*Photo captured by Shamika Sonia Photography*
*Some parts had to be adjusted to make sense to those who aren’t on the team…”
MORE THAN 300,000 BLACK WOMEN HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT OF THEIR DEI RELATED JOBS SINCE 2025! Even Crossnore’s DEI role/language changed. Yet, there are so many Black women continuing to find ways to do the work, to heal, to lead UNAPOLOGETICALLY, and to show up for ourselves and our neighbors.
Last Friday, I was invited to join other Black leaders for a Black History Month Career Day at a local school. The Career Day was hosted by a Black woman educator who lost her husband last year. Even in her grief, she continues to find ways to show up for the scholars at her school and for (small) businesses in the community. My heart was warm because many of the Black folk who were also there sharing their careers, I’ve also interacted with them through my work at Crossnore’s Center for Trauma Resilient Communities (CTRC), and other spaces in the community. Not to mention, the awareness the scholars had about trauma, mindfulness, the Sensations/Emotions Wheel (thanks Amber), and how they planned to use the Head/Heart/Feet tool with their families.
Later in the day on last Friday, I joined 100+ Black women at a “Black Women Thrive” Political Party. It was held at a Black woman owned restaurant, with a Black woman DJ, Black woman photographer, Black women speakers, and a host of Black women bipartisan candidates! Make sure you vote…ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE IN WINSTON-SALEM!
This came after I, along with 4 other Black women, accepted a call from Kellie Easton, on January 28, after she received funding from a donor to host the event. We (I) told her it was too quick of a turnaround to host something during the primaries. She pressed for it to be held during the primaries. We told her it was a go if women responded to her call. 23 days later…IT WAS A GO because the women responded!
Pictured next to me is Dr. April Ruffin-Adams, whom you may recognize, among her many vocations, as a Crossnore board member. While my first board service was alongside her husband years ago, she and I first shared space while campaigning for a current judge. We also worked together during Read Write Spell’s transition to Love Literacy. Next to her is Phyllis Caldwell-George, President & CEO of Financial Pathways, who has been doing incredible work with making sure individuals and families, among other things, are financially prepared to own a home, while also supporting mothers who have lactation needs. Kellie is next to her. Those who follow me know her, if you’re new here…Google her. Chelii Broussard is a phenomenal champion for college students, while also leading a number of other initiatives. She and I met at our beloved WSSU. Magalie Yacinthe, among many other things, is the Executive Director of HUSTLE Winston-Salem. Ironically, Magalie and I first shared space on a number of Zooms during Covid where we discussed CTRC’s presence in the Winston-Salem community.
Black women who adjusted our calendars, pooled our contact lists, and took on tasks for the event, while also focusing on the “businessES that pay us!” All to make sure other Black women heard from candidates, to help them make informed decisions, because we know this city, county, state, and country are A MESS!
I advocated for naming the hurt Black women felt/feel (caused by those outside and inside the community), and also naming the need for healing. There was some pushback because it was supposed to be a party, so it needed to be upbeat. Well…we partied AND, because there was a longing for an experience like last Friday, AND when Black women like Judge Denise Hartsfield (Ret.), Mama Hazel Mack, Esq., Mama Ruth Hopkins, Mayor Pro Tem DD Adams, Commissioner Dr. Malishai Woodbury, Shayla Herndon-Edmonds, and Rev. Dr. Melva L. Sampson (who volunteered to speak after experiencing the energy in the room) are on the program…healing will take place ‘anyhow’.
Why do I share all this? Because, as we close THIS Black History Month, I need trauma informed/resilient practitioners to understand that this was NEVER just a job for me! THIS WAS/IS PERSONAL!!! The curricula I facilitated are among MANY tools I use to survive and thrive as a Black woman in THIS country! I don’t have the luxury to turn things on and off. I don’t have the opportunity to ignore my body when it is dysregulated. For further reasoning behind why this is personal, be sure to reread my bio on the website before it is removed (https://traumaresilient.org/team/micha-james/). *It was rapidly removed, so you can read it in the pics below 🤣* There are spirits and people who push me to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done.
Thankfully, there were some Black women (people) watching and listening when I named patterns I was recognizing at work. Behaviors I was witnessing that were institutionally violent. And thankfully, when the changes at CTRC no longer made sense, when they no longer benefitted the Winston-Salem team internally, nor the Winston-Salem community externally, and they also made me sick (literally), one of those Black women was working on my behalf to make sure I had another job opportunity.
I know, I know…just as I had to name during last week’s Overview training…race is a social construct. Nevertheless, the side effects of its ‘construct’ion, such as racism, continue to impact SO MANY! Because of the impact of racial/historical trauma, those who don’t identify as Black MUST decide whether you’re an ally, co-conspirator, or an ‘opp’ to the Black (women) community. WE KNOW who you are! DO YOU?!
People are hurting. Black women continue to be pushed out of the workforce by the very people, organizations, and institutions they sacrificed and fought for. The colleagues and leaders outside of the Black community, who fight for Black women (people) to be treated fairly, are being targeted and punished.
I will end my time with Crossnore’s CTRC as I end each Kijiji Winston-Salem episode (I recorded Episode 171 on Saturday), “Be vigilant, Be Careful, and I pray you continue to Be Well. Until next time…” 
Micha aka Michai’s Mom 
They Carved Us Up …This is the song Mama Hazel Mack requested to be played ahead of her speech. Listen to the words and hear the cries from the songstress. There is a history lesson and awareness you won’t be able to unhear…
***This message, includes MY experiences and thoughts, and was written, seen, and approved by only me ahead of clicking send.***