I’m 37 years old and I am still peeling back the layers of me. The difference now than 10 years ago, is that I am loving everything that I am learning about myself. It’s a true process to full acceptance of self. It is what goaded me to write my first book, “I Hear That Girl: Life Advice for Every Sista”.
Enter, Amandla Stenberg. She’s been called one of the most influential teenagers in America. Her video history project “Don’t Cash Crop My Cornrows” went viral with nearly 2 million views. She recently co-directed a series called #BLACKGIRLMAGIC for Teen Vogue. And she’s done it all before even graduating from high school.
Recently, the young activist was given a stage to speak and empower black women and girls across the globe. What better platform than that of Oprah Winfrey and her “Soul Sessions”. When I watched the less than 20 minute video, I found myself recounting the many questions of inferiority and frustrations with society’s standard of beauty. I remember realizing that I didn’t fit into that mold and that I never would, and how bad that could be. It wasn’t until years later when I decided, “so what!” That was the day I began to love myself as a whole. I work daily to continue to love the woman I am and am still becoming. It’s refreshing to see a young girl that recognizes her queendom so early. These are the revelations I am impassioned to see on the faces of the many young girls and women I speak with during the STRONGER Tour and within the pages of this blog. If we can empower our women, we can change our communities.
Check out Amandla’s moving speech: My Authenticity is My Activism, below:
