"You're not like those typical black girls" they'd say. Upon hearing that ignorant line that I've heard more times than I have fingers, I'd give a half-smile, thank them, and then think to myself, Well wait a minute, what's that supposed to mean? Without having to waste a breath, I already had an idea of the so-called typical black girls they were referring to, so I grit my teeth, purse my lips and move on.

They were referring to the loud ones who talked back to their teachers because I was reserved, they were referring to the ones whose hair was short and "nappy" because mine had a "nice" curl pattern, or maybe they were referring to the ones who couldn't seem to pass their classes and were definitely taking intensive courses because I was taking AP courses.

But how is being a typical black girl so undesired or a curse sent down from the heavens by the Gods?

Because the so-called typical black girls I have heard of were my intellectual ancestors, who were queens of Egypt, who wore shimmering gold crowns and ruby red diamonds galore.

The so-called typical black girls I have heard of overcame their childhood misfortunes and became multi-billionaires through hard work and perseverance.

The so-called typical black girls I have heard of wanted their freedom so bad, that they risked beatings and hangings and rape and abuse, to pursue a life that offered stability and equality, paving a riveting red carpet for me to have the ability to have my own hopes and dreams.

Those were the typical black girls that I was raised to know.

Those were the typical black girls that I am striving to be.

To me, it is overwhelmingly unfortunate that they weren't raised to know the typical black girls I know, because if they did, I'm sure they wouldn't mind being one themselves.