By Shamanique Bodie-Williams, MD, FACOG

Listen to the thought that moves through your mind tiptoeing, not knowing how to move through the seashore of distractions lining the shore of your serenity. 

Listen to the words of those who have journeyed this road before you. The ancestors whose sacrifices allow you to encourage your thoughts to walk. To walk boldly irrespective of the colour of your skin, your gender, your nationality, or your religious beliefs.

Listen to the words of those who have paved the way with blisters on their hands, tears cried and dried as the injustices of life compressed them like an olive press, forcing the hopes for a future to ooze free, to enter your mind.

Listen to the words of those who care for you. Those who would breathe, who would bleed for you, who would give their very lives to see yours salvaged. Those who bring comfort to you and soothe your bruises created by the heavy hand of the world. They help carry the burdens that want to overwhelm and silence your thoughts.

Listen to your patients. The words that render you speechless as they share a depth of hurt that renders their bodies broken, their mind dented, and their spirit weakened. 

Listen to your patients as they share the joy that infuses their eyes with light. A joy that causes a smile to escape of the collage of their face. Listen as your good news heralds a victory for them and for you. 

Listen to your purified heart as the thoughts now make their sound heard. As the thoughts clear a space to sit, as you hear those who have paved the way, as you hear those who love you, as you hear those entrusted to your care, as you hear yourself, as you prepare to respond—listen.

Shamanique Bodie-Williams, MD, FACOG, is a Bahamian obstetrician, gynecologist, educator, and health advocate who focuses on women’s health issues. She is currently the chief of services in obstetrics and gynecology at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Bahamas. Her mission is to empower young ladies and women to make good health care choices. She also strives to improve women’s health care in the Bahamas. Seeing her students and patients live their best lives is the greatest reward for her.

The 2024 theme for Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts. This year, we hope to give a platform to art made by Black members of the ACOG community. We’d also love to hear from ACOG members about works by African American artists that have inspired you or that have particular meaning in your life and career. Email [email protected] to share a story in the form of a written essay, visual art, or a video.