We began as a subcommittee of the City of Rochester’s Black Heritage Committee and hosted our inaugural BWLF gathering in 2005, a 3-event forum serving more than 100 women. At its conclusion, and at the request of the Sisters, we determined that the “BWLF event” continue on as the “BWLF organization” to support the needs of Black women in Rochester community.
We are now a membership organization of Black women interested in increasing their knowledge of internalized racism and skills to counter it, and to improve “sister” relationships with other Black women. We are supported primarily through membership dues, donations, grants and workshop registration fees.
We began a process of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. We came together to identify for ourselves, not only who our leaders were, but to name for ourselves the issues that were important to us.
Since 2006, we have held several events, including workshops, book reviews & video discussions, social gatherings, Sister trips and retreats to bond together and recommit ourselves to this work. Our signature workshop “Overcoming Internalized Racism Among Black Women” is offered to help Black women understand internalized racism, and how it affects our relationship with other Black women. To date, more than 250 Black women have attended this special workshop, which is the primary vehicle for membership within BWLF.
We do all this for the specific purpose of increasing awareness of sisterhood and extending healing to one another.
