By Kaitlyn Rigdon
Staff Writer
The Herstory workshop was targeted towards empowering black/African-American girls ages 13-18 and to challenging the common narratives that surround black womanhood in society Saturday.
The workshop was created by Tabitha Reynolds to give black girls a safe environment to discuss issues that are targeted towards them. Along with Reynolds was a group of women who led sessions throughout the day during the workshop.
“The workshop is specifically for black teen girls in our city,” Reynolds said. “I decided to start this particular workshop because of the conversations, which we call the narrative, that surrounds black girlhood and black womanhood.”
Reynolds said they are wanting to start conversations that help young black women navigate and take control of that narrative at a young age.
The women who led sessions have known Reynolds from working with her in the past.
Shaffon “Shay” Grodger said she was leading a session on mental health and self image, including beating the stereotypes and having knowledge of what the real meaning of self worth is. Grodger said she is originally from Jamaica, but has lived in New York and Connecticut.
One session was focused on colorism vs. texturism, Grodger said. “In the black community, there’s always this stigma about light skin and dark skin and also your hair,” Grodger said.
Grodger added that this is why all of the directors were wearing their hair naturally during the workshop.
Another session discussed relationships. “Tabitha will be talking about the ride-or-die chick,” Grodger said. “What does a healthy/positive relationship look like … not just romantic but also family and friendships.”
Reynolds said she saw a need for this type of workshop.
Reynolds grew up in El Dorado and also has a niece that is a senior in high school. “Going through my own growing up process as a young black woman and then also watching her come into her womanhood, that’s what made me want to do this,” Reynolds said.
She said that her main goal for yesterday’s workshop is to get the girls talking, get them together and share and reflect on their own experiences.
Reynolds said this is going to be an ongoing series of workshops and added, “It has to be … These conversations are forever.”
She said that they are starting identity work, and to help the young women build their own positive identities and also take control of what their identities look like.
“We would like to have a cohort of young women that go through it so it would almost be like a curriculum on black girl identity,” she said.
Grodger said they will be coming back to El Dorado throughout the year to continue doing events.
“We want the young women to be inspired to be themselves and that it’s OK for you to be different,” Grodger said. “If we can get these girls to see their worth and their value, then we can get them to be on a better track, because yes, education is important, but we also can’t forget the social aspects.”
For more information, contact Reynolds at [email protected].
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].