what is black vagina confidence?

For centuries, women across the globe have suffered with the negative connotations associated with the female genitalia. 

The derogatory words used to describe our lady-parts and the beliefs that they are dirty and ugly have led many women to become shameful of the most precious parts of their body.  Because of the shame, women do not openly talk about intimate wellness.  

The feeling of shame and often disconnect is compounded in Black women.  The coarseness of our hair makes us prone for ingrown hairs.  Our melanin-rich skin, in all its beauty is at increased risk for dark spots or hyperpigmentation.  These physiologic factors often add to the shame the Black women feel.  Coupled with the unique features of our bodies, the institution of slavery robbed our ancestors of their female sexuality and stewardship over their own bodies.  Their survival instincts led them to hide their sexuality.  In efforts to deal with the trauma of slavery, Black women no longer shared the rights of passage of womanhood or even talked about the female genitalia.  From slavery to present day, the conversations most Black women have with the elder women in the community is to keep their legs closed and their private parts clean.  The lack of conversation has caused a void in the knowledge every woman should know about their bodies and it has also exacerbated the shame.  This internal pain and apprehension to communicate has added to the disparities in healthcare that already plagues the Black community.  

My charge is to remove the shame that is associated with the female genitalia and to open the doors of communication.  In order to gain the knowledge of our bodies we have to be willing to talk about it.  When a woman is empowered to gain the understanding of how history has shaped her present self, obtain the knowledge of the female genitalia, and find comfort in maximizing the wellness of her most intimate area, she then has the courage to write her own story in every aspect of her life.  This is Black vagina confidence.  Black vagina confidence is more than just a hashtag or phrase.  It’s a movement, a mission, a way of life.  Mya Angelou once said “Words mean more than what is set down on paper.  It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”  When we speak it, we own it, and that’s what makes it powerful – Black Vagina Confidence.