Suffering with Grace, Part 2: Is There An End In Sight?

By DaiJhah Owens

In March, during what I thought would be the height of Covid19 craziness, I wrote a love letter of encouragement to black women everywhere braving through this crazy year while still handling everyday life. The letter was with personal trials coupled with hope for the future. I had battled through my fair share of crazy years, and I felt I could support my sisters. At the end of that love letter, I wrote, “Everything, including Earth itself, has an expiration date. I eventually learned how to walk again. And this Pandemic will eventually end. Nothing lasts forever.” I meant every word. However, its August, and things are only getting worse. How does one continue to suffer from grace when there seems to be no end in sight?

Between this global Pandemic, civil unrest, the murder of Black Women without recourse, a presidential election, government corruption, and people losing their damn minds, I’m not sure what I’m suffering through anymore. It has become easy to feel hopeless. Most of the hardships we are collectively going through are far out of our control. The one thing that kept us going was the thought that it will soon end. We will quickly flatten the curve, Breonna Taylor will soon receive justice; things will soon get back to “normal.” We are finding out that there is no “soon” when suffering is involved. Suffering has no set timeline. And for most, that is scary.

So, while hoping and praying for the end, how do we gracefully bear with each other in love with hopes of thriving despite our circumstances? I believe it starts with us as individuals. Focus on what you can tangibly control for that day. For example, as I begin my day this beautiful Sunday morning, I can control what I eat. I manage when I get on social media. I can control the thoughts I allow to circulate in my mind. Some may ask, “But DaiJhah, how does this help me combat racism and misogyny in the middle of a Pandemic ?” And the answer is, as Black Women, taking care of ourselves first, taking care of what we can control first, is one of the biggest acts of social justice work we will ever do.

America may seem like it’s up in flames (because it is), but I know some badass black women who have persevered through worse. As we go through this crazy year, the best thing you can do, despite the suffering, is to show up for yourself. Have loads of grace ready for when you need it. Uplift yourself and other Black Women around you. We don’t have the power to end a global Pandemic, but we do have the power to fight for our peace.

DaiJhah Owens is a Contributing Writer for the Pedestal Project, LLC. DaiJhah is passionate about shifting political power to oppressed groups through education. She believes there is nothing more powerful than an educated black woman who can smell political BS a mile away! Connect with her on Instagram at @d_nakhole!