GLAD TO BE BLACK
I’m twelve years old, from Atlanta, Georgia, and I am the proud creator of the Glad To Be Black Gratitude Journal. I created this journal because I believe it’s important for Black girls to know that our skin is beautiful and that we should be glad to be Black.
When I was younger, my dad homeschooled my brother and I. Every afternoon, he would take us to an in-home child care center where we could play with other homeschooled children. One day, another girl came up to me and said, “My daddy told me white skin is better than brown skin”. I was so young that I almost believed it.
When my dad came to pick me up that day, I told him what the girl said to me and he became furious. I don’t think I had ever seen my dad that upset. He pulled over and looked me in the face. He reassured me that what the girl said was not true and that all colors of skin are beautiful. He told me to be very proud of the melanin in my brown skin.
This event had a great impact on me back then… And over the years, I realized that there are many other Black girls who feel that they're ‘less than’ because of their skin color.
I feel the Glad To Be Black journals are important because of all the division in the country and the need for Black girls to know we are BEAUTIFUL. I chose to create a gratitude journal because I was taught the importance of having a daily gratitude practice and how much of an impact being grateful can have on my life.
I think if all girls can find something to be grateful for about ourselves and our lives we can have a much better life.
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