Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Roberts.
Hi Tina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My empowerment story began in my early years of life. As a young dark-skinned little girl from the south, I endured the pressure of low self-esteem, not being pretty enough, and for not having a silver spoon in my mouth; I suffered from a horrible skin condition from the age of 7 until I was 16 years old. While other children were playing outside, I was stuck in the house, afraid to go outside because I was ashamed of what I looked like. It was 100-degree weather, and I was walking around with this thin, cheap green sweater with yellow rings around my arms. I remember it so vividly because it was my safety net, my security blanket. The creases between my upper and forearm looked like the outer skin of a reptile or fish. They were raw and scaly, with cracks in my skin that would bleed, but if I had my protector, no one would see it. I prayed to God every night for new skin on my arms, but he didn’t listen. My arms were minor compared to what I thought would be the reason that I would end my life- my face, my neck, and my beautiful thick course head of hair was all horrifying. The sores in my head had become infected and soon began to protrude down my face and neck, causing major discoloration. Again, it was so bad I looked like an alligator. I had the shape of the letter “T” in my face, looking like a brand-new baby with cradle cap. My mom took me from doctor to doctor, and nothing worked. The shampoo and ointments smelled like rotten eggs; I couldn’t even attend school. Years continued to pass, and I still didn’t have an answer from God. Out of all my mother’s 9 children, I was the only one who suffered publicly and in silence. I could tell her heart ached for me because she tried everything to “fix” me so that I could have a normal childhood. Then, finally, in my 9th grade year of high school, my mother and grandmother took me to a local hairdresser – back in the day, that’s what we called them- Sis Sara Frances Williams had a little shop where she did all of the mothers from church press n curls every Saturday to be ready for Sunday morning.
Well, Sister Sara Frances had all sorts of home remedies for your hair. She convinced my mother to cut off all my hair, use her concoctions for hair growth, and treat the bleeding sores in my scalp. I thought I was going to lose my mind!!! My siblings had begun to call me Toni because I looked like a little black boy. I cried and cried and missed many days from school. My peers had no idea what I was going through. At least before she cut my hair, I could cover my face with long bangs and covered my neck because of the length. What was I supposed to do now??? Within a few months, my hair began to grow, and the sores and bleeding began to scab and heal. Within a year, my beautiful hair grew back! As I got older, the condition began to dissipate because the treatments and prescriptions got better. It was Sis Sara Frances who ensured me I was A pretty lil black girl with slanted eyes and that I was going to be a beautiful woman one day.
God uses the intensity of crisis and the force of adversity to rid us of every impurity that would otherwise both weaken our spiritual strength and cause us to think we’re going to lose our mind. When you finally emerge from the very darkest, crushing, breaking experiences in your life, you emerge the strongest and the brightest you’ve ever been. Just like a diamond. That’s why I chose the diamond as the symbol of my chartered member-based organization called IAMNOW. I AM NOW stands for I Am No Ordinary Woman. IAMNOW is the 3rd entity of the No Ordinary Woman Brand. My nonprofit is No Ordinary Woman 2.0 Foundation. Our primary focus in each entity is to assist disadvantage women who are suffering from an illness, domestic violence survivors, single moms and to give back to our community. As women, we wear many faces. We all have a story to be shared and a voice to be heard.
The medical issues I endured in my childhood and my in my adult life are the reasons why I’m able to teach women and girls about self-love, self-discovery, and self-restoration. My medical journeys are what help me catapult both my women empowerment organization and my 501c3 Nonprofit Organization to where they are today. Currently, IAMNOW has Chapters in South Carolina, Washington DC, Maryland, & Virginia (DMV).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Yes, some of the challenges I have faced medically and professionally have been difficult to overcome. From overcoming a childhood skin disease, then suffering with a facial paralysis called Bell’s Palsy in my adulthood to encountering sexism and racism as the only African American Female sitting at round table discussions in a white male dominating career field. Have I overcome them? Absolutely, because I know wholeheartedly who I am as I continue to give myself flowers and live my life unapologetically.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My Professional Career title is an Information Systems Software Asset Manager. I have been employed with the Department of the Navy for over 25 years. I am extremely passionate and proud about the service I provide to the men and women in the Armed Services. My specialty is giving back to those who serve an excellent purpose and to meet the needs of our communities. My givers heart is what sets me apart from others. I like to consider myself a walking love letter to those in need.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
During the COVID-19 crisis, I learned our sense of normalcy as we once knew it no longer existed. I learned that the Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant impact in the mental health of our children and adults. Personally, I detached from social media to avoid a personal burnout. Many suffered from financial instability, loneliness, grief of loved ones, and daily isolation. My family and I created creative coping mechanisms to avoid depression and spent much-needed quality time with each other because the world as we once knew it completely stopped. One thing it emphatically taught me was to treasurer my time here on earth among the living.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamnoworg.com
- Instagram: iamnow_org_llc
- Facebook: Iamnow Organization and No Ordinary Woman 2.0 Foundation
- Twitter: IAMNOW
Image Credits
Ed Snapshot Brown
Johanas Photography
Jeanita Castille
Shedrick Roberts
Tondalia Shaw
