Episode 3 of Listen to Black Women has officially dropped, and it’s a must-listen! In this episode, host Lore’l is joined by a powerful panel featuring Danielle Young, Jessie Woo, Torrei Hart, and media personality Melyssa Ford, as they dive into the multifaceted challenges that modern-day Black women face. Titled “Are Black Women Throwing Tradition In The Trash?”, this episode takes a hard look at how societal pressures, whether around motherhood, marriage, or balancing career and relationships, shape the daily lives of Black women.

The conversation is raw, real, and refreshing as the women share their experiences and tackle the unique struggles that many Black women navigate today. Whether it’s pushing past the barriers of traditional gender roles or carving out space for independence, this episode is a candid exploration of the complexities of modern womanhood. One of the standout topics in the episode is the pressure women face when it comes to career success. As more Black women achieve higher professional success than ever before, they often find themselves confronting the harsh realities of being taken seriously in male-dominated spaces.

Melyssa Ford, co-host of The Joe Budden Podcast, has been no stranger to this struggle. Lore’l kicks off the conversation by applauding Ford for her professionalism and grace, especially when she’s made to feel that her opinions aren’t “valued” on the podcast. Lore’l couldn’t help but point out how “cringy and hard to watch” it is when Joe and the other co-hosts belittle Ford, even mocking her appearance on Listen to Black Women.

“It’s definitely a situation where, you know, I feel like an interloper,” Ford shared.

While she faces challenges, the 48-year-old star told Lore’l that she knows countless women truly appreciate her presence and value her opinions on the show. “It was very much a man cave before I came along. You know, there was quite a demand to interject a woman’s point of view, because it just was so guy.”

Relationships and love continue to present significant challenges for Black women today.

During the discussion, the women explored the intense pressure and unrealistic expectations that Black women often face in relationships, particularly when things take a turn for the worse. The group referenced the 2023 assault case involving actor Jonathan Majors and his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, to illustrate how these pressures play out in real life.

The women questioned why Majors seemed to be seeking a partner who could embody the strength and legacy of civil rights icon Coretta Scott King—especially after his past relationship with Jabbari, who is white. Woo raised an intriguing point about Majors’ whirlwind romance with actress Meagan Good during the highly publicized legal battle, wondering if it was truly about love or if he was attempting to “rebrand” himself and salvage his career.

“I find it very weird that after you get caught up with being on a white woman, and while trying to rebrand, you go and you get Meagan “Coretta Scott King” Good,” Woo told the ladies. “I love her too. I have to be honest, this man is going to a Black woman to rebrand… Meagan is a treasure in our community, which is why a lot of people were like ‘Girl no’!”

Lore’l reflected on whether Black women are truly protecting themselves when we try to defend or support our men during times of adversity. She questioned if, in doing so, we end up shouldering the blame when things go wrong, even after we’ve tried to step in and help. For Young, however, there is hope on the horizon when it comes to the topic. She expressed optimism, acknowledging that today’s world offers Black women the autonomy to define their relationships on their terms. Young is encouraged by the fact that women now have the freedom to determine what works best for them, without feeling obligated to meet external expectations.

“We’ve gotten to such a privilege of being able to shift the narrative of what womanhood looks like. My mom married to get out of her house, and her mom did the same thing, and I couldn’t imagine that for myself,” Young added. “You know, I’m 39 years old now, and I would like to be married and in a committed relationship and all of that, but I don’t want to do so just to escape or welcome in this next part of my life that I think this person is going to usher me into, I don’t want to be nobody’s Coretta… I’m having a great time being Oprah.”

This episode is full of insightful moments, personal revelations, and a dose of real talk that all women—especially Black women—can relate to. Watch Episode 3 of Listen To Black Women above.

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