Letter from the editor:

The Truth About Sisterhood was created to encourage women from various backgrounds to embrace true sisterhood. To go against the status quo and embrace differences that usually keep us divided and instead, learn how to exist together so that our voices are more collective.

In our collaborations, you will read our perspectives as a whole rather than the sum of our unique parts. We seek to unite women, challenge stereotypes, bridge gaps, and allow intersections to be something that truly brings us together.

Yolonda Stillwell-Williams, M. Ed, Managing Editor

Editorial

Today’s society is becoming more LGBTQ-inclusive, but is it for the right reasons? Yes, the Supreme Court has ruled, “Marriage equality is the state of having the same rights and responsibilities of marriage as others, regardless of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity” One hundred years ago, that idea would have been deemed ludicrous. No, overall society is still on the fence. Yet here we are today considering codifying the law nationwide.

As a youth, I grew up in an area like Charleston, South Carolina. We lived close to the church, so I could see folks pull up and I would get excited because I knew some of my favorite people would be at choir rehearsal. George Marcy, head usher and deacon, would arrive first and open the doors, turn on the air, and the lights, and check out the church before others arrived. Beginning with hellos and prayers, the group would turn to Dimple, the pianist, and begin. Dylann Roof shifted my church memories by killing nine of those who offered him food and fellowship. I do not remember what I was doing that summer in June, but I remember my first thought when I heard the relatives and churchgoers and friends of the dead and injured responses was that Charleston’s folks are crazy.

"If I am a follower of the teachings of Christ, where do I stand in all this crazy equality?"

One Sunday, Jesus was at the synagogue and many came not to witness His words, but to see if He would heal on Sabbath. Jesus was angry because this was a perfect opportunity for these critics of His to change their minds about Him, but they refused and rejected Jesus instead. Jesus could have performed the hand miracle the next day or done it privately, but He did something crazy and chose to do it at this time and place on Sabbath and the Pharisees immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him. Jesus looked into the heart of the Pharisees and was grieved by what he saw and presented more crazy ideas to the point that His friends said, “He is beside himself”. Fearing for His safety Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived and standing outside, they sent someone in to call Him. A crowd was sitting around and they told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” Jesus responded: “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” The crowd looked at Him like He was crazy.

If I am a follower of the teachings of Christ, where do I stand in all this crazy equality? Do I stand with many of my ancestors who spit out derogatory terms like punk, faggot, dyke, freak? Do I respectfully try to remember each letter of the latest L-G-B-T-Q phrase? I am Charleston. Growing up in a small town, I went to school during the week, practiced the golden rule each day, fellowshipped with my church, and served where I could.

As an adult, life is pretty much the same. The horror of what Roof did that night was crazy; the media frenzy was crazy; President Obama singing “Amazing Grace” was crazy. But what was crazier than all that was the response of Charleston. One of my favorite singers, Cee-Lo Green has a song entitled, “Crazy” A part of it goes:

Just like me

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on the limb

And all I remember is thinking I want to be like them

Ever since I was little

Ever since I was little it looked like fun

And it’s no coincidence I’ve come

And I can die when I’m done

But maybe I’m crazy

Maybe you’re crazy

Maybe we’re crazy

Probably

That’s crazy. Depending on your experiences, crazy is literally crazy. Jesus was called crazy because people did not understand His message or teachings about the Father’s unconditional Love. They call Cee Lo Green’s song crazy because it makes the listener see that outliers are crazy because of his or her perspective. The world of Charleston is crazy because instead of seeking revenge or justice, individuals were recorded on camera saying I/We/He forgives. That’s crazy! How does one forgive like that?

"When I face the mirror, I don’t see perfect; I see a work in progress."

Jesus often responded with crazy answers, but especially when He was asked what is the greatest commandment and He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ I live within my world, and I don’t interact with many L-G-B-T-Q+ communities.

I have friends, coworkers, relatives, and neighbors, and I run into people who are not, simply put, heterosexual. I do not see their differences as a negative but as a part of the sum of them. Do I really care if they choose to be heterosexual? Am I crazy to believe these are valuable people and do their differences create a divide where I can never cross over the line and see who they are? The crazy part is that I do not care. I care more about everyone’s well-being than everyone’s preference. Simply said, if I am a follower of Christ and I believe He died for my sins, then do I get to pick and choose who and when I love? Do I care that you are Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Atheist? I care more that each person has Faith that to be better, one must do better. And that includes some crazy ideas like love is an action word. Steve Jobs once said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Could you be Charleston crazy? Would you dare be Jesus crazy? Are you crazy enough to see the sum of a person or are you judgmental and only see parts? I worry about my friends who drink or do drugs because that can lead to an overdose those who are obese because that leads to heart/vascular diseases or who are adulterers because that influences and affects others.

I do not have your answers, only mine, based on the life and times of Yolonda. I question my choices. I doubt the lifestyle of others. I worry about my friend’s relatives and coworkers because I know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.When I face the mirror, I don’t see perfect; I see a work in progress. I have done crazy shit and will still do some crazy. The Bible clearly states: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Followers of Christ felt that was some crazy idea, yet thousands of years later, look at Charleston. Thousands of years later, look at society’s acceptance. Thousands of years later, an idea was introduced to people on a hill who were following Jesus not because of what He said, but because of what He could do. And Ceelo Green’s song continues:

And I hope that you are having the time of your life

But think twice, that’s my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you

Who do you think you are

Ha ha ha, bless your soul

You really think you’re in control

I think you’re crazy

Just like me

Even though I like the song, quoting Beyoncé here doesn’t quite fit, but the idea of “Crazy in Love” works. How easy it is to point fingers and how hard it is to transform minds. God had a hard time with Adam and Eve and we are still in our Adam/Eve moments. But if each of us decided to be a little bit crazy, each bit could help. Ozzie Osbourne, some of us are ready to board.

YOU

Sisterhood starts with oneself. In order to bring anything to a sisterhood, a woman must know her worth and have established principles, morals, and a belief system that consists of unity, connection, wellness, and a belief in something greater than herself.

J. Monique Gambles

The “hood” in sisterhood

means a group of people, a condition, or a quality. In urban slang,
“hood” is defined as poor communities inhabited by people of color,
an insolvent area or a ghetto anyone could live in so long as it is designated as impoverished financially, morally, or practically. The
term hood does not discriminate, but the connotation often leads
to a mindset that invites a negative aspect.

Ignorance Isn't Bliss:

Nurturing Healthy Sisterhood Among Women

Tiffany Green-Hood

“In a world that often pits women against each other, it’s essential to shed light on the importance of sisterhood. Sisterhood, at its core, is about solidarity, support, and empowerment among women. However, creating and maintaining a healthy sisterhood is not without its challenges. This article, “Ignorance Isn’t Bliss,” delves into the truth about sisterhood and explores how each of us holds the power and responsibility to foster a nurturing environment for all women.” Tiffany Green-Hood