We live in a world that often overlooks contributions from women of color, but throughout history black women have been a source of wisdom. They have influenced culture, broken barriers and bestowed legacies. That’s why within this post I am featuring 29 inspiring quotes by black women.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but an introduction to some of the powerful words penned or spoken by black women. The following quotes are just a glimpse into the ocean of insights and inspiration that black women have offered throughout the years.
“There is no magic to achievement. It’s really about hard work, choices, and persistence.”
— Michelle Obama
“We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to-do’ list.”
— Michelle Obama
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always.”
— Oprah Winfrey
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
— Oprah Winfrey
“I did what my conscience told me to do, and you can’t fail if you do that.”
— Anita Hill
“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”
— Madam C.J. Walker
“Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself. Imitation is suicide.”
– Marva Collins
“I’m looking to no man walking this earth for approval of what I’m doing.”
— Shirley Chisolm
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
— Shirley Chisolm
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
— Angela Davis
“It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody else and be myself, I actually started to own, accept and love what I had.”
– Tracee Ellis Ross
“If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself.”
– Gabrielle Union
“The way to win is to try.”
— Stacey Abrams.
“I don’t like to lose – at anything – yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks.”
– Serena Williams
“Don’t feel entitled to anything you didn’t sweat and struggle for.”
— Marian Wright Edelman
“You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.”
– Marian Wright Edelman
“You are the designer of your destiny; you are the author of your story.”
— Lisa Nichols
“Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change.”
— Iyanla Vanzant
“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.”
— Simone Biles
“Don’t wait until you’ve reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take toward reaching that goal.”
— Simone Biles
“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”
— Beyoncé Knowles
“I embrace mistakes. They make you who you are.”
— Beyoncé Knowles
“I have standards I don’t plan on lowering for anybody … including myself.”
— Zendaya Coleman
“Whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free … your true self comes out.” — Tina Turner
“If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.”
— Toni Morrison
“You deserve safety. You deserve protection. You deserve love. You deserve peace.”
— Tarana Burke
“I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday.”
— Misty Copeland
“Start unknown, finish unforgettable.”
— Misty Copeland
“We can’t plan life. All we can do is be available for it.”
— Lauryn Hill
Let these quotes serve note only as a source of inspiration, but of empowerment as well. As this concludes our exploration into inspiring quotes by black women, I want to remind you again that these words are but a fraction of the wisdom these individuals have imparted.
For even more melanated quotes, check out these quotes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Did you have a favorite quote? Did I not include your favorite inspiring quote by a black woman? Let me know in a comment below!
