Sisterhood is important because we are all we have to stand on.
Sisterhood is important because we are all we have to stand on. We have to stand near and by each other, pray for one another, and share the joys and the difficulties that women face in the world today. If we don't talk about it among ourselves, then we are made silent by the patriarchy, and that serves us no purpose.
Ntozake Shange, poet of fire and weaver of women’s voices, once proclaimed: “Sisterhood is important because we are all we have to stand on. We have to stand near and by each other, pray for one another, and share the joys and the difficulties that women face in the world today. If we don't talk about it among ourselves, then we are made silent by the patriarchy, and that serves us no purpose.” In these words burns the ancient truth: that survival and liberation are not solitary pursuits, but collective ones. The strength of women lies not only in their individual courage, but in their sisterhood—their unity of voices, hearts, and struggles.
The origin of this cry comes from Shange’s life and art. In works like For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, she gave voice to the silenced stories of women of color, weaving them together as one chorus of pain, resilience, and joy. She saw that when women were isolated, patriarchy triumphed, but when they gathered to share truth, they transformed silence into thunder. Thus, her insistence on standing together was not abstract—it was a survival strategy, a form of power against erasure.
History proves this wisdom. In the suffrage struggles of the 19th and 20th centuries, women were mocked, beaten, and jailed. Yet when they locked arms—Susan B. Anthony beside Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul beside Lucy Burns—their sisterhood shook the foundations of nations. Alone, they were dismissed as hysterical; together, they became unstoppable. Shange’s words echo the same lesson: it is not the lone voice but the chorus of voices that breaks patriarchy’s hold.
So too in the Civil Rights Movement, when Fannie Lou Hamer declared she was “sick and tired of being sick and tired,” her voice resonated because it was lifted among others. Black women, too often relegated to the background, formed the backbone of marches, voter drives, and organizing. Their solidarity turned suffering into strength, embodying Shange’s call to pray for one another and to share both joy and burden.
Therefore, O daughters of tomorrow, engrave this wisdom deep within: never let yourselves be divided, for division is the weapon of patriarchy. Speak together, rise together, endure together. Sisterhood is not weakness but armor; it is the soil where courage grows. To remain silent is to be conquered, but to share your truth among yourselves is to forge a power no tyranny can erase. For when women stand side by side, the world itself must tremble.
LCLinh Chi
Ntozake Shange speaks to the importance of women standing together, which I completely agree with. Sisterhood can be a powerful tool for resistance, but it also requires vulnerability and trust. How do we overcome the internalized misogyny that may prevent some women from fully embracing this kind of solidarity? In a world that often pits women against each other, how do we cultivate true sisterhood where the focus is on shared liberation and support?
HLHA HAI LINH
This quote is a powerful reminder of the strength that lies in community and shared experiences. It’s true that when women come together and discuss the issues they face, they not only empower each other but also challenge the systems that keep them silent. But how do we encourage those who feel isolated or afraid to speak out to join this collective effort? Is it enough to simply offer support, or do we need to actively create spaces where women can share their voices without fear?
HNHiéu Nguyẽn
Shange’s words are a powerful call for unity and collective strength among women. The idea that sisterhood is not just about support but also about fighting the larger structures of patriarchy is incredibly important. I wonder, though, how do we ensure that sisterhood doesn’t exclude other women who may have different experiences or identities? How can we make sure that women of all backgrounds are included in these essential conversations and support systems?
THtran thi Thu ha
Ntozake Shange’s quote resonates deeply with the need for solidarity among women. It reminds me of the importance of having a safe space where women can share their struggles and victories. But what happens when society discourages these conversations? How can women support each other when their voices are often marginalized or silenced by external forces? Is it possible to create these spaces of sisterhood within a society that actively tries to suppress them?