Welcome to our February series— this month's focus is a blend of Black History and Love, and it’s titled Love + Business. This week, we explore examples from Black literature, history, and modern society, focusing on romantic couples navigating the delicate balance between love and success.

But here's the unspoken truth: even when we've planned for the everyday drama, there's an element we rarely anticipate - the potential trauma that can accompany our pursuit of success.

“A black woman with a PhD is worse than a woman with HIV.” I didn’t respond. Instead, I looked over at his wife. I wondered about how she felt hearing him say that. She put her head down. I wondered what it meant for her to be married to a man who held that belief. How far could she rise and grow with a partner who felt that way? And then I wondered what it meant for me, a black woman who was, at the time, earning a PhD.