May is Lupus Awareness Month, and today Marquita opens up about what it means to be a Lupus Warrior—navigating daily life with a chronic, often invisible illness that disproportionately affects Black and brown women. From misunderstood symptoms to misdiagnoses, she shares her truth with vulnerability, strength, and hope.

Whether you live with lupus, love someone who does, or simply want to better understand the battles people fight behind closed doors—this conversation will move you, inform you, and remind you to lead with compassion.

Lupus is real. Lupus is misunderstood. And lupus warriors deserve to be heard.

In this episode, we explore:

• What lupus is and how it impacts the body
• The emotional toll of invisible illness
• Advocacy, self-compassion, and daily resilience
• What lupus teaches us about grace, strength, and rest
• How to support someone living with a chronic condition

Reflection Prompt:
What invisible battles might the people around me be facing? How can I lead with empathy and awareness this week?

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Join the movement: Wear purple, share your story, or ask someone to share theirs. Awareness creates space. Belonging creates healing.

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for any health-related concerns.

Credits:
Hosted by Marquita Clark
Produced by MAQ Mentoring
Creative Direction by MAQ Musings Media Team

We see her holding everyone down. Showing up. Staying strong. But who’s checking on her?
In this episode of MAQ Musings: Conversations Unveiled, Marquita unpacks the weight of being labeled “the strong Black girl”—a title often rooted in survival but laced with silence, burnout, and invisibility.

We talk about how generational expectations, cultural norms, and internalized pressure have created a script many of us never agreed to—but still follow. Drawing on research from the American Psychological Association, we explore how Black women and girls are more likely to suffer from emotional suppression, unaddressed trauma, and “superwoman syndrome,” all while being praised for their strength.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the origins and impact of the "Strong Black Woman" trope

• The connection between unacknowledged emotional labor and mental health disparities

• How to rewrite the narrative with softness, support, and self-permission

Referenced Research:
Beauboeuf-Lafontant, T. (2009). Behind the Mask of the Strong Black Woman: Voice and the Embodiment of a Costly Performance. Temple University Press.
Woods-Giscombé, C. L. (2010). Superwoman Schema: African American Women’s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health. Qualitative Health Research, 20(5), 668–683.
American Psychological Association. (2021). Ethnic and racial disparities in mental health treatment.

Disclaimer:
This podcast episode is intended for informational and reflective purposes only and does not replace professional mental health support. If you or someone you know is struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health provider.

In this game-changing episode, Marquita shares how a simple 10-second pause can help you reclaim emotional control and reset your nervous system. Learn how the brain reacts under pressure, why the pause matters, and how to model this practice for the girls in your life. With wisdom from Viktor Frankl and neuroscience from Harvard Health, this one’s all about creating freedom through stillness.

Credits:
Hosted by Marquita, Founder of MAQ Mentoring. Inspired by Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning and neuroscience insights from Harvard Health Publishing (2021).

Disclaimer:
The content shared in this series is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional for personal mental health needs or concerns.

Connect with Us:
Website: www.maqmentoring.org
Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @maqmentoring
Email: mclark@maqmentoring.org

Remember: Every girl is valued. Every story matters. You always belong.