KAYLA DRAKE | Host

For junior Alyssa Hawkins, her tattoo empowers her both as a woman and a minority.

“I think that often times what society is telling women – especially minority women, is that you are not enough. You will never be enough, you don’t meet these beauty standards or body standards.”

Hawkins’ tattoo, “Talitha cumi,” is Hebrew for little girl rise, recounting the biblical story of Jesus raising a young girl from death. Hawkins said the story is similar to her own experience with Christianity, more figuratively than literally. 

“Essentially that’s what Jesus did for me,” she said. “I was down; it seemed as though I was dead…and Jesus just laughed and he told me to rise, to stand up.”

As an African American she said she faces a lot of oppression and racism. When she was introduced to Christianity, she said it did not define her by her culture, gender or socioeconomic status, and that felt liberating. 

“Before I was introduced to the gospel, I felt like there was this ongoing fight for my voice,” she said. “That I needed to be heard, I needed to be loud and proud and black.”

Listen to hear more about how Hawkins found her voice as a black woman. 

This podcast comes out every Thursday and does not reflect the opinions of Lindenlink staff or Lindenwood University.

[masterslider id=”71″]