What is the symbolism of the author's black heart tattoo from the memoir, How Dare the Sun Rise?

Sandra briefly dated a tattoo artist in college who tattooed a black heart on her collarbone. She chose that design “because it reflected my innermost thoughts – that everything I held dear was tainted and dark” (227).

The black heart tattoo in How Dare the Sun Rise symbolizes both pain and resilience. For Sandra Uwiringiyimana, it represents the deep sorrow and trauma she experienced after surviving a massacre in Congo, but also her strength to keep moving forward and find healing. The black heart reflects grief, yet it also shows how she carries her past with courage rather than letting it define her.

For more cultural and artistic meanings behind body art and henna symbols, you can explore:
https://simplemehandidesigns.com/