📍Caution: #BlackWomenAtWork 📍
#WednesdayWisdom
"I'm a strong Black woman. I cannot be intimidated, I cannot be undermined..." —Rep. Maxine Waters
Morning Musings
When I first read Rep. Maxine Water's quote about being a strong Black woman, I wanted to stand up and give her a slow clap thousands of miles away in a boutique hotel in Paris. YAS, QUEEN, YASSS! In just three sentences, she captured EXACTLY what it means to be a Black woman in the face of all the bullshit (excuse my French) we face every damn day.
But the truth is, behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back. Or as, Luvvie so eloquently posted on Instagram, there's a group text hypin' her up. #Truth
So in the spirit of sisterhood and solidarity, I want to give a special shoutout to a few members of my tribe ... the bad-ass boss women who have my back no matter what, the ones I text on the regular for branding, blogging and business advice. To paraphrase Drizzy Drake, they're my "right hand, they're my go-to."
Anuli Akanegbu: Fun fact is that I stalked Anuli on social media before we ever met IRL and it was love at first tweet. From growing up in Maryland to wanting to be members of Spice Girls, we instantly vibed and our friendship is still going strong nearly four years later. Whenever I need a boost of confidence or a swift kick in the pants, Anuli is there to help me be a better blogger, a better writer and an all-around better person. Subscribe to her newsletter, The Intersection Wkly, here.
Melissa Kimble: You know the friend whose pep talk is so lit you have to screenshot it and save it for future reference? That is Melissa. During a severe bout of impostor syndrome, Melissa talked me off the ledge with this truth bomb: "You define your own success ... you can only get to your next level by being you, not anyone else." Well, ain't that a word. Learn more about Melissa and #blkcreatives here.
Jessica Lauren: While Jessica's #flawless Instagram aesthetic drew me in, it was her spiritual quotes that made me stay. I was so inspired by her posts that I asked her what church she attended and, lo and behold, I'm happy to share I have a new church home! Better yet, Jessica is just as caring and kind in real life as she is online and truly embodies what it means for women to support other women. Check out her blog here.
Thank you, ladies, for humbling me and inspiring me every day. Looking for tips to build your own tribe? Check out my guest post for Muses here.
Love,
L'Oreal
P.s. Paris recap coming soon, don't you worry! In the meantime, rest assured I ate my body weight in crepes, croissants and cheese. Yum!
Required Reading
In honor of #BlackWomenAtWork, I'm sharing must-read stories by Black women who WERK!
Black, Queer and Muslim: On Faith, Self-Care and Identity by Najma Sharif for NYLON
Why White Women Must Make the Equal-Pay Fight More Inclusive by Brittany Packett for The Cut
What We're Loving Lately: Our Bodies by Lauren Ash for Black Girl in Om
Solange Discusses Intersectional Feminism in Bust Magazine
Now Hiring
Social Media Manager for ONA
Executive Director, Atlanta at Step Up Network
Associate Digital Marketing Manager at Knot Standard
Director of Programs for Girls, Inc. of Chicago
Social Media Weekend Editor for Refinery 29
Fashion Closet Assistant for Vogue Magazine
Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this of LT in the City Weekly! Hit me up on the Interwebs below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!