Strength in Being Single?

While intensely studying during my free time between classes, I decided it would be ideal to take my mandatory FaceBook break. The first thing I see on my newsfeed is a status saying, “single is not a status, it`s a word that describes a person who is strong enough to live and enjoy life without depending on others.”I began to think long and hard on this ideology and while I love the concept, I have to be realistic and practical about the situation: at the end of the day, almost every young views this mantra as a big lie. Yes, it may be a lie we so willingly accept as we plaster our Beyonce-inspired “Single Ladies” diva face on for the rest of the world, but in the end it’s a lie. It’s human for any individual to long for one day finding a special companion. It’s truly a natural thing. So I wonder why it has become expected for black women to hide this natural instinct, in order to be accepted by our black counterparts. Are black women again being asked to resort to the immorality we’ve been subjected to in the past? To simply suggest that one be completely content in being alone due to the fact that to ever depend on anyone signifies weakness, is a suggestion that I’m not sure I can accept. Please believe me, I am in no way advocating that as black women we should desire being totally dependent on another individual, yet in the same breath I cannot bring myself to advocate that as women we should think our desire to court be a sign of weakness. I think there’s strength in being able to court and not lose yourself as a person. I think there’s strength in being able to find true love. I think a woman’s love is strength. Just some food for thought…