CHICAGO—Civil rights activist Tamika D. Mallory delivered a riveting address at Saint Sabina Church March 23, honoring Women’s History Month and challenged attendees to reflect on personal purpose, societal responsibility, and collective resilience.
The South Side church, led by longtime faith leader and activist Father Michael Pfleger, welcomed Ms. Mallory as the keynote speaker in an event that reflected the intersection of faith, justice, and Black womanhood.
“Tamika is a powerful organizer,” Father Pfleger said during her introduction. “She has led justice movements—fighting voter suppression, advocating for Breonna Taylor—and is the youngest-ever executive director of the National Action Network.
She also helped develop New York City’s $100 million crisis management system for gun violence prevention.” Breonna Taylor, was the young, Black woman killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2020 during a botched raid. Her death sparked nationwide protests.
“Her commitment to justice is matched by her deep love for family. She remains relentless in her fight for justice,” said Father Pfleger, adding, “all while embracing her most cherished roles as a mother and, yes, a grandmother. It’s hard to believe, but yes—a grandmother,” she said.
Ms. Mallory’s address, titled “Where Are You Coming From and Where Are You Going?” drew from Genesis 16, the biblical story of Hagar—a woman who was cast out and found herself in the wilderness. “It’s more than a question of geography,” Ms. Mallory said. “It’s about spiritual direction.”
Her message echoed themes of exhaustion and perseverance, particularly for Black women who have carried the burdens of advocacy, caregiving, and cultural leadership—often without recognition or rest.
“I don’t know about y’all,” she said, “but I’m glad the church still exists. That we still have a safe space to gather, to work together, to organize … on how we are going to hold our people in difficult times.”
Linking February’s Black History Month and March’s Women’s History Month, Ms. Mallory affirmed the central role of Black women in building and preserving society.
“Black women are literally doing everything you can think of—and that is why we are under such attack,” she said. “We are tired. Tired like ‘I’ve been carrying too much for too long.’ Tired like ‘I’ve been strong for everybody, and I’ve forgotten how to care for myself.’”
She shared how this exhaustion has been a recurring theme on her national book tour for her memoir, “I Lived to Tell the Story.” Across 25 cities, she has encountered women echoing the same sentiment: “I’m tired. I need rest. I’m over it.”
But Ms. Mallory emphasized that this rest should not be mistaken for resignation. “Yes—we are owed rest,” she declared. “But let that rest prepare us for God’s next move.”
She warned of the dangers of silence and neutrality, especially amid the current social and political climate. “It’s no joke when the people who discriminate against others call you discriminatory.
Being called ‘difficult’ by the unwilling,” she said. “But someone in every community has to do it. Because real change takes a whole bunch of people willing to stand up and speak out—no matter how much it hurts.”
Her remarks came at a time when national statistics continue to reveal stark inequities facing Black women. A 2023 report from Bankrate found that Black women working full-time, year-round earned just 67 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men. The National Partnership for Women and Families reported an even lower figure—64 cents to the dollar—highlighting the persistent wage gap.
Health disparities are just as alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, Black women experienced maternal mortality at a rate of 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births—more than double the rate for White women. In 2021, the rate was even higher at 69.9 deaths per 100,000.
These findings are consistent with data from the National Institutes of Health, which reports that Black women are 2.9 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their White counterparts.
The causes include systemic racism in healthcare, limited access to quality prenatal care, and broader social determinants like income inequality and environmental stress.
She pointed to a political landscape where book bans are rising, school boards are rewriting history, voting rights are being eroded, and reproductive freedoms are under assault.
“Governors are banning books—but won’t ban bullets,” she said. “We are living in a nation wrestling with its soul. Still deciding whether we want to be free—or just look free.”
Ms. Mallory expressed concern over what she sees as an erosion of democratic norms and institutions. “This isn’t politics as usual, family. Nothing we see before our eyes is normal. You cannot act like it is. Do not lie to yourself. Do not be delusional,” she warned.
She criticized both political parties, noting that while she supported Vice President Kamala Harris, she still held her accountable. “This isn’t about party affiliation,” she said. “I tear the Democrats up on a regular basis. This is about the soul of this nation.”
Returning to her biblical metaphor, Ms. Mallory reminded the audience that Hagar, though cast out and forgotten by man, was seen by God. In the wilderness, Hagar became the first person in the Bible to name God—El Roi, “the God who sees me.”
“Like Hagar, Black women have birthed nations. We’ve raised children who weren’t ours. We’ve built movements—often in the shadows. We’ve survived systems not built for us but built on our backs,” Ms. Mallory said. “We’ve created culture while being erased. We’ve been misunderstood, used, pushed out—but still, God sees us.”
She closed with a word of urgency—and hope.
“Yes, we may be in the wilderness. But it’s a rest stop, not a residence. Sure is not a place to live. It’s where you pause,” she said. “And yes, we’re tired. But we cannot stay in sure. Because the God who sees us is the God who sends us. And God is not done with us yet.” Her message resonated with those in attendance.
“The power of being a woman is divine. It was not by accident; it was by design. It is true that women need a rest and we’ve been carrying for a long time, but it is also true that the rest has to be temporary. We have to pick up the work and keep it moving,” said Khaleelah Dionnne Muhammad, who was part of the program.
“Rest is resilience,” said Afrika Porter, a community advocate and entrepreneur in response to Ms. Mallory’s message. “She broke it down and brought it home with rest being important, but also not staying there; it’s important to rest but to get back up and fight.”
