• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture

5 Things We Learned About True LGBTQIA Allyship From Miss Lawrence & Mariah Moore

"Nobody knows what love, heartache & pain is better than Black people, so we have to be conscious of not inflicting that on each other."
By Gene Hunter · Updated July 1, 2021

Actor and celebrity stylist Miss Lawrence and activist Mariah Moore joined each other for a conversation centered around self love, the LGBTQ community and allyship during the Beauty Carnival experience at the 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

To see more of everything you missed at the 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture Beauty Carnival experience, click HERE.

Miss Lawrence began the conversation with a powerful statement, recalling the teachings of his mother. Miss Lawrence shared that he was taught to never be a liar and that allowed him to never lie about who he was. “I always knew that regardless of what anybody thinks, family or the outside world, I knew that the Almighty had my back and I walked with that armor through life.”

The two got real about their journeys of self love and acceptance in their environment and community. Check out the lessons they shared below and watch the video above to hear the full conversation.

  1. The Love We Receive Help Us Love Ourselves
    Miss Lawrence shared that the love that was given to him from his mother, sister and grandmother ultimately shaped who he became as a person. “I learned a lot by watching Black women,” he said. “That’s where “Miss Lawrence” was born; it came from the love and acceptance I experienced.”
  1. You Don’t Have To Run From Your Environment, You Can Create A Better One Growing up in the South, Mariah expressed her fascination with New York and how Sex in the City reruns grew her desire to move to the city. “ I had the opportunity to go and I learned it was just a fantasy,” she said. “They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, but the reality is if you can make it in New Orleans, you can make it anywhere. I didn’t need to run away from the city that created and molded me. I needed to activate and make my city better and create the city I wanted myself and future generations to live in.”
  2. Create More Spaces For True Allyship Within the LGBTQIA Community
    It’s no secret that the LGBTQ community, specifically the Black community, are constantly fighting for rights and equal opportunities. “Being an ally is being able to speak positively and in a concerned and educated way when we’re not in the room,” Mariah shared. “And being able to bring us into spaces we can’t occupy. Being able to learn and unlearn some things you thought you knew.”
  3. Pour Back Into Black Women
    Mariah unapologetically stated that Black women consistently show up, but it’s time for others to do the same. “Black women, we’re always first to the fight,” she noted. “And we’re always willing to put skin in the game and everyone else should be willing to do that for us.”
  4. Invite The LGBTQIA Community To The Table
    Miss Lawrence delivered a powerful word and shared that it goes beyond inviting them to the table, but to also let them be actively involved. “Allowing us into spaces like this at the family table or the family picnic is not only a start but go above and beyond and allow us to pick our seat when we get there,” he said. “Don’t pick our seat for us, don’t serve us the leftovers because it makes you look like a better leader. Let’s always make sure that we’re all sharing the same communal plate and dishes that are being served.”

Before wrapping, Miss Lawrence shared the message that the community is stronger when everyone comes together and no one is left behind.

“We are so much stronger together. Nobody knows what love, heartache and pain is better than Black people, so we have to be very conscious and careful to make sure we don’t inflict that on each other by not raising conversations and having conversations with one another. “

TOPICS:  EF21_BC EF21_BC1_VOD
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now