{"id":64022,"date":"2026-02-01T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=64022"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:11:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:11:26","slug":"inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Kamala
There’s much we can learn from brilliant Black women like Kamala Harris. (Credit: Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s wise advice that\u2019s often stated in social-justice circles: \u201cListen to Black women<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black women have consistently been at the forefront of fights for racial and gender equality – be it organizing movements, blazing trails or combating social ills in nuanced, impactful ways. The motivational quotes<\/a> listed below, offered by some of the world\u2019s most influential Black women, give us insight into the breadth of intelligence and experience these leaders have to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Black History Month, take a few minutes to consider their sentiments on embracing failure, living your values, and honoring your inherent worth.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Related<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n \"Nikki\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n \n Her Directory Will Help You \u2018Buy From a Black Business\u2019\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
1<\/div>\n \n

Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

"If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's the power of using your voice.\u201d \u2013 Michelle Obama<\/h2>\n

Obama achieved national prominence as the former First Lady to President Barack Obama, and has remained prominent due to her unmatched public speaking abilities<\/a>. She\u2019s also an attorney, an advocate, an author. Indeed, it\u2019s more than safe to say she\u2019s established herself independently from her husband\u2019s work and achievements. These words, on the importance of speaking up and out, come from her book, \u201cBecoming\u201d \u2013 and they reaffirm why she’s a role model for girls and women around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
2<\/div>\n \n

Tarana Burke. (Credit: TED Conference, Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou deserve safety. You deserve protection. You deserve love. You deserve peace.\u201d \u2013 Tarana Burke<\/h2>\n

She\u2019s the woman who started the #MeToo movement to help women who suffered and survived experiences with sexual harassment and assault realize that they\u2019re not alone. The phrase took off in 2017 when it became a rallying cry amid revelations about years of misconduct by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. She and other activists shared the title of Time magazine\u2019s Person of the Year that same year. These statements of affirmation were first written in her co-authored book, \u201cYou Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
3<\/div>\n \n

Serena Williams. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

"I don't like to lose \u2013 at anything \u2013 yet I've grown most not from victories, but setbacks." \u2013 Serena Williams<\/h2>\n

We\u2019re not sure any one person has been described as the GOAT (greatest of all time) more than Williams \u2014 and deservedly so. Before her <\/span>retirement<\/span><\/a>, Williams had won more Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined than any other active player in the world. Off the court, Williams is a mother, an activist for women in sports, and a supporter of women entrepreneurs. (And, as of this month, a celebrated Super Bowl halftime show performer.) But as she noted here to nonprofit <\/span>Guideposts<\/span><\/a>, she learned most from the times she stumbled along the way to her myriad wins.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
4<\/div>\n \n

Gymnast Simone Biles (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I\u2019m the first Simone Biles.\u201d \u2013 Simone Biles<\/h2>\n

Biles is her own person, as she pointed out to reporters at the <\/span>2016 Summer Olympics<\/span><\/a>. She won us over as one of the \u201cFinal Five\u201d \u2014 the team of U.S. gymnasts that brought home the gold at the Rio Games. She was victorious, too, in several subsequent Olympic games. Then again, that\u2019s what Biles does: Win. So far in her career, she has won dozens of Olympic and World Championship medals, solidifying her status as one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world. She has also been a fierce advocate for <\/span>mental health<\/span><\/a> following a stressful Olympic Games in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
5<\/div>\n \n

Former Vice President Kamala Harris. (Credit: picryl.com)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThis generation is the destiny of our country, and the world.\u201d \u2013 Kamala Harris<\/h2>\n

The former Vice President of the U.S., and historic woman candidate for president, offered these observational and motivational words in her book, “107 Days.” Through her decades of experience as a leader, she has seen how various generations respond to significant political and social moments – and she says that the young voters she engaged with on the presidential campaign trail provided her with especially great hope for our collective future.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
6<\/div>\n \n

Beyonce. (Credit: Wikipedia Commons).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

"Power is not given to you. You have to take it." \u2013 Beyonc\u00e9<\/h2>\n

This singer, songwriter and producer (whose full name is Beyonc\u00e9 Knowles-Carter) is practically synonymous with the word \u201ciconic.\u201d Her thoughtful, empowering music and artistically stunning videos have garnered her a large international fanbase that buys her music and attends her concert tours at record rates. In fact, she\u2019s one of the best-selling artists in the world. Knowles-Carter has often used that platform to advocate for causes she believes in \u2013 or, as she did in this widely-cited quote of hers, to encourage others to fight for and seize what they want in life.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
7<\/div>\n \n

Poet Amanda Gorman. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

"Let us not return to what was normal, but reach toward what is next." – Amanda Gorman<\/h2>\n

The celebrated poet, activist and first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate included these words in her poem, “New Day’s Lyric<\/a>.” Shared going into the year 2022, these words of hers – and the poem in general – encourage us all to find hope in upheaval, and the drive to push toward something new amid a status quo that only serves a few. A timely message in 2026, to be sure.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
8<\/div>\n \n

Oprah Winfrey. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

\u201cReal integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody\u2019s going to know whether you did it or not.\u201d \u2013 Oprah Winfrey<\/h2>\n

The media mogul, producer, author and philanthropist\u2019s good deeds are well-documented \u2013 but as she rightly notes here, it\u2019s what we do when no one’s looking that truly defines us. Her wealth, which she has given away by the millions (largely to educational causes), made her one of North America\u2019s first Black multi-billionaires. She\u2019s won awards ranging from the Presidential Medal of Freedom to an Oscar nomination \u2014 not to mention her 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, a Tony Award and a Peabody Award.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
9<\/div>\n \n

Maya Angelou. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them \u2013 the first time." \u2013 Maya Angelou<\/h2>\n

This lesson, which speaks to assessing others by what they show us, is perhaps one of the most famous and most profound she’s taught. But then again, Angelou\u2019s work was, quite literally, doling out words of wisdom. The poet and activist\u2019s impactful career spanned half a century, and in that time she authored widely read autobiographical works \u2013 including the famous \u201cI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings\u201d \u2013 and garnered tons of awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama. She died in 2014, but her words will live on for generations to come.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
10<\/div>\n \n

Performer Aretha Franklin. (Credit: Mike Bouchard, Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI think it would be a far greater world if people were kinder and more respectful to each other.\u201d \u2013 Aretha Franklin<\/h2>\n

Yes, it\u2019s something of a nod to one of this legendary singer-songwriter\u2019s biggest hits. But the Queen of Soul made a critical point here about the need for us to be better to one another. Beyond \u201cRespect,\u201d Detroit-born Franklin is the voice and mind behind tunes like \u201cChain of Fools\u201d and \u201cThink\u201d \u2013 a body of work that resulted in her becoming the first woman ever inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, among numerous other distinctions. (And, like Angelou, she was also a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Related<\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n \n 23 Influential Black Women to Celebrate During Black History Month (and Beyond)\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

(This article, originally published Feb. 1, 2023, has been updated for 2026.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Black History Month, get motivated by these powerful words from Black women leaders and trailblazers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":80217,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":false,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[19521,19525,19729,19665,22654,20936],"class_list":["post-64022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-black-history-month","tag-black-women","tag-empowerment","tag-gender-equality","tag-quotes-list","tag-racial-equality"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This Black History Month, get motivated by these stirring, powerful words from Black women leaders and trailblazers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This Black History Month, get motivated by these powerful words from Black women leaders and trailblazers.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Story Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-01T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-15T17:11:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kamala-Harris-107-Days-Womens-Wants-Needs-Dreams.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Candice Helfand-Rogers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Candice Helfand-Rogers\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women","description":"This Black History Month, get motivated by these stirring, powerful words from Black women leaders and trailblazers.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women","og_description":"This Black History Month, get motivated by these powerful words from Black women leaders and trailblazers.","og_url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/","og_site_name":"The Story Exchange","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange","article_published_time":"2026-02-01T13:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-15T17:11:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kamala-Harris-107-Days-Womens-Wants-Needs-Dreams.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Candice Helfand-Rogers","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TheStoryXchange","twitter_site":"@TheStoryXchange","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Candice Helfand-Rogers","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/"},"author":{"name":"Candice Helfand-Rogers","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/person\/f5204a83b27f87166174a6de31eaafc9"},"headline":"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women","datePublished":"2026-02-01T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-15T17:11:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/"},"wordCount":129,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kamala-Harris-107-Days-Womens-Wants-Needs-Dreams.jpg","keywords":["Black History Month","Black Women","Empowerment","gender equality","quotes list","Racial Equality"],"articleSection":["Features"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/","name":"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kamala-Harris-107-Days-Womens-Wants-Needs-Dreams.jpg","datePublished":"2026-02-01T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-15T17:11:26+00:00","description":"This Black History Month, get motivated by these stirring, powerful words from Black women leaders and trailblazers.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kamala-Harris-107-Days-Womens-Wants-Needs-Dreams.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Kamala-Harris-107-Days-Womens-Wants-Needs-Dreams.jpg","width":1024,"height":683,"caption":"There's much we can learn from brilliant Black women like Kamala Harris. (Credit: Flickr)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/inspiring-quotes-from-10-iconic-black-women\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Inspiring Quotes From 10 Iconic Black Women"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/","name":"The Story Exchange","description":"Inspiration and information for women entrepreneurs","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization","name":"The Story Exchange","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/24161459\/TSE-logo-web-e1525383604615.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/24161459\/TSE-logo-web-e1525383604615.png","width":500,"height":180,"caption":"The Story Exchange"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange","https:\/\/x.com\/TheStoryXchange","https:\/\/instagram.com\/thestoryexchange\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-story-exchange","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/StoryExchange"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/person\/f5204a83b27f87166174a6de31eaafc9","name":"Candice Helfand-Rogers","description":"Candice Helfand-Rogers has worked as a journalist for some of the largest news organizations in the country over the course of her career, including CBS Local News and The Star-Ledger. She earned her B.A. in Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers University. In her spare time, she enjoys singing with several ensembles in New York City and spending time with her son. Please contact candice@thestoryexchange.org with questions or pitches.","sameAs":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/candice-leigh-helfand\/"],"url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/candice-leigh-helfand\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64022"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81992,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64022\/revisions\/81992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}