Ryan Michelle Bathe

‘Girlfriends Check In’ — a new series on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network — pandemic self-care in a virtual space.

Despite these unpredictable times with the COVID-19 pandemic still doing its damage especially to the African-American and Latino population. There is an Ethiopian proverb

that says: If you pick up one end of the stick you also pick up the other. Standing on this wisdom it’s vital that Black women take the time to take care of the most important person in the world —us. We Black and Brown women are strong no doubt but we have a history of putting others before ourselves and that lack of self-care has proven deadly for us. Deadly for our families, the community, and the advancement in all areas from the largest to the smallest.