This week on Shades of Strong, we’re going all the way in. I'm sitting down with Dr. Cecily Moore for a raw, layered conversation about what it really costs to carry the “strong Black woman” narrative — and what it actually takes to start living well, for real.
Dr. Cecily brings her lived experience, research, and wisdom to the table as we talk about the exhaustion, the generational weight, and how so many of us are ready to put it all down. Together, we unpack:
What the “strong Black woman” narrative steals from us, and why so many are finally saying, “I don’t want to do it like this anymore.”
How wellness for Black women is not just individual, but communal — when a Black woman is well, everybody connected to her benefits.
The emotional and cultural impact of being expected to serve, sacrifice, and hold it together — even when you’re falling apart on the inside.
Why self-advocacy, boundaries, and true support are non-negotiable for our healing (and what it actually looks like in everyday life).
The church, the workplace, the family — where the strong Black woman myth keeps showing up, and how we’re learning to question it.
How unlearning strength-as-sacrifice is an act of resistance and the beginning of generational healing.
You’ll also hear personal stories — from both Dr. Cecily and myself— about what it feels like to try to be “everything to everybody,” the grief that comes with letting that go, and the joy that’s possible on the other side.
If you’re a Black woman who’s ever felt like your well-being is always last on the list, this one is for you. And if you care about Black women, it’s for you too.
About Dr. Cecily Moore
Dr. Cecily Moore helps therapists, counselors, and helping professionals unlearn the Strong Black Woman narrative so they can move from survival mode into sustainable wellness. She’s a licensed therapist, educator, researcher, and the creator of the Reappropriate, Redefine, Recover™ framework — guiding Black women toward nervous system healing, spaciousness, and self-reclamation. Cecily is a military wife, a mom of two, and she’s never met a Strong Black Woman she couldn’t help begin the journey of unlearning that sh*t. Connect with Dr. Cecily Moore here.
Timestamps – What You’ll Hear and When:
00:00 – Intro & Why This Conversation Matters
06:20 – Dr. Cecily’s Story: Postpartum Depression and the Cost of Strength
10:25 – Generational Strength: Grandma, Mama, and Us
15:50 – Research, Lived Experience, and the Grief of Unlearning "Strong"
17:20 – The Support Language Behind the Therapist Chair
21:31 – The Pacifier Metaphor: Replacing "Strong" with Support
24:54 – Watching Her Learn to Rest: Dr. Cecily’s Mom and the Reclamation of Joy
28:06 – Church, Faith, and the Conditioning of "Strong"
36:18 – When Strength Is Rooted in Fear: Mothering Black Boys
41:15 – Receiving as a Skill: Support Languages and Accessibility
49:00 – Final Words: Unlearning "Strong" as a Mental Health Intervention
Resources to Support You:
Download Cecily’s Free Audio + Mindset guide: Unlearn That Sh*t
Schedule a 1:1 Support Session
Get the Guide: "You Know Your Support Language™—Now What?"
Take the Support Language™ Quiz. and learn how you actually receive support best.
Get Support Right in Your Inbox: Gentle words, real-life reflection, and soft reminders every week
Let’s Stay Connected:
Subscribe to Shades of Strong on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform
Share this episode with a sista who’s tired of being the strong one
Leave a review if the episode spoke to your spirit — it helps more Black women find this space
Join Shades of Strong on Substack for deeper convos that don’t always make it to the mic
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www.shadesofstrong.com
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