At the 2020 Women of Power Summit, Emmy-nominated actress and beloved cultural icon Phylicia Rashad delivered an unforgettable message on the transformative power of sisterhood, while sitting down with Pfizer’s then–Senior Medical Advisor, Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, for an intimate and empowering fireside chat.
The event, which drew professional Black women from across the U.S., focused on navigating the often unseen emotional, cultural, and professional burdens carried by Black women—and the role of self-care, sisterhood, and shared truth in healing those fractures.
“Sisterhood is acceptance. Sisterhood is understanding. Sisterhood is compassion. Sisterhood is ‘I got your back,’” Rashad said to a room of nodding heads. “And sisterhood is also, ‘Okay, but I’m gonna give it to you straight.’”
The discussion, now widely regarded as a hallmark of the summit, dug into why Black women so often feel pressured to do it all, and how cultural expectations often suppress the need for rest, vulnerability, and support.
Both Rashad and Lewis-Hall explored the emotional toll of perfectionism and how medical, societal, and familial pressures shape the way Black women show up in the world.
Rashad, known for her career-defining role as Clair Huxtable and her ongoing advocacy for the arts and mental wellness, spoke candidly about the emotional balance of female friendships:
“We love each other and remember that’s what sisterhood is. My sister sets me straight. She makes me mad. I love her so much. Sometimes I want to wring her little neck,” she said, evoking both laughter and head nods from the crowd. “We can fight and forget about it because that’s what love is.”
More than a nostalgic moment, the conversation helped reframe sisterhood as not just connection but a cultural imperative—a lifeline of affirmation and accountability in a society that too often expects Black women to be both “strong” and silent.
Rashad explored this point with a reflection on an ancient Indian scripture:
“Women are the foundation of the world. And where the women go, the culture goes.”
Dr. Lewis-Hall, a trusted voice in medical equity, reinforced the idea that emotional well-being is inseparable from physical health—particularly for Black women who are more likely to suffer from undiagnosed health conditions due to systemic medical bias and emotional overextension.
The session ended with a call to action: women must prioritize themselves, uplift each other, and keep the vibration of sisterhood alive in every community they touch.
