhuman-- that we don't feel pain, that we don't suffer. The world forgets that we were expected to do the same work in the fields as our male counterparts. The world forgets that while those of the fairer complexion were marching for the right to work, we were working, raising our children and raising there's [sic] too."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPsyTmQgLBO

She continued, explaining,

"I have come to resent the word strong because I have had no choice in my strength. I have come to resent the word strong because the alternative is allowing the world to crush me. I have come to resent the word strong because sometimes I feel like crying. I have come to resent the world strong because my mental health is a daily struggle. I have come to resent the word strong because it feels more like a prison sentence than a badge of honor."

The entire letter is as important as it is poetic. We’re continually grateful for Ebonee Davis’s insight, and we definitely encourage you to head to her Instagram to read the rest.