Dear Black Girl, You Are More Than The Shade of Your Skin #DearBlackGirl

#DearBlackGirl,

You are more than the shade of your skin tone. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Your skin color is not too dark or too light. You don’t have “good hair” or “bad hair”. Your skin is perfect and your hair is exactly what God created for you. Know that you were created in His image. His image is always perfect. His image is never a mistake. Dear black girl, know that you are:

Pretty. Period.

Smart. Period.

Intelligent. Period.

Courageous. Period.

Loved. Period.

Precious. Period.

A Fighter. A conqueror. A Queen. Dear black girl, they will try to destroy you with their words. But don’t give them that power. You have to be able to look in the mirror and tell yourself how much you love yourself. I wish someone had told me about self-love. I wish someone had told me I didn’t have to go looking for someone else to love me, because it was already within. I wish someone had told me that I am imperfectly perfect just the way I am. I wish someone had told me I had a voice. So I am telling you these things now.

Dear black girl, I am writing this because I am you, and you are me. It took me over thirty years to learn the true meaning of loving myself. I didn’t understand that my thoughts became my words, which became my actions. I didn’t understand the importance of being a cheerleader for myself. Did you know that while I love you, while so many people love you…no human being can love you more than you love yourself? Be confident in your magnificence. Be confident in your brilliance. How you ask? Hold your head up high. Surround yourself with more cheerleaders. Live in the moment, and celebrate even what you consider to be small successes.

Growing up, I didn’t understand that my skin tone wasn’t a factor in creating a life of happiness. I didn’t see many people who looked like me on TV, or even in my classes. When I picked up books or magazines, I thought that a lack of images that looked like me, meant that I was not worthy; that I was not beautiful. But I want you to know that you are all of these things. You are the creator of your own happiness. Growing up, I thought being pretty meant having long, straight hair down my back, and a skin tone ten shades lighter than I had. Now, I’ve learned to embrace the beautiful, natural hair and rich melanin that God gave me, and I’m teaching my girls to do the same. Will you join me?

Dear black girl, don’t allow anyone to dim your light. The world needs you. Even when you’re feeling alone, you are not alone. Read these words until you believe them for yourself. You matter. Your. Life. Matters. Don’t ever forget that. Your past mistakes do not define you, they only make you stronger. Beautiful black girl, you are more than the shade of your skin. You are light to someone else’s darkness. You are happiness to someone else’s sadness. You are magnificent, just the way God created you to be.

Much love,

Your sister in black girl brilliance – Christine

#DearBlackGirl - momsncharge

These beautiful brown girls are three of my nieces. Photo credit by talented Yaba Blay Photography (Pretty Period)


The #DearBlackGirl campaign is an initiative to change the narrative to how black women and girls see themselves and how they’re portrayed in the media. The Beautiful Project is asking us to do the same by sharing words of empowerment and encouragement. The deadline for submissions ended on October 7th, but this movement was too powerful not to share and participate. You can follow the #DearBlackGirl hashtag & @TheBeautifulPrj on Twitter.

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23 Comments

  • Nikka Shae
    October 12, 2015 at 8:13 AM

    What a great campaign to be involved in!! The have to make a difference for our young girls in this crazy world!!!
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  • PATRICE M Foster
    October 12, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    Great blog post “Pretty period” often more times than not we judge a person on how they looks, material position and make a preconceive notion whether to follow or be liked that person. But for a child growing up in a society where weights, skin color, looks is a paramount this can be difficult.

    I write about Teenage depression and work closely with teens who are abandon and may be unwelcome in a world that likes everything to be flawless. These youth starts their lives with damage self-esteem for some society has leave them feeling empty and not good enough can’t be anything because of the color of their skin or not “Smart period”.

    #DEARBLACKGIRLS campaign initiative concept is excellent by instilling pride now at a young age all children of color will learn to accept and believe but most importantly love themselves.
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    • Christine St.Vil
      October 12, 2015 at 11:30 PM

      Hi Patrice, that is amazing what you do and the awareness that you’re bringing to the forefront. It is so important.

  • Arika
    October 12, 2015 at 1:08 PM

    I have been seeing this campaign all over social media. It is an AWESOME campaign to be apart of and it encourages black women everywhere. Great post!
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    • Christine St.Vil
      October 12, 2015 at 1:34 PM

      Thanks Arika! Yes, I think it is definitely a great movement to empower black girls and women everywhere!

  • Stacie
    October 12, 2015 at 5:11 PM

    Beautiful letter! What an inspiring campaign to be a part of. Love it!
    Stacie would like you to check out…Everyday Mom Style: Floppy Hat + Black Wrap with FringeMy Profile

    • Christine St.Vil
      October 12, 2015 at 11:31 PM

      Thanks so much Stacie! They will be taking more letters in the coming weeks once their website is updated.

  • AC Mims
    October 12, 2015 at 8:07 PM

    This post is beautiful. Period!
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  • Holly
    October 12, 2015 at 10:58 PM

    Your nieces are beautiful. Great post with important affirmations.
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  • GloGlo Shanell
    October 12, 2015 at 11:39 PM

    Such an empowering blog post. I have 2 teen daughters and I love sharing this with them.

  • Tryphena Wade
    October 13, 2015 at 2:28 AM

    I love this!
    One of my missions is to make sure every little brown girl I come into contact with knows how beautiful and valuable the are. Thankfully, I had women around me, lovely dark women, who I felt were so beautiful that I wanted to be dark like them. This was vital to growing up as a chocolate girl, believing I was/am beautiful. This is a wonderful campaign!
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  • kita
    October 13, 2015 at 3:26 PM

    For a long time I didn’t love the skin I was in…I always saw the lighter women get all the attention or the perks of having a great life. I didn’t begin to love my dark skin until I was in college and saw the opportunity for both sides that were bigger than what my hometown had me believing. I am glad that I got out and was able to go to another city to see women who were beautiful in all shades. Love this campaign
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  • Valerie Robinson
    October 13, 2015 at 4:09 PM

    Amen! That was beautiful! I have 2 little brown girls, so posts like this mean the world to me. Will definitely check out the campaign!
    Valerie Robinson would like you to check out…[Quick Note] Three Lessons Learned Through My First Year of BloggingMy Profile

  • Joanna
    October 13, 2015 at 7:31 PM

    Beautiful letter. What an awesome campaign to be a part of. Your nieces are beautiful
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  • Siobhan (BeFree Project)
    October 13, 2015 at 10:56 PM

    Christine this post is SOOOOO inspiring! This is an amazing movement to highlight our beautiful brown girls and to encourage them to love themselves.

    Siobhan
    http://www.befreeproject.com

  • Chrystal, ChryssVI
    October 15, 2015 at 11:48 PM

    Nice! We need to continue telling young black girls how beautiful and smart they are because the media will tell them different in more ways than one. Even in my 20s I still need to remind myself that I am perfect just the way I am
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