Best Black Women Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings Page 7

“I know there are a lot of eyes on me now from young girls, and it makes me so proud. The only Black woman examples aren't Rihanna and Beyoncé. It makes me proud that I am a classical ballerina and they can look at me and see another way to succeed. That is setting a new standard.”

Eye Girl Black Proud Succeed Look At Me Black Women Ballerina

Author:Misty Copeland

“I talked to Katherine Johnson, and I tried to make it weighty by asking things like, "How as a Black woman did you do your work in NASA? They were misogynistic, and I'm sure you got called the n-word." She was just like, "Well, that was the way it was. I just did my job. I wanted to do my job." She was just so humble.”

Black Humble Black Women Nasa

Author:Taraji P. Henson

“There are enough negative images of Black women out there and I did not want to portray Dorothy Vaughn in any stereotype. I wanted to make sure that her integrity was preserved.”

Enough Black Integrity Negative Stereotype Black Women

Author:Octavia Spencer

“Katherine Johnson never complained, it just was what it was. She just said, "I just wanted to go to work and do my numbers." And she stopped right there. I think about that as a Black woman in Hollywood when I'm asked about diversity. I hate when people say diversity because the first thing you jump to is Black and white. When you talk about diversity, you're talking about women being hired in front of and behind the camera. You are talking about people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community...so I hate when people think about diversity.”

People Thinking Hate Black Community Diversity I Hate Disability Black And White Black Women

Author:Taraji P. Henson

“Being an actor myself I realize that all actors believe they are qualified to play any role. If you showed me a script with a black woman character I would tell you that I could do it. That is what we do. We act as if we are someone else.”

Believe Character Black Realizing Black Women

Author:Richard Masur

“Growing up, I didn't receive the representation that I wanted so badly. I was always looking out for black characters - black women - that were specifically just about existing and weren't necessarily racialized or were centered around race.”

Character Black Growing Up Representation Black Women

Author:Amandla Stenberg

“My hope as an actress is knowing that I'm someone who is more privileged - I'm biracial and lighter-skinned - and I hope it can open up the door for more women of color, especially darker-skinned black women. I hope everyone hops on the bandwagon and decides to start putting women of color in movies that aren't just about race.”

Black Black Women

Author:Amandla Stenberg

“If power is abstraction, which many black men, black women, and people of color have very little voice in, well, then I want to sit at the table.”

People Men Black Black Women

Author:Mark Bradford

“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”

“I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional models of making and consuming art are breaking down and being rebuilt. I find that to be incredibly exciting as a filmmaker and film marketer.”

Thinking Art Film Artist Black Wonderful Exciting Filmmaker Good Times Black Women Breaking Down

Author:Ava DuVernay

“Beauty has always been an element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation. Out of necessity, black women have always had to consider others' perceptions of a certain beauty ideal, just starting with the skin color.”

Black Perception Skins Discussion Black Women

Author:Mickalene Thomas

“My mom is Jamaican and Chinese, and my dad is Polish and African American, so I'm pretty mixed. My nickname in high school was United Nations. I was fine with it, even though I identify as a black woman. People don't realize it hurts my feelings when someone looks at my hair or my eyes, and says, "But you're not actually black. You're black, but you're not black black, because your eyes are green." I'm like, "What? No, no, I'm definitely black." Even some of my closest friends have said that. It's been a bit touchy for me.”

People Feelings Eye School Black Realizing Hurt Mom Dad High School My Dad My Mom African American Chinese It Hurts Black Women United Nations

Author:Ayesha Curry

“I have written 13 books, full of my ideas about a variety of issues - from black women, to hip-hop culture, to the civil rights struggle. Even when I address such figures as Tupac Shakur and Bill Cosby, my ideas are quite evident.”

Book Culture Black Struggle Civil Rights Variety Black Women

Author:Michael Eric Dyson

“There are many things that black women can continue to do to help black folk. First, black women have historically been among the most vocal advocates for equality in our community. We must take full advantage of such courage by continuing to combat the sexism in our communities. Black women, whether in church, or hip-hop, don't receive their just due. Second, when black women are in charge of child-rearing, they must make ever so sure to raise black children who respect both men and women, and who root out the malevolent beliefs about women that shatter our culture.”

Men Children Helping Culture Belief Black Community Church Men And Women Sexism Black Women

Author:Michael Eric Dyson

“Black women must challenge black men to live up to their best in every arena of the culture - at job, at home, in school and in religious arenas.”

Men Home School Culture Black Challenges Religious Black Women

Author:Michael Eric Dyson

“Black women must help black men understand their full potential lies not in denying black women full access to their humanity and opportunity, but in working diligently to overcome the odds that hamper our progress. Yes, some of that is self-imposed, and we must confront it; and much of it comes from outside. But without courageous and brilliant black women, our communities are greatly diminished.”

Men Helping Lying Humanity Opportunity Black Community Progress Overcoming Brilliant Courageous Black Women

Author:Michael Eric Dyson

“There's a stereotype that to be a strong black woman is to be strong about being black.”

Strong Black Stereotype Black Women

Author:Ayana Mathis

“In America, and no doubt elsewhere, we have such a tendency toward the segregation of cultural products. This is a black book, this is a gay book, this is an Asian book. It can be counterproductive both to the literary enterprise and to people's reading, because it can set up barriers. Readers may think, "Oh, I'm a straight man from Atlanta and I'm white, so I won't enjoy that book because it's by a gay black woman in Brooklyn." They're encouraged to think that, in a way, because of the categorization in the media.”

Thinking Men Book Reading Enjoy Black Doubt Gay Enterprise Barriers Elsewhere Black Women Segregation

Author:Ayana Mathis

“I felt like if I didn't write about what happened to the young men here in the South of America, the same things would keep occurring. Here in the South, young black men just keep dying - young black women, too. I couldn't live with myself if I hadn't been as honest as possible about that.”

Men Writing Black Honest Dying Black Women

Author:Jesmyn Ward

“I don't claim to say, "All black women are like me," because they're not. One type of black woman can exist, but also another kind can exist. I also really hope that people feel permission to talk about their own troubles, but also to celebrate themselves. Sometimes I feel as though I'm trying to take a hit for the team so that other people then can move forward. I'm like, "Look, I just laid out all of my stuff, so what's the worst that can happen"?”

People Trying Kind Sometimes Moving Black Trouble Team Worst Moving Forward Celebrate Black Women

Author:Morgan Parker

“Never mind what you've heard. Halle Berry was not the first black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was actually the 74th white one. And never mind all this talk about America electing its first black President; Barack Obama is actually the 44th white man to hold the job.”

Men Mind Firsts Jobs America Winning Black President White Heard Actresses Barack Awards White Man Black Women Academy President Barack Obama Berries Academy Awards

Author:Jeffrey Kluger

“Having Black hair is unique in that Black women change up styles a lot. You can walk down one street block in New York City and see 10 different hairstyles that Black women are wearing: straight curls, short cuts, braids - we really run the gamut.”

Different Running Black Walks Cities Cutting Streets Style New York Hair Unique Block New York City Black Women Curls Hairstyles Short Cuts Black Hair Braids

Author:Queen Latifah

“There's no way I can represent for everyone. I can't represent for all women or all big women or all black women. It's important for people not to make celebrities their source of who they should be in life. I can't take on the pressure of being perfect. Nobody is.”

People Way Should I Can Important Bigs Black Perfect Source Pressure Black Women All Black

Author:Queen Latifah

“I've heard that I've gotten a lighter complexion, as if I've bleached my skin. I think that is so stupid and ludicrous. For those who want to bleach their skin, that's fine. I just didn't bleach mine. I'm a black woman. I don't want to be anything but a black woman.”

Ifs Thinking Want Black Heard Stupid Mines Fine Skins Black Women Lighters Complexion Bleach

Author:NeNe Leakes

“They allow us to disrespect our Black woman. A lot of these things would be considered criminal if it were to be carried out in the streets. That's like when they tell you after you buy your VHS and you rent movies they tell you not to copy the movies.”

Ifs Would Be Black Streets Criminals Copies Black Women Disrespect Disrespectful

Author:Afrika Bambaataa

“If we became students of Malcolm X, we would not have young black men out there killing each other like they're killing each other now. Young black men would not be impregnating young black women at the rate going on now. We'd not have the drugs we have now, or the alcoholism.”

Ifs Men Young Black Students Drug Killing Rate Black Women Alcoholism Killing Each Other

Author:Spike Lee

“Any film I do is not going to change the way black women have been portrayed, or black people have been portrayed, in cinema since the days of D.W. Griffith.”

People Way Has Beens Film Black Cinema Black People Black Women

Author:Spike Lee

“Black women have always been these vixens, these animalistic erotic women. Why can't we just be the sexy American girl next door?”

Girl Next Black Doors Sexy Black Women Erotic Animalistic Vixens

Author:Tyra Banks

“Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies.”

Problem Body Black White Proud Black Women Body Image

Author:Tyra Banks

“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”

People Ifs Would Be Literature Inspiring Fantasy Alive Personality Diversity Social Justice Being Yourself Black Women Black History Black Women Inspirational Female Writers Black Motivational Defining Myself

Author:Audre Lorde

“When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”

Inspirational Important Use Success Fear Women Black Powerful Business Vision Power Courage Successful Strength Becoming Importance Encouragement Feminist Dare Helping Others African American Life Changing Service Women Empowerment Daring Strong Women Success In Life Encouraging Black Women No Fear Black History Empowering Women Overcoming Fear Being Strong Project Management Empowered Women Successful Women Successful Life Moral Courage Strength And Weakness Best Success Inspirational Strong Women Great Women Becoming Successful Black History Month Women Power Power And Control Strong Female Inspire Women Black History Month Inspirational Great Vision Business Woman Visions And Dreams Black Power Women Strength New Vision Black History Inspirational Inspirational Strength Strong Powerful Women Getting Stronger Black Women Inspirational Famous Women Inspirational Black Inspirational Great Female Strong Motivational Volunteerism And Service Black Motivational Power And Fear Confident Woman Power Strength Spiritual Vision Women And Strength Encouraging Uplifting Common Vision

Author:Audre Lorde

“Black women are programmed to define ourselves within this male attention and to compete with each other for it rather than to recognize and move upon our common interests.”

Moving Literature Black Interest Common Attention Racism Competition Males Black Women Common Interests

Book:Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

Source: Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

“We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit because what was native has been stolen from us, the love of Black women for each other.”

Has Beens Literature Black Study Habit Native Tenderness Black Women Stolen

Author:Audre Lorde

“Black women sharing close ties with each other, politically or emotionally, are not the enemies of Black men.”

Men Literature Black Enemy Ties Black Women

Book:Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

Source: Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

“In discussions around the hiring and firing of Black faculty at universities, the charge is frequently heard that Black women are more easily hired than are Black men.”

Men Black Heard University Discussion Faculty Black Women Hiring Firing

Book:Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

Source: Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

“Every time you see a black romance it's over-the-top. There always has to be extreme hostility between the sexes. He has to cheat. She has to show him how independently strong she is, not just as a woman but as a black woman.”

Shows Romance Strong Sex Black Extremes Cheat Black Women Hostility Over The Top

Author:Bernie Mac

“As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think.”

Thinking Inspirational Littles Dream Position Black Women

Author:Toni Morrison

“I merged those two words, black and feminist, because I was surrounded by black women who were very tough and and who always assumed they had to work and rear children and manage homes.”

Children Two Home Black Feminism Tough Feminist Manage Black Women

Author:Toni Morrison

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

“I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

Inspirational Years Mind Doe Made Done Fear Sports Women Black Freedom Inspiring Knowledge Courage Knowing Learning Positive Wise Words Empowerment Civil Rights African American I've Learned Empowering Women Empowerment I Have Learned Strong Women Black Women Diminish Deep Thought Black History Empowering Women Overcoming Fear Have Courage Being Afraid Powerful Women Famous Women Empowered Women Women Empowering Women Wise Women Inspirational Strong Women Black History Month African American Women Life Learning Facing Fear Inspirational Perseverance Inspire Women Strong Women And Love Women In History Black History Month Inspirational Black America Fear Of Success Strong Inspirational African American History Black History Inspirational Conquer Your Fears Empowering Love Black Women Inspirational Famous Women Inspirational African American History Month Black Inspirational Freedom And Equality Black Motivational Power And Fear African American Civil Rights Powerful Inspirational Inspirational History Women History Month Women Self Confidence Amazing Inspirational Mind Made Up

Book:Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope, and the Heart of a Woman who Changed a Nation

Source: Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope, and the Heart of a Woman who Changed a Nation

“When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.”

Earth Moving Heaven Women Black Corners African American Filmmaker Allies Strong Women Black Women Heaven And Earth

Author:Tyler Perry

“I go out with white women. This makes a lot of people unhappy, mostly black women.”

People Black White Basketball Unhappy Black Women

Author:Dennis Rodman

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”

“The man for me is the cherry on the pie. But I'm the pie and my pie is good all by itself. Even if I don't have a cherry.”

Ifs Men Relationship Self Love Love Yourself Pie Black Women Cherries Love Relationship Self Glorification Cherry Pie

Author:Halle Berry

“I would say for every successful black woman in America or in the world, really, it's difficult to be the head of the household, financially. It is for the man in your life. It can be very hard for them. And there's a delicate balance. I'm not quite sure I know what that balance is just yet.”

Knows Men World Hard America Difficult Black Successful Balance Delicate Household Black Women

Author:Jill Scott

“Major problem for Black women, and all people of color, when we are challenged to oppose anti-Semitism, is our profound skepticism that white people can actually be oppressed.”

People Problem Black White Color Majors Profound Oppressed Black Women Anti Semitism Scepticism Major Problems

Author:Barbara Smith

“Black women, whose experience is unique, are seldom recognized as a particular social-cultural entity and are seldom thought to be important enough for serious scholarly consideration.”

Important Enough Social Black Particular Serious Unique Consideration Entity Black Women Scholarly

Author:Barbara Smith

“I love berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black berries, anything with an 'errie' in it!”

Black Black Women Berries Strawberries Blueberries Raspberries

Author:Jordin Sparks

“I used to think I was ugly. I thought I looked like a camel. A person who doesn't love themselves, they will see anything that pops up on their face. I've seen squirrels, I've seen a bird, and I've seen all kinds of animals on my face. But that is the result of self-hate. I've learned to say: 'You know what? I am a beautiful black woman'.”

Thinking Knows Kind Persons Self Beautiful Faces Used Hate Black Animal Results Bird Ugly Pops All Kinds I've Learned Black Women Squirrels Camels Self Hate

Author:Mary J. Blige

Black Women Quotes

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Black Women Quotes