You may have been taught that in order to be successful, you must assimilate to whiteness. You must try to be like them, act like them, and think like them. But I’m here to tell you that this is a lie. You can be successful and unapologetically Black. In fact, it is through your Blackness that you will find your joy and your salvation.

Reclaiming Joy Through Blackness

You have reclaimed your joy in being Black.

For so long, you let whiteness define you. You let it dictate what was beautiful, what was worthy, and what was right. But now, you refuse to be defined by it. You have found your joy in being unapologetically Black. In your personal life and in your professional life, you have refused to hide your Blackness. It is this Blackness that has brought you happiness and salvation.

Yes, whiteness will continue to try to define you. It will try to suck the life out of you, but you will not let it. You will not let it take away your joy. You will not let it take away your Blackness.

Dismantling Whiteness and the Patriarchy

Whiteness will not define you. In fact, you refuse to let it. You dismantle whiteness and the patriarchy every chance you get. You do this in your personal life and in your professional life. You are unapologetically Black in your personal and professional life and in that Blackness you have found your joy and your salvation. Whiteness will not define you.

Facing Institutional Racism

It’s not easy to be unapologetically Black in a society that tells you from the time you’re born that being anything other than white is wrong. You’re bombarded with messages that your skin color is undesirable, that you’re too loud, that you’re not smart enough, that you should be ashamed of who you are.

You face institutional racism every day in ways both big and small. You might be passed over for a job you’re perfectly qualified for, or receive a harsher sentence for the same crime as a white person. You might be followed around in a store, or be told by your doctor that your concerns are “just” in your head.

But despite all of this, you refuse to be defined by whiteness. You find joy and salvation in being unapologetically Black, and in that Blackness you have found your voice and your power.

Redefining Success as an Unapologetically Black Person

Could it be that success is not found in the pursuit of whiteness, but in uncovering and indulging in our own Blackness? Refusing to be defined by whiteness means redefining success and joy on our own terms — no longer seeking validation from a society built to oppress us. Learning to forgive ourselves for any past transgressions and being honest about our hopes and dreams allows us to discover new meaning in what once seemed mundane. Being unapologetically Black is a pathway to discovering joy and inner peace that has been suppressed for so long.

Focusing on what brings us joy takes courage and can even be daunting at first, but it’s worth the risk. I have found peace in being able to express myself freely without judgment or criticism; my faith guides me toward finding grace in every experience. Every day I practice embracing my Blackness — unapologetically — which has become my source of strength. I find hope in knowing that my ancestral lineage will ultimately guide me towards the kind of life I want to live, unencumbered by whiteness.

Refusing to Be Erased: Centering Black Voices

As a Black person in a predominantly White society, it’s easy to feel like you don’t matter or that your voice is unimportant. But every day, I make an effort to center Black voices and celebrate them. This can mean listening to music by Black artists, watching movies directed by Black filmmakers, reading books by Black authors, or just simply talking about topics important to the Black community.

By doing this, I am amplifying the stories of my people and refusing to be erased from the narrative. In this way, I am taking actionable steps towards making sure that everyone’s identity is respected and celebrated.

No matter what anyone says about me or about my culture, I refuse to be defined by whiteness – instead, I have found such strength in being unapologetically Black – and it is in this that I have found my joy and my salvation.

Celebrating the Beauty of Expressing Black Experiences

There is a beauty in being able to express our Black experiences without fear of judgment or ridicule. Whether it’s a work of art, a song, or an opinion, the ability to express our unique and diverse experiences as Black people is liberating.

In celebrating our diversity, we can take back the power that whiteness has claimed for so long. We can embrace our stories, the joys and pain within them, and refuse to be silenced or subjugated. We can celebrate those who have gone before us that were brave enough to speak out against injustice and inequality. We can also recognize their struggle and fortitude by continuing the fight for justice in all its forms.

Our joy and salvation are found in being unapologetically Black–in rejecting systems of oppression that attempt to define us as anything other than who we truly are. Celebrate your unique identity and express your experiences freely—because this is what it means to be alive!

You might be wondering what it means to be unapologetically Black. It means that I do not have to pretend to be anything other than who I am. It means that I am proud of my African heritage and all that comes with it. It means that I am not ashamed of my skin color or my hair. It means that I am not afraid to speak out against racism and discrimination.

Being unapologetically Black is a powerful statement. It is a declaration of independence. It is a refusal to be defined by whiteness. It is a rejection of the Eurocentric beauty standards that have been imposed on us. It is a celebration of Blackness.