Frustration is fuel that can lead to the development of an innovative and useful idea.
Dressing in an androgynous way, mixing up the masculine and feminine, blurring those boundaries - I'm cool with that. No one should ever be limited by stereotypes of gender, just as no one should ever be limited by stereotypes of race.
I am unapologetic about the need for social change, greater inclusion, and equity.
Black girl stories aren't just for black girls: they're for everybody.
People say, 'Dream big!' - but you have to think about the logistics. It's not just coming up with a great idea; it's how you can sell or market or promote that great idea.
I don't want to bring negative energy to myself, and if people feel one way about me, I don't want that changing how I feel or what I believe.
I believe activism is the true source of change in the world. Pushing to change social structures in communities that you are a part of is critical for making real lasting change.
I wasn't seeing black girls in the books I was assigned to read at my school. I was tired of only reading about white boys and dogs and wanted to collect books featuring black girls.
Black History Month could focus less on slavery and civil rights and more on the Harlem Renaissance and everything we have achieved. I want to know about the whole black experience.
Even though I wear glasses, I'm not just a mousy person who stays in my room - even though I do sometimes stay in my room and read.
Innovation comes from, one, acknowledging yourself; two, studying and understanding the problem; and three, finding a solution.
I'm working to create a space where it feels easy to include and imagine black girls and make black girls like me the main characters of our lives.
In my class - in all fifth-grade classes - we were required to read 'classics,' books like 'Shiloh,' which is about a white boy and the dog he rescues. And 'Old Yeller,' which is about a white boy and the dog that rescues him. And 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' which is about a white boy and the two dogs he trains.
Most girls spend most of their time at school. If real change comes from hearing our voices, it has to start in school, but school is a place where black girls tend to experience microaggressions. Microaggressions are not always obvious, ugly, or terrible things, but they make you feel as though your voice does not matter.
Like feminism, I want to create systems and structures for the equity for all people, especially girls and women.
My goal for the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign is to create systemic change across all school systems. I want there to be diverse books that reflect the lives of every person, regardless of whether or not they are in the majority.
Yes, you can be passionate about school and fashion simultaneously. The two are not mutually exclusive - one doesn't cancel out the other.
Anyone can change the world however they want for the better!
My health and schoolwork come first. I work hard to get lots of sleep, but I probably work just as hard to spend time with friends.
My parents taught me the importance of telling the truth no matter what.
