I Salute You: My Love Letter To Black Women

Love Yourself Unconditionally

These past few weeks have weighed heavily on my spirit. As a Black woman, I have found myself grappling with a flood of harsh, demeaning portrayals circulating across social media, videos, audio clips, and commentary that reduce us to caricatures, stripping away our complexity, our brilliance, our humanity. None of these voices belong to people I know personally, but their reach is undeniable. And while this kind of discourse isn’t new, something about the recent wave has pierced deeper, holding my emotions hostage in ways I didn’t expect.

Social media, for all its power to connect, can also amplify the worst of public opinion. In a world where virality often trumps truth, rage bait becomes currency. But let’s be clear: these distorted narratives do not define us. They do not speak for the fullness of who we are.

We all have moments, flawed, human moments. But those moments should never be used to erase the beauty, strength, and dignity that Black women embody every single day.

So today, I choose to use this platform differently. I choose to speak life. I choose to honor us. I felt compelled to write this, not just for myself, but for every Black woman who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or misrepresented. And especially for the young Black girls watching, listening, and learning what it means to be who they are in a world that does not always affirm them.

To every Black woman reading this:

I salute you!

You are the embodiment of resilience. Your strength is not just physical, it’s spiritual, emotional, intellectual. You carry generations of wisdom, creativity, and compassion. You are brilliant. You are radiant. You are powerful.

You have raised children, your own and others. You have built communities, nurtured movements, and held space for healing. You have shown up with grace, even when the world tried to break you. Even when you are holding people accountable you find a way to love on them, and stand firm in your truth.

You are bold. You are assertive. You are independent.  

You are graceful. You are charming. You are magnetic.

You are generous. You are nurturing. You are love in motion.

Let’s continue to respect each other, uplift each other, and protect each other. And let’s remind our young girls that they are not defined by the noise. If it does not apply, let it fly. Because we cannot afford to let harmful narratives shape how they see themselves or how they treat others.

This is a love letter. A declaration. A reminder.

Black women, you are everything. And I will never stop saluting you.

Keep Shining

Maisha

#hiddengems