Dear Black Women,

I want to start this, I suppose, letter by saying you are EVERYTHING. I want you and need you to be proud of who you are, with no regrets and no hesitation at all.

You are everything that people say you are not and you are everything that you could ever dream of being. I say this with confidence when I say the black woman is one of, if not the most hated group, out there. Not only are we ragged on by society, but by our fellow black men who seem to never want to step up for us when we need it.

And I am not saying that to say that all black women need to start hating on black men because no that isn't the proper answer. But we do need to start educating our young black men that black women are not there solely to be your cheerleader and counselor to all of your issues, without also seeking help for ourselves. If we both worked on bettering each other, teaching each other, and showing each other that we cared then there isn't anything or anyone that could keep us from doing so.

When I was younger... I not only hated being black but I hated, in particular, being a black woman. If I ever in any instance tried arguing my point all I was observed as--especially as I got older--was an "angry black woman". I was a person who could only be angry, was angry, and the only apparent emotion that I could express was anger. My feelings have of course changed and for that, I am so glad.

But when I was growing up I rarely saw black women in nurturing, compassionate roles... they were always angry at someone or something and the epitome of what many people classify as a "welfare queen" in their heads despite white people being the ones who are on welfare, Medicaid, and food stamps (source: Huffington Post) more than POCs. Although 59 percent of U.S. citizens think differently--usually the opposite in terms of percentages of blacks (or any POCs) compared to whites use of these services.

But that is starting to change with movies and TV shows, such as "Being Mary Jane" and "Black Panther" which show black women for what they are--strong, confident, smart, and brave queens. And that is exactly what we are no matter how "ugly", "angry", and "unworthy" the world seems to view us or depict us. That is not who we are. Black women are so much more than that.

Black women are the most educated group of people in the United States and we still have so much more to grow and develop. We are an unstoppable group and is a group to reckon with. We deserve more than the stereotypical loud, "ratchet" women we see most often in the entertainment business. We deserve more than what was given and how were considered by others.

We are more than just the "angry" or "ugly" black women stereotypes. We deserve nothing but the world in my opinion. I hope we all go out and grab it as hard as we can and never let go. Why?

Because we are SO worth it!

Love,

A Fellow Proud Black Woman