-Maya Angelou
Hello beautiful people! This is my first and official blog post! (By the way it may or may not have taken me hours to figure out how to post something). I always wanted to start a blog, but I never knew where to start! Should I go right into it, introduce myself first...questions, questions, questions!
First and foremost I want to tell you my reason for making this blog! I have always believed that we have to uplift and inspire the young boys and girls of the world, so they can grow and rise to be dignified, capable, influential leaders one day! The world will only get better if the seniors or adults of the world raise the next generation to make it better!
Who knows? Your niece could be the next Simone Biles or Madame CJ Walker and your son could be the next Granville Woods or Ossie Davis... the possibilities are endless! As a thirteen year old, I remember my parents saying when I was a toddler, that I could do whatever I believed I could do, and thanks to them, I believe I can!
I always tell my family and close friends that I was basically born with a black beret and free admission into the Black Panther Party. I think back to it though and I wouldn't have changed a thing. I love my family unconditionally, it’s the little moments that we cherished together that count!
I remember sitting in the back seat of our outdated, burgundy Ford Expedition truck, and looking at my dad while he serenaded my mom with the song "African Queen" by 2face. I remember the time my grandma bought me an African-American encyclopedia for my birthday (that I cherish to this day)! I remember each laugh, dance, and smile that we shared together!
Knowing what I know, and what I was taught makes me immensely proud. I am so thankful to know who I am and where I come from, when most people seem to be in denial about their roots and heritage. I can carry an intelligent conversation, I am unapologetically me, I am proud of my heritage, I know where I come from, but I understand that I was raised the way I was raised.
So many African American girls my age were never raised to be comfortable with themselves. They learned to despise their chocolate brown skin, hate how thick their lips are, or how kinky their hair is, instead of realizing that people lust for their thick lips and curly mane.
As a teen I understand the hardships of going to school with "different" hair and the experience of being asked difficult questions based on ignorance or curiosity. I also had a support system that I could go home to that would tell me that my hair was perfect the way it was. I want to be the support system for girls who may not have one, I want to let them know that they are flawless, not because of their hair, or the clothes they wear, but because of their personality that shines through!
So many girls have been taught to straighten or relax their hair, and that beautiful melaninated skin is not wanted or sought after, but I beg to differ. As a person of color myself, I can tell you how beautiful the black race is! We come in all different shades, and colors! We come in the lightest shade of albinism, to the shades as dark as the night. We are all equally beautiful in our own ways!
So to wrap it up...I made this blog to show girls that they can be themselves and they can achieve anything they put their mind to, but overall that every inch of them is beautiful! We come from a line of royalty and Queens young ladies, so you better hold your heads up high!