#BlackGirlsRock founder @BeverlyBond gave a beautiful speech full of honesty, pride and inspiration. pic.twitter.com/WzHb8t2WQl
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) April 6, 2016
This year marks 10 years of the Black Girls Rock Awards. This year’s honorees were queen mother writer/director/producer Shonda Rhimes, actress/playwright Danai Gurira, actress/ social activist Amandla Stenberg, the legendary singer Gladys Knight, singer/fashion icon Rihanna, and the founders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, Patrisse Cullors.
This annual event is an uber-amazing celebration of #BlackGirlMagic and sisterhood, and I’m totally here for it!
Here are 10 of my favorite quotes from this year’s festivities that I absolutely love!
1. “Own your magic, walk in your purpose, rock in your truth.” – Beverly Bond
2. I’ve come to believe that every black girl needs a black fairy godmother. – Danai Gurira
3. “Our differences, our colors, we’re like a garden. We’re all beautiful.” -Gladys Knight
Congrats to the amazing @AmandlaStenberg for winning the #BlackGirlsRock Young, Black and Gifted award! pic.twitter.com/pAGycxqwFX
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) April 6, 2016
4. “I do not thrive despite of my blackness. My blackness does not inhibit me from being beautiful and intelligent. In fact, it is the reason that I am beautiful and intelligent.” – Amandla Stenberg
5. “We stand on the shoulder of giants who paved the way for black dignity.” – Opal Tometi
Congrats to @DanaiGurira for winning the #BlackGirlsRock Star Power award! So well-deserved. pic.twitter.com/rcEYkRpZQ6
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) April 6, 2016
6. Black girl, you rock because you have so much potential, because your power and resistence will heal this world. – Danai Gurira
7. “The minute you learn to love yourself, you would not want to be anybody else.” -Rihanna
Congrats to @rihanna for being honored at #BlackGirlsRock and always telling it like it is! pic.twitter.com/WqAyihCAWE
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) April 6, 2016
8. “Why do I need permission from you to affirm me?” – Beverly Bond
9. Our slates are blank. Your paths are clear and your stories are whatever you decide they’re going to be. You are the builders of the 21st century. You have a right to the universe. You were given then right simply by being born. So you already rock.” -Shonda Rhimes
10. “All girls rock, black girls…we’re just on another level.” -Rihanna
I was so inspired and proud to be a black girl who rocks after listening to these ladies! I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by amazing black girls who rock for my entire life who have always encouraged me to love my dark skin, thick lips, athletic build and kinky hair. My mom was the biggest inspiration to love my heritage. She taught me that black is beautiful, and although there were times when my peers and pop culture tried to tell me differently, she always affirmed my beauty–not just physically, but spiritually and mentally. She taught me that having a beautiful soul trumped external beauty, and if I’m blessed to have a daughter of my own, I will teach her the same.
Did you watch? What were your favorite quotes from the event?
Photos via HuffPost Black Voices
Ciao Bellas,
