Through Her Guidance
A journey into Black womanhood shaped by the hands and hearts of those who came before, offering strength and counsel.
As a young Black girl transitions into womanhood, she is rarely alone. Her journey is often guided by the women in her life—her mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, mentor, or even a neighbor. In the Black community, this intergenerational support system is a powerful tradition, passed down through stories, wisdom, and lived experience. These relationships provide more than just advice; they offer strength, pride, and resilience.
According to Dr. Christine M. Crawford of McLean Hospital, many Black Americans rely on “family, community, and spiritual support instead of medical or psychiatric treatment—even when it is critically necessary,” due in part to marginalization and cultural insensitivity in healthcare. This reliance on one another has become a source of empowerment. Across generations, the meaning of womanhood evolves, yet the bond between Black women remains constant—a shared commitment to uplift and protect one another.
Through Her Guidance, I Flourished Into A Proud Black Woman
Wila Hatchett raised her daughter, Jessica Diame, and helped raise her granddaughter, Sira Diame, to carry pride, not only in themselves but in their identity as Black women.
Hatchett lost her mother at age 4 and was raised by her aunt, where she lacked a nurturing maternal presence. She found guidance in close friendships during college, shaping her understanding of womanhood through community and care. When she became a mother, Hatchett set out to create a home where her children felt loved, supported, and empowered.
Jessica Diame reflected on the generational strength and intention that has defined the women in her family.
“We started from humble beginnings,” she said. “That’s true for so many Black families. Each generation carries the weight and wisdom of the last. My mother raised me with a vision of what the world could be. She poured strength, intelligence, and love into me so I could move through the world with confidence.”
Hatchett lost her mother at age 4 and was raised by her aunt, where she lacked a nurturing maternal presence. She found guidance in close friendships during college, shaping her understanding of womanhood through community and care. When she became a mother, Hatchett set out to create a home where her children felt loved, supported, and empowered.
Jessica Diame reflected on the generational strength and intention that has defined the women in her family.
“We started from humble beginnings,” she said. “That’s true for so many Black families. Each generation carries the weight and wisdom of the last. My mother raised me with a vision of what the world could be. She poured strength, intelligence, and love into me so I could move through the world with confidence.”
When Diame became a mother, she passed those same values on to her daughter, Sira, and added her own.
“I taught Sira to be comfortable in her skin, to take up space, and to be herself, not what I wanted her to be, but fully who she is,” she said. “That’s what Black women have always done across generations: we carry what serves us, leave behind what doesn’t and pour even more into the next.”
“I taught Sira to be comfortable in her skin, to take up space, and to be herself, not what I wanted her to be, but fully who she is,” she said. “That’s what Black women have always done across generations: we carry what serves us, leave behind what doesn’t and pour even more into the next.”
Sira, now a young woman, recognizes the legacy she comes from.
“It’s hard to even find the words to describe how truly amazing it is to grow up surrounded by two very strong, powerful, capable and intelligent Black women,” she said. “They are the reason I am the woman I am today. They pushed me, encouraged me, and gave me the drive to succeed and believe in myself.”
“It’s hard to even find the words to describe how truly amazing it is to grow up surrounded by two very strong, powerful, capable and intelligent Black women,” she said. “They are the reason I am the woman I am today. They pushed me, encouraged me, and gave me the drive to succeed and believe in myself.”
Through Their Guidance, I Became A Mom
Keisha Poindexter
35 years old
"Womanhood means having the emotional strength to get through any obstacle that I may face."
35 years old
"Womanhood means having the emotional strength to get through any obstacle that I may face."
Keisha Poindexter’s journey into womanhood was shaped by being raised by her father from ages 9 to 15 and later by her mother. Growing up in different households, Poindexter didn’t have the full guidance of her mother as she transitioned into womanhood. Both she and her father faced obstacles navigating the changes that came with adolescence.
“It was actually a challenge, because as a father, he’s dealing with all those hormonal changes, heartbreaks, menstrual cycles, and everything,” Poindexter said. “He was confused about what was going on, and I was confused about what was going on.”
While her father did his best to support her, it wasn’t until Poindexter was an adult living with her mother that she began to understand what womanhood truly meant. Throughout her life, she has faced emotional challenges, including the loss of loved ones and heartbreak.
“When you’re a woman, heartbreak hits you differently, especially when it comes to losing loved ones who have passed,” she said. “You give that person your heart, and they just shatter it into a million pieces because they had a change of heart themselves. It’s like they’ve taken a piece of you, and now you’re totally incomplete. But when you think about it, that’s what made you stronger. You’re rebuilding that piece that person took from you.”
Through these struggles, Poindexter learned emotional strength, realizing that resilience and perseverance are essential to moving forward in life.
Now, as Poindexter is in her first trimester of her rprgnacy, she hopes to instill the same strength that she developed in her life to her baby.
“It’s a very scary but amazing feeling,” Poindexter said. “The way my body’s about to change, I’m going to go from being like this to my belly being all the way out there.”
“It was actually a challenge, because as a father, he’s dealing with all those hormonal changes, heartbreaks, menstrual cycles, and everything,” Poindexter said. “He was confused about what was going on, and I was confused about what was going on.”
While her father did his best to support her, it wasn’t until Poindexter was an adult living with her mother that she began to understand what womanhood truly meant. Throughout her life, she has faced emotional challenges, including the loss of loved ones and heartbreak.
“When you’re a woman, heartbreak hits you differently, especially when it comes to losing loved ones who have passed,” she said. “You give that person your heart, and they just shatter it into a million pieces because they had a change of heart themselves. It’s like they’ve taken a piece of you, and now you’re totally incomplete. But when you think about it, that’s what made you stronger. You’re rebuilding that piece that person took from you.”
Through these struggles, Poindexter learned emotional strength, realizing that resilience and perseverance are essential to moving forward in life.
Now, as Poindexter is in her first trimester of her rprgnacy, she hopes to instill the same strength that she developed in her life to her baby.
“It’s a very scary but amazing feeling,” Poindexter said. “The way my body’s about to change, I’m going to go from being like this to my belly being all the way out there.”
Keisha Poindexter's ultrasound of her baby
Through Her Guidance, I Became Resilient
Sue Molokwu is a woman guided by her faith, along with her love and aspiration to be as strong as her mother—who raised seven resilient and goal-driven children.
She is a single parent who raised her two sons to do well and become productive members of society. Although family is a very important factor in her life, so is helping and giving back to those in need.
A lesson that womanhood has taught her is to persevere, stay strong, and be kind to everyone she encounters. “I will try to help anyone I can. I don’t have a whole lot, but what I do have, I’m willing to share. And that’s what has prospered me and blessed me—to be able to help a person in need.”
She is a single parent who raised her two sons to do well and become productive members of society. Although family is a very important factor in her life, so is helping and giving back to those in need.
A lesson that womanhood has taught her is to persevere, stay strong, and be kind to everyone she encounters. “I will try to help anyone I can. I don’t have a whole lot, but what I do have, I’m willing to share. And that’s what has prospered me and blessed me—to be able to help a person in need.”
Sue Molokwu
70 years old
"Womanhood means, having a role model as my mom. She was a woman that had seven children...she only went to the eighth grade, but when she had to retire, she was handing surgical instruments to a surgeon with no formal school, all hands on. So, that's the kind of woman I would like to be, strong and is determined to raise her children the best that I can."
70 years old
"Womanhood means, having a role model as my mom. She was a woman that had seven children...she only went to the eighth grade, but when she had to retire, she was handing surgical instruments to a surgeon with no formal school, all hands on. So, that's the kind of woman I would like to be, strong and is determined to raise her children the best that I can."
Shelby Jean Price, and her seven childern
Through her Guidance, I Embraced My femininity
Nakeeva McGhee
20 years old
"Womanhood means being able to embrace myself, staying true to myself and being the happiest that I can be. "
20 years old
"Womanhood means being able to embrace myself, staying true to myself and being the happiest that I can be. "
Nikeva McGhee has embraced womanhood by wearing girly hair bows, ribbons, and frilly skirts and dresses. Before fully embracing her new femininity, McGhee often second-guessed her fashion choices.
“I have always struggled with dressing because I'm scared of how everyone will see me,” she said. “I’m scared of having a lot of attention on me because my taste in clothing usually attracts attention.”
That fear sometimes held her back from fully expressing herself, but the encouragement she received from her mom and sister helped her continue to dress the way she wanted to.
"I would go to my sister, and she would compliment me a lot, telling me how pretty I looked and how gorgeous I was," McGhee said. “She would even say things like, 'You need to start dressing up more,’ which helped boost my confidence. It made me more comfortable in my skin.”
“I have always struggled with dressing because I'm scared of how everyone will see me,” she said. “I’m scared of having a lot of attention on me because my taste in clothing usually attracts attention.”
That fear sometimes held her back from fully expressing herself, but the encouragement she received from her mom and sister helped her continue to dress the way she wanted to.
"I would go to my sister, and she would compliment me a lot, telling me how pretty I looked and how gorgeous I was," McGhee said. “She would even say things like, 'You need to start dressing up more,’ which helped boost my confidence. It made me more comfortable in my skin.”
Nakeeva, sister, 23- years-old
Nakeeva mom, 43-years-old
Through Her Guidance, We Came to Understand Our Worth
Katie Allison
89 years old
"Womanhood means learning to depend on yourself to get things done, and not waiting for a man to give you happiness that you can give yourself."
89 years old
"Womanhood means learning to depend on yourself to get things done, and not waiting for a man to give you happiness that you can give yourself."
Born in 1936 in Kentucky, Katie Allison's experience of womanhood was defined by early responsibility, limited opportunities, and the challenges of being a Black woman during a time of widespread inequality. At just 12-years-old, Allison began working to help support her family, picking strawberries and doing laundry, often without guaranteed pay. This early introduction to hard work contrasts sharply with the experiences of young girls today, who typically don’t face the same pressures and responsibilities at such a young age.
By 17-years-old, Allison left home to start her own life, seeking independence long before it became common for young adults to leave home in their mid-20s.
Although she completed high school, the prospect of attending college was not within her reach, as educational and professional opportunities for Black women were limited.
Despite the hardships she faced, Allison was determined to pass on to her daughters the lessons she had learned through her experiences. She raised them to be self-sufficient, teaching them to never rely on others, for financial stability or personal strength. Her guidance and resilience ensured that her daughters grew into confident, independent women who were well-equipped to navigate their own paths in life.
By 17-years-old, Allison left home to start her own life, seeking independence long before it became common for young adults to leave home in their mid-20s.
Although she completed high school, the prospect of attending college was not within her reach, as educational and professional opportunities for Black women were limited.
Despite the hardships she faced, Allison was determined to pass on to her daughters the lessons she had learned through her experiences. She raised them to be self-sufficient, teaching them to never rely on others, for financial stability or personal strength. Her guidance and resilience ensured that her daughters grew into confident, independent women who were well-equipped to navigate their own paths in life.
In Allison's hands is a portrait of her when she 23-years-old.