How This Founder Is Changing The Narrative Of The Strong Black Woman Stereotype

Every day people make hundreds of decisions and snap judgments to survive. Forming opinions of others is a way for individuals to perceive the world and figure out how they fit in, what they like and don’t like. Acquiring stereotypes is more complex and usually forms during childhood under the influence of one’s surrounding environment. As social values change, stereotypes typically change. A common stereotype within the Black community is the schema of the Strong Black Woman (SBW). Psychology of Women Quarterly released an article stating that SBW is associated with negative psychological outcomes, which leads to poor health. This stereotype places culturally specific expectations onto Black women that include unyielding strength and caregiver roles for people of multiple generations.

Francesca Andre, award-winning filmmaker, author, photographer and founder of Creative Group21, creates work that redefines stereotypes in Black communities and educates individuals on how to break the racial narrative cycle. 

“I do have a bit of a love-hate relationship with that word [resilience],” Andre exclaims. “Do not call me resilient to deny my pain because a lot of times when people call you resilient, it makes them powerful bystanders; you don’t get to be involved and help you carry the load if they could. Because they’re like, ‘You got this. You’re a strong girl. Put your big girl pants on. You got it covered.’ That’s what I got while I was doing a lot of things in life. People look at me, and they say, ‘You’re resilient.’ What I wanted was someone to say, ‘What do you need help with?’ I wanted to open up on my vulnerability. I don’t want to be strong every day. That’s why I don’t call myself a strong Black woman. I don’t use that. Women do not need to be strong every day to be superior.”

Andre’s artistic career began when she started modeling for commercial print ads. She’s been featured in ads for Mercedes Benz, USA Today, Time Magazine and billboard work. Although she landed auditions, she became bored with being in front of the camera; she wanted to be the one telling stories. After studying and practicing using the camera on her own, Andre submitted her work to the New York Daily News, which led her to freelance with the New York Post. 

She eventually attended film school to understand everything involved with producing and directing films. In 2017, she released her award-winning short film, Charcoal, which captures the stories of two Black women as they embark on a lifelong journey to overcome internalized colorism, find self-acceptance and ultimately find redemption.

“There were documentaries coming out about people bleaching their skin in Jamaica, people bleaching their skin in Africa, and one article on the BBC about women taking pills because they wanted their skin to come out lighter,” she shares. “I’m like, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is happening all over the world.’ … I need to do something about it. I didn’t want it to be about dark skin versus light. I didn’t want it to be about bleaching. I wanted it to go a little deeper. Like the ideas that we consume and ideas that have been embedded into us in terms of beauty. What do we believe that beauty is? How do we internalize those different ideas? And how do they impact the decision that we make in our lives on a regular basis?”

Her son was seven months old when the pandemic and the brutality of George Floyd influenced the world. Feeling crippled and powerless, instead of remaining silent, Andre decided to write a children’s book series, I am a Phenomenal Black Boy, as a way to begin to change the narrative for young Black boys. She illustrates how young Black boys can enjoy nature, meditation and develop a positive body image.

“My son is cute now,” Andre explains. “Everybody looks at him as non-threatening. What happens when he is 14 and he has a body of a man? What’s going to happen? … I know a lot of things that I have to unlearn. I learned them at a fairly young age in terms of all of my surface issues; they all stem from my childhood. So I thought, ‘Let me write a book.’ But I want a book that is not only just a self-esteem book but a book that will be like a beautiful kind of dish that has a bit of everything.” 

As Andre continues to pivot in her career and expand her artistic ventures, she focuses on the following essential steps:

• Be prepared. The more research you conduct, the more knowledgeable you’ll be entering a new market, but don’t let studying become a form of procrastination. 
• Expand your network. If you try to do everything on your own, you’ll only delay your success. 
• Ask questions. Discover the possible challenges you may face upfront so you can prepare for them.

“I don’t need a label because it changes all the time,” Andre concludes. “I might talk to you right now and sound sane and good. And in the next hour, it might be a different story. … One thing I don’t want to do, I don’t want to smile when I’m struggling. I don’t want to look quote-unquote presentable or pretty while doing it. I don’t have to put up a front to say, ‘I’m so strong.’ Some days I’m strong, other days I’m not.”