Reclaiming Our Narrative: The Power of Black Women Telling Their Own Stories
By Phyllis Bowman
Black women are always expected to carry it all, and very seldom do they express verbally what they are experiencing or what they are going through. When we reclaim our narrative, we reclaim our power. We cancel the opportunity of being defined by others’ interpretation of us to define our own situations or circumstances.
Throughout history, black women have carried extraordinary stories of courage, perseverance, innovation, and leadership. Yet too often, those stories of courage, perseverance, innovation, and leadership have been told from someone else’s perspective or worse, left untold altogether. Even though black women are always having to explain themselves, it is important for us to tell our own stories. If we don’t, black women will continue to be seen as disrespectful and unprofessional.
A story that recently made national headlines about a 32-year-old black woman news anchor for KTAL Fox 13 in Memphis Tennessee, Dominique Dillion, originally from California. It sparked a conversation about black motherhood and burnout. This young black mother reportedly unintentionally fell asleep while on air for a few seconds, it was caught by a viewer and it went viral on social media, in short, she had to give an account as to why she fell asleep on air. Dominique Dillon was not showing disrespect nor was she being unprofessional; as it turns out, she was having a very relatable moment with most young mothers severely deprived of sleep from raising a two-year old and an 8-month-old baby that was teething.
This was a professional black woman with a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A & M in mass communication and a minor in English, and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. This incident could have happened to any young mother whose work hours start before Sunrise, and that has young children, yet she had to immediately explain to the whole world what she was going through and the reason she fell asleep on air. It was reported that many online came to her defense, but the fact is that she had to defend herself to maintain the respect and dignity that she rightfully deserves anyway.
Get the full story here, https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/08/05/local-tv-anchor-dominique-dillon-dozes-off-on-air/91183526007/
This is why telling our own stories matters. Although black women are often challenged, we must reclaim our power and importance by telling our own story. We are more than the challenges we face, and our voices, experiences, and perspectives deserve to be heard.
For the California Black women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CABWCEI), reclaiming our narrative is not just words it is a commitment to ensuring that Black women are seen, heard, valued and equipped to lead. Our stories become the foundation upon which we build stronger communities, influence public policy and inspire future generations.
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