Oh, To Be a Black Woman – A Celebration of Strength, Legacy, and Self-Love

Art by Sarina Freincle of A Beautiful Distraction

Oh, to be a Black woman

This year, I will celebrate my 50th birthday. Fifty years of survival, development, intelligence, and becoming, and I sit contemplating my 50th birthday, and I celebrate with profound gratefulness the fullness of my life.

The phrase Oh, to be a Black woman isn’t a hat; it’s a statement. It’s a reminder of Black women’s beauty, Black women’s power, and Black women’s presence, no matter what. It’s a toast to all that makes me me—strength, softness, wisdom, and endurance. It’s living unapologetically in my reality, knowing my path, my battles, and my victories all go towards creating my legacy.

At 50, my health comes first—not only my physical, but my spiritual, mental, and emotional one, too. It is a time for intention, for caring for my body, for strengthening my mind, and for safeguarding my peace. I will not sacrifice my well-being for anything. I'm taking care of my body by moving with intention, listening to its cues, and choosing in a manner that enables me to flourish.

Legacy is at the forefront of my mind, first and foremost. What am I creating and what am I leaving? What kind of impact am I having? My companies, my artwork, and my writings—all a reflection of my purpose, a reminder that my presence will outlast my years. I hope my legacy will inspire, will motivate, and will remind Black girls and Black women that they're magical, that they're limitless.

And above all, I choose to stay rooted in who I am. To show up fully — boldly, beautifully, and without apology. I am committed to living in my truth, honoring my power, and loving every layer of myself along the way. This year is about becoming — not a version of me that fits inside someone else's mold, but the most real, unapologetic, whole, and fully expressed version of me. No masks. No filters. Just truth, freedom, and alignment.

And I hope you feel empowered to do the same — to take up space, to trust your voice, to shed anything that asks you to shrink. Because the world doesn’t need a watered-down version of you — it needs your fullness, your brilliance, your truth. Be bold enough to become you, completely.

So here’s to 50. To being Black and female. To living, to loving, and to a legacy that will speak for me long after I'm gone.

How are you honoring yourself this year? Drop a comment below and let’s celebrate our journeys together. And if you love the message behind Oh, to Be a Black Woman, grab your hat and wear it with pride!