Quotessence
Home / Books / Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression

Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression

Book by Meri Nana-Ama Danquah · 4 quotes · Memoir, Mental Health, Nonfiction

Filter quotes by topic

AllMemoirMental HealthNonfictionPsychologyRaceRace And Racism In AmericaFeminism

Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression Quotes

“From the beginning, our relationship was formula for disaster. Depressed people often attract unhealthy relationships and inadvertently subject themselves and their already battered self-image, to additional abuse… You feel as if you are worthless so you attach yourself to someone who you think will give your life some meaning, be a safe harbor for your souls. But only you can protect what’s inside.”

RacePsychologyFeminismMental HealthMemoirNonfictionRace And Racism In America
Book:Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression
Create image

“White women who suffer from mental illness are depicted as idle, spoiled, or just plain hysterical. Black men are demonized and pathologized. Black women with psychological problems are certainly not seen as geniuses; we are generally not labeled ‘hysterical’ or ‘eccentric’ or even ‘pathological’. When a black woman suffers from a mental disorder, the overwhelming opinion is that she is weak. And weakness in black women is intolerable.”

RacePsychologyFeminismMental HealthMemoirNonfictionRace And Racism In America
Book:Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression
Create image

“I’ve frequently been told things like: “Girl, you’ve been hanging out with too many white folk” ; “What do you have to be depressed about? If our people could make it through slavery, we can make it through anything” ; “Take your troubles to Jesus, not no damn psychiatrist.”

RacePsychologyFeminismMental HealthMemoirNonfictionRace And Racism In America
Book:Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression
Create image

“The illusion of strength has been and continues to be of major significance to me as a black woman. The one myth that I have had to endure my entire life is that of my supposed birthright to strength. Black women are supposed to be strong – caretakers, nurtures, healers of other people – any of the twelve dozen variations of Mammy. Emotional hardship is supposed to be built into the structure of our lives. It went along with the territory of being both black and female in a society that completely undervalues the lives of black people and regards all women as second-class citizens. It seemed that suffering, for a black woman, was part of the package. Or so I thought.”

RacePsychologyFeminismMental HealthMemoirNonfictionRace And Racism In America
Book:Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression
Create image