Black Women Quotes

“Most people write me off when they see me.
They do not know my story.
They say I am just an African.
They judge me before they get to know me.
What they do not know is
The pride I have in the blood that runs through my veins;
The pride I have in my rich culture and the history of my people;
The pride I have in my strong family ties and the deep connection to my community;
The pride I have in the African music, African art, and African dance;
The pride I have in my name and the meaning behind it.
Just as my name has meaning, I too will live my life with meaning.
So you think I am nothing?
Don’t worry about what I am now,
For what I will be, I am gradually becoming.
I will raise my head high wherever I go
Because of my African pride,
And nobody will take that away from me.”
― idowu koyenikan, Wealth for all Africans: How Every African Can Live the Life of Their Dreams

“The Black female is assaulted in her tender years by all those common forces of nature at the same time that she is caught in the tripartite crossfire of masculine prejudice, white illogical hate and Black lack of power.

The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerence. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance.”
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

“The way black women say "girl" can be magical. Frankly, I have no solid beliefs about the survival of consciousness after physical death. But if it's going to happen I know what I want to see after my trek toward the light. I want to see a black woman who will smile and say, "Girl....”
― Abigail Padgett, Blue

“Black Girls… Stop settling for less than what you deserve. That’s why I stress self-love! There comes a time when you can no longer blame a man. You’ve got to hold yourself accountable for the choices that you make. Choose wisely! Slow down. Pay attention. Don’t allow his good looks and swag to blind you from the truth. Don’t be so easily flattered by money, cars, jewelry, and all of that other stuff. Your heart and well-being is worth much more than that. Choose someone who respects, loves, and adores you. Somebody who has your best interest at heart. Nothing less! Allow yourself to experience REAL love. Stop giving your love, time, and attention to men who clearly don’t deserve it. #ItsAllUpToYou”
― Stephanie Lahart

“My grandmother and my two aunts were an exhibition in resilience and resourcefulness and black womanhood. They rarely talked about the unfairness of the world with the words that I use now with my social justice friends, words like "intersectionality" and "equality", "oppression", and "discrimination". They didn't discuss those things because they were too busy living it, navigating it, surviving it.”
― Janet Mock, Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love So Much More

“The voice of a Black woman should always be HERSELF ...

No edits - no erasure - no pressure - no expectations - no additions - no intruders”
― Malebo Sephodi

“I told the priest
my god is a black woman
he poured holy water on me
and scheduled me for an exorcism”
― Ijeoma Umebinyuo, Questions for Ada

“When you know you're ENOUGH!

When you stop focusing on all things that you're not.
When you stop fussing over perceived flaws.
When you remove all imposed and unbelievable expectations on yourself.
When you start celebrating yourself more.
When you focus on all that you are.
When you start believing that your perceived flaws are just that - perception...”
― Malebo Sephodi

“Then they had grown. Edging into life from the back door. Becoming. Everybody in the world was in a position to give them orders. White women said, "Do this." White children said, "Give me that." White men said. "Come here." Black men said, "Lay down." The only people they need not take orders from were black children and each other. But they took all of that and re-created it in their own image. They ran the houses of white people, and knew it. When white men beat their men, they cleaned up the book and went home to receive abuse from the victim. They beat their children with one hand and stole for them with the other. The hangs that felled trees also cut umbilical cords; the hands that wrung the necks of chickens and butchered hogs also nudged African violets into bloom; the arms that loaded sheaves, bales, and sacks rocked babies into sleep. They patted biscuits into flaky ovals of innocence--and shrouded the dead. They plowed all day and came home to nestle like plums under the limbs of their men, The legs that straddled a mule's back were the same ones that straddled their men's hips. And the difference was all the difference there was.”
― Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye

“Educated Exquisite Black Queen.”
― Stephanie Lahart

“I keep wondering why a black woman’s death alone can’t begin the revolution/ whether the sweet smoke rising to the heavens across this nation is offering enough/”
― Amy M. Alvarez

“White girls want to be fragile like bombs
Not fragile like the flowers
Black girls aren’t even given the choice
Because our feelings simply don’t matter
We are and were never expected to be fragile”
― Ashanti Files

“You can’t discredit someone whose credibility was built in the fire. You can’t shake someone whose foundation was poured in purpose. (Hypocrisy: Why Jasmine Crockett Is Held to a Higher Standard Than Donald Trump – blog)”
― Carlos Wallace

“This isn’t about tone. It’s about control. It’s about who’s allowed to speak up—and who’s expected to stay in their place. (Hypocrisy: Why Jasmine Crockett Is Held to a Higher Standard Than Donald Trump – blog)”
― Carlos Wallace

“Jasmine Crockett doesn’t just talk about accountability—she demands it. She walks in prepared, poised, and protected by the truth. (Hypocrisy: Why Jasmine Crockett Is Held to a Higher Standard Than Donald Trump – blog)”
― Carlos Wallace

“Time has a way of humbling all of us... and reminding you that the real victories aren’t just the ones you win—they’re the ones that shape who you become. (Hypocrisy: Why Jasmine Crockett Is Held to a Higher Standard Than Donald Trump – blog)”
― Carlos Wallace

“Strong Black women are still being policed for their tone, their passion, their intelligence—while mediocrity gets celebrated elsewhere. (Hypocrisy: Why Jasmine Crockett Is Held to a Higher Standard Than Donald Trump – blog)”
― Carlos Wallace

“At the age of 12

I blinked in the majesty of the color within myself,

blinded by the knowledge that a skinny black girl, a young brown teen,

has the power to light Los Angeles all night,

the radiance to heal all the scars left on this city's pavement.”
― Amanda Gorman

“At the age of 18

I know my color is not warning, but a welcome.

A girl of color is a lighthouse, an ultraviolet ray of power, potential, and promise

My color does not mean caution, it means courage

my dark does not mean danger, it means daring,

my brown does not mean broken, it means bold backbone from working

twice as hard to get half as far.

Being a girl of color means I am key, path, and wonder all in one body.”
― Amanda Gorman

“Why would she work the room?” I asked if she was worth millions.
“Her next rich husband. Then she was on number two” Monique gave up her diet and made another small plate which greatly pleased me.
“Don’t worry she couldn’t keep up with Sam in bed. If she did what I do she’d go into cardiac arrest or break her hip” Tina laughed but also made sure not to elaborate or we might thirst for him too.
“Shae pack up some turkey meat and veggies. I’ll make him a batch of soup when he comes home” Tina said.
“You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” Monique asked her before making a third plate.”
― Yvonna Russell, Vintage Women

“The believed they fled their chains. Some brought new ones with them. Shackled to the God of their captors, they praised him with a faith that was once reserved for deities who looked like them and spoke their mother tongue. Fueled by impossible belief, an unshakable faith was born.”
― Erin E. Adams

“They believed they fled their chains. Some brought new ones with them. Shackled to the God of their captors, they praised him with a faith that was once reserved for deities who looked like them and spoke their mother tongue. Fueled by impossible belief, an unshakable faith was born.”
― Erin E. Adams

“Detaching our identities from the work we can do and the pain we endure creates something of an identity crisis.”
― Jasmine Marie, Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom

“It's one thing to understand what you need and mentally process the trauma you've endured. It's another thing to embody it.”
― Jasmine Marie, Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom

“Our society doesn't actually benefit from our healing, from a Black woman recognizing her innate worth and living from that truth.”
― Jasmine Marie, Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom

“A common theme for heterosexual Black women participating in our healing circles and communal dialogue is that when they begin to unpack long-unaddressed trauma, they often find the root of that trauma in a man—either her father / father figure growing up or a man with whom she had a romantic relationship. That realization is both enlightening and deeply painful, as many of us have wanted nothing more in our quest for love and security than to be seen, heard, and protected by our Black men.”
― Jasmine Marie

“Many Black women experienced harsh childhoods in which we did not receive a lot of affection or feel seen or welcome to fully express our emotions, thoughts, and opinions.”
― Jasmine Marie, Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom

“You cannot dream as a Black woman without a strong sense of self, a guiding light, and a personal community to pour back into you when the world switches from applauding your hard work for filling in the gaps and raising the bar in your industry to suddenly perceiving you as a threat.”
― Jasmine Marie, Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom

“Your ability to manifest dreams that our ancestors sacrificed for by making it to another day is one thing, but building up the strength to protect that dream once you've accomplished it is another.”
― Jasmine Marie, Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom

“As a Black woman, I don’t see Black women’s empowerment as just making us feel good. It’s about keeping it real and helping us grow, too. Empowerment means having honest conversations that challenge us to become the best versions of ourselves. We have to be willing to talk about the hard and uncomfortable things as well. True empowerment means being open to correction. Personal growth doesn’t always feel good, but it’s necessary. If you truly want to be a powerful Black woman of substance, you have to be honest with yourself, intentional about your growth, and willing to put in the work. It’s time for us to step our game up and embrace empowerment in every area of our lives! It’s time to step fully into the Phenomenal Black Women we were created to be! It’s OUR time, Queens.”
― Stephanie Lahart