The Strong Black Woman Collective Theory: Determining the Prosocial Functions of Strength Regulation in Groups of Black Women Friends†

The “strong Black woman” is a controlling image that pressures Black women to maintain a façade of strength. The Strong Black Woman Collective Theory (Davis, 2015) posits that Black women reappropriate the image and regulate strength in each other to promote solidarity within the group and confront external hostilities collectively. This study tests the theory by examining how 52 Black women’s friendship groups communicate support about a racial microaggression committed by a white woman. The results demonstrate that strength regulation contributed to more derogative comments about aggressors during supportive discussions, and support seekers were less satisfied in their relationships with white women after the derogative conversations. Even though strength regulation and verbal derogation helped Black women psychologically address the aggressor, they did not consistently enhance women’s psychological ties to the friend group. This study provides initial, empirical validation that the communication of strength is a functional resource for Black women.