I felt the need to write a diary about phenomenal women. The title of my story is also a tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou, who got my attention telling her story unapologetically.
I'm going to give you few of them. I get that COVID-19 has us isolated; let me take you on a journey of phenomenal women.
This is Kheris Rogers. She was bullied for her dark skin. She has her clothing line called Flexin' in My Complexion.
Here's a video of her and her sister, Taylor Pollard.
Here's one of her learning about her ancestry.
The next queen in the making is Marsai Martin!
Here's Marsai Martin talking about winning an NAACP Image award.
Here's Marsai Martin talking about her film, Little.
The next phenomenonal queen is Halima Aden!
Here's a video of her.
Here's another of her.
This video is what went on in an Essence magazine shoot with her.
The next queen is Teyonah Parris!
Here's a video of her doing an Essence photoshoot.
Here's another video of her.
Here's Teyonah Parris in Dear White People.
Here's another clip of Teyonah Parris in If Beale Street Could Talk.
The next queen is Amara La Negra!
Here's a video of her talking about colorism.
Here's a video of her appearance on The Real. She explains AfroLatinidad for the audience.
Forgive the hip shaking; this is her music video, Ayy. Yes this is reggaeton and in Spanish. This is filmed in the Dominican Republic.
This is Amara La Negra on Vice News, talking about racism and colorism, and being an AfroLatina.
Here's another clip of her interview with Nick Cannon.
The next queen is Gina Yashere,
British stand up comedian of Nigerian descent, executive producer of Bob Hearts Abishola.
And yes, she's really funny.
She's doing a comedy bit about rap music.
Here's another comedy bit from Gina Yashere.
The next queen is Folake Olowofoyeku! She's the Abishola in Bob Hearts Abishola. She plays a Nigerian cardiac nurse who's raiding a son and dealing without her husband in Detroit. What makes this a groundbreaker is the man who is wooing her is a middle-aged White man who is partnered with his family compression socks company. I should mention he learns Yoruba to communicate with her. Here's a clip from CBS This Morning talking about the show's premiere.
Here's a video of her.
Here's a clip of the executive producer, Gina Yashere, and Folake Olowofoyeku talking about Bob Hearts Abishola.
The next queen is Representative Ayanna Pressley!
Here's a video of her talking to HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
Here's a video of her, Representatives Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez, and Omar doing a presser after President drumpf's offensive tweet.
Here's Representative Pressley defending federal workers after government shutdown.
Here's another video of her discussing her plan to solve the pushout of Black girls in schools.
The next queen is Representative Ilhan Omar!
Here's a video of her and Venezuelan envoy Elliott Abrams.
Here's Representative Omar talking about rethinking immigration.
Here's Representative Ilhan Omar questioning Education Secretary Betsy Devos.
I wrote this to honor Black women for owning who they are. It takes courage to break barriers when others doubt you, insult you, or damn near ostracize you. I truly cannot honor ugly behavior like this.
I also cannot honor this behavior.
I chose some of these women because "undocumented immigrants" are thought of Latinx with fair complexion, not of African descent. I chose all of these women because I found them fearless in their platforms.
If you have any Black queens you wish to honor, you're welcome to do so in the comments section. Stay safe. It takes five seconds to be kind to a human that doesn't look, pray, think, or act like you.