Desiree Peterkin Bell
Desiree was the one who bore the brunt of the consequences. She was told she had to leave the school. However, thanks to the A Better Chance Program, they were able to find her a new school. Desiree moved to Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and spent four years at the ABC's Girls House. That period in her life was pivotal, awakening her to a slew of societal issues including, but not limited to, privilege and racism.
Desiree Peterkin Bell believes that no matter what life throws at you, whether you're a brown woman or just someone carrying the average load of living, you have been endowed with the resources to make an impact. She believes that having a voice, regardless of your position in life, gives you purpose, and that purpose leads to power. Allow Desiree to assist you in finding your voice.
Desiree Peterkin Bell believes that no matter what life throws at you, whether you're a brown woman or just someone carrying the average load of living, you have been endowed with the resources to make an impact. She believes that having a voice, regardless of your position in life, gives you purpose, and that purpose leads to power. Allow Desiree to assist you in finding your voice.
#BlackWomen
In honor of #BlackWomen - those close to me and those who have come before me - on this final day of #BlackHistoryMonth and as we get closer to #WomensHistoryMonth.
I had no choice but to undergo a complex and necessary hysterectomy recently. I had endured pain for several years before getting a bad prognosis. My world quickly changed, and I had to start over and prepare for the worst.
Fortunately, my oncologist and medical team were excellent, and the surgery was successful. They approached me when I came to, and they said, "This was difficult. It would help if you did not have to endure suffering. You merit comfort."
I learned a valuable lesson from this experience: vulnerability can be powerful. As Black women, we frequently feel forced to carry the weight of suffering, hardship, and adversity, but we don't have to. We often hold the dangerous belief that we must always be resilient, strong, and able to solve problems.
We don't have to be assertive all the time. We are all susceptible to weakness. Like everyone else, we deserve comfort. We have earned ease, and we are meriting it.
I had no choice but to undergo a complex and necessary hysterectomy recently. I had endured pain for several years before getting a bad prognosis. My world quickly changed, and I had to start over and prepare for the worst.
Fortunately, my oncologist and medical team were excellent, and the surgery was successful. They approached me when I came to, and they said, "This was difficult. It would help if you did not have to endure suffering. You merit comfort."
I learned a valuable lesson from this experience: vulnerability can be powerful. As Black women, we frequently feel forced to carry the weight of suffering, hardship, and adversity, but we don't have to. We often hold the dangerous belief that we must always be resilient, strong, and able to solve problems.
We don't have to be assertive all the time. We are all susceptible to weakness. Like everyone else, we deserve comfort. We have earned ease, and we are meriting it.
