Empowering Black Girls: Nurturing Confidence and Inclusion

Black women have always been a driving force within our society. However, they have had to navigate

their way in a culture that does not always value or celebrate their contributions. It can be especially

challenging for young Black girls growing up in a world where they feel like they do not belong. As a

parent of two young black women, I’ve made it my mission to ensure they feel like they belong in all

spaces.

When my oldest daughter entered her teenage years, she began to come home from school with

questions that I didn’t have answers to. She wanted to understand why there were so many injustices

against people who looked like her. She needed to believe that as a growing young woman, her voice

would be heard. She also needed me to help her understand the potential challenges she could face in a

world dominated by white men. Although we are a black family, no one taught us the language of

allyship and inclusion. We had to develop it along the way. This language involves encouraging,

motivating, and educating people to welcome and appreciate all kinds of differences and speak up

against injustice when necessary. These conversations aren’t intuitive.

In a world that often silences Black women, it is crucial to teach them how to advocate for themselves

and others. We must encourage them to speak out when they see injustices happening around them

and teach them how to use their own power and voice to make a positive impact on the world. I wanted

to make sure both of my daughters knew that their contributions matter and that they are important no

matter what space they are in. It took years for us to find our voice as a family and then use it to ensure

we were allies to other underrepresented groups as well.

Raising Black women who feel like they belong in all spaces is a process. However, it’s crucial to start

early. If we begin these conversations with children and teach them the language of inclusion and

allyship I can only imagine the type of world we’d live in. This is why Little Allies is so important to me.

Parents, caregivers, and anyone working with children play critical roles in making sure our children are

equipped to grow up to be confident, resilient, and purpose-driven individuals who thrive in every space

they encounter.