Self-Esteem Boosters for Black Women

Being a Black woman means being attacked at all times and from all angles. So, here are some ways to recover.

Being a Black woman can be equally as marvelous as it is exhausting. Indeed, although we are finally getting to a place where some Black women (and yes, also a few men) are starting to stand up in defense of Black women, we still have a long way to go. Black women are constantly targeted and attacked everywhere, from social media to mainstream media itself. While we are well aware of how magical we are, it can still be a mentally draining experience.

Therefore, as a Black woman, you may need to go above and beyond to protect your own mental wellness and keep your self-esteem intact. Admittedly, I am no expert. However, I do have a background in psychology and have also suffered from my own mental health/self-esteem struggles in the past. Here are a few tips that have helped me on my journey.

Celebrate Your Features

As Black women, we are constantly sent the message that our natural features are not the standard of beauty. They attack our hair textures, noses, lips, hips, and fingertips. We are constantly told we are either too big or too small, too short or too tall and that we don’t measure up to the European standard of beauty.

So, how do you combat this? Celebrate your features! Find the perfect lipstick to accentuate those beautiful lips, buy a new hair accessory to accentuate that afro, get your eyebrows done to frame those beautiful eyes, or whatever you have to do to show off your beautifully Black features.

Post Your Black Icons

Another great way to boost your self-esteem as a Black woman is to post your favorite Black women icons on social media. We are all a sum of the media and messages we consume. Given that the image of Black women is frequently degraded in virtually every form of media, it is up to us to take the time to post, like, share, and support positive images of Black women.

Post your favorite Black actress on IG, retweet beautiful pictures of Black women on Twitter (both known and unknown), draw and paint photos of Black women, or any other thing you can think of that allows you to celebrate the versatile, exotic beauty of Black women.

Try Something New

As Black women, we are often painted into a box. So, although we may have unique interests and hobbies, we are often discouraged from pursuing them early in life. Don’t let that hold you back! Reclaim your life and time by trying something new! Go to a sip and paint, try a yoga class, climb a tree, go dancing/learn a new type of dancing, ride a bike, go swimming, or get back into drawing, writing, or jogging. Face your fears!

Go skinny dipping or bungee jumping; be as wild and free as you want to be! There is nothing like a new, exciting experience to make you feel better about living in your own skin. Break out of the box that was placed on you ever since you were a young Black girl. You don’t have to fit into the square they painted around you, sis! Maybe you’re better off in a circle, triangle, or hexagon. Either way, your life should be celebrated, no matter what shape you’re in.

Being a Black woman is an experience that truly must be lived to be understood. While these tips can help any woman, they are especially great for Black women. Rather than soaking in the constant negativity, take the time to emit your own light and frequency! This list of tips was created as a way to help Black women learn how to uplift and celebrate themselves. Send this to every Black woman you know!

What do you do to boost your self-esteem?

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