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Home · Celebrity

The 12 Most Moving Quotes From Black Women In 2016

"When they go low, we go high." Wisdom to live by from inspiring Black women like FLOTUS and Beyoncé changed the game in 2016, so it's only right that we let their words guide us into the New Year.

By Lauren Porter · December 8, 2016October 26, 2020
01
Ava Duvernay

“Black Girl Magic is a rallying call of recognition. Embedded in the everyday is a magnificence that is so easy to miss because we’re so mired in the struggle and what society says we are.” – Ava Duvernay

02
Beyoncé

“You have the power to change perception, to inspire and empower, and to show people how to embrace their complications, and see the flaws, and the true beauty and strength that’s inside all of us.” — Beyoncé

03
Oprah Winfrey

“The magic is to surrender to God’s dream for you. Quit fighting and pushing against and disallowing against and stop trying to tell the Creator what you’re supposed to do. Get still and know that His dream is for you.” — Oprah Winfrey

04
Ciara

“You can’t focus on the bad thing, you have to focus on getting through it.” – Ciara

05
Rihanna

“I think I can inspire a lot of young women to be themselves and that is half the battle. Just be yourself, it’s the easiest thing to be. Black girls, we just on another level.” – Rihanna

06
Tracee Ellis Ross

“I have come to understand and listen to the fear.” – Tracee Ellis Ross

07
Gabby Douglas

“Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made.” – Gabby Douglas

08
Danielle Brooks

“Being a woman of curves, I really find that it’s very important to talk about loving your body where you are.” – Danielle Brooks

09
Michelle Obama

“We need you to roll up your sleeves. We need to get to work. Because remember this: When they go low, we go high.” — First Lady Michelle Obama

10
Simone Manuel

“It means a lot, especially with what is going on in the world today, some of the issues of police brutality. This win hopefully brings hope and change to some of the issues that are going on. My color just comes with the territory.” – Olympian Simone Manuel

11
Yara Shahidi

“Being a part of this reemergence of a movement both pro-diversity and pro-woman is the best part of being a Black girl. It’s more than, “I stand for this because I should.” I stand for this because this is part of who I am as a human being.” – Yara Shahidi

12
Lupita Nyong’o

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