From Black History Month to Women’s History Month, I love a seasonal reminder of who I am. It’s not just about celebration — it’s about calibration. A soft (and sometimes loud) reminder that I am not to be played with.
After a full Black History Month series, I’m choosing something lighter.
Instead of a long, serious manifesto, this is about practice. Tiny acts. Daily decisions. Microdoses.
Coined by Alice Walker, womanism names the intersection of being Black and being a woman — because historically, we were asked to fragment ourselves. Too Black for gender conversations. Too woman for race conversations. So Ancestor Walker gave us language sturdy enough to hold all of us.
Womanism is policy and protest. It’s scholarship and strategy. But it’s also everyday defiance. It’s how you move. How you respond. How you protect your energy. Sometimes it corrects the outside world — but it always defends you.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to micro-dose womanism. (I need you to be taking notes). Sidenote: the people who I’ve @ can be found on threads at that name
Stop over-explaining. Your “no” is final.
Experiment with your hair. Whether you pay for it or do it yourself. Experimenting allows you to discover yourself outside of patriarchial norms. Wear that wig, those bantu knots, close shave, cornrows
Eat dessert.
Consume affirming content.
Drink water - a hydrated you is a healthy you.
Slow down. Don’t multitask. Do one thing at a time.
Eat carbs and fats for breakfast (your body is starving).
“I only ever refer to God as ‘she.’” @merebrowand
“I keep talking when a man tries to cut off my sentence in a conversation”.” @emmypantz
“Referring to married men as “[wife’s name]’s husband”. @laissezleskouma
“When in a male dominated space, I gender the men, “the male mechanic, the male doctor” etc…” @cristine7.77
“I tell every single woman her baby looks like her.” @mjrpratt
“Every time someone says anything nice about men, I reply: ‘Not all men.’” @life.is.a.pvp
“Used the Block Contact, Unfollow Button, Block this Person… you get where I’m going with this.” @maryoufreebush
“Staying consistent with my AM/PM skincare routine” @doneshia
“Accepting ALL of Me, and Not accepting and falling for societal views and opinions that I need to Make Myself fit into a “niche” or focus on “one thing at a time” …. I am ALL of Me All the Time & my people need EVERYTHING I offer 🥂✨” @egunsemilore
“Having the identity of THAT GIRL! I recorded a voice memo on my phone with the following and I listen to it 3X per day and it required my brain chemistry.” @thefemme_ceo
“Started doing things/trips alone".” @summerdonbell
Spend 5 minutes in the sun.
You probably noticed a lot of these are about protecting you. And that’s right, because you, happy, health, and whole are the biggest celebration of Women’s History Month. And even if you’re not there yet, every day you can be step closer.
Microdosing isn’t about shying away from the work. It’s about centering you, not them.
Toni Morrison said it best.
“The very serious function of racism (and misgoyny) is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being".
So this month, if you can, practice not explaining your worth, your value, your skill, your beauty, your confidence. No long soliloquy needed. Make it simple. Finish your sentence. Block the number. Mute the account. Book the trip. Use no as a full sentence.
Make your inner child happy by choosing yourself in small, consistent ways until it rewires your posture, your nervous system, your expectations.
Some days womanism looks like deep debate. Other days it looks like a walk outside, laughs with your girls, and referring to that man as her husband.
Both count.
Microdose accordingly.
Let me know in the comments which one you’ll be trying. Or leave some suggestions in the comments.
This got me feeling myself! Heavy on the eat dessert and referring to my husband as “Kamye’s husband.”
HEAVY! On God is a woman. Thank you for the affirmation and reminders!