Dear Black Woman from Paula Banks

Dear Black Woman,

There is magic in you.

From the way you see the world to the way you move through it, your existence is a masterpiece. Your dreams, no matter how big or impossible they may seem, are valid. Your ideas, no matter how wild or unconventional, are worthy. And your voice, even in moments of doubt, is powerful.

I know what it’s like to dream but feel unseen. To have a fire inside you but wonder if the world will ever make space for your brilliance. But let me tell you this—your dreams are meant to be chased, nurtured, and brought to life. They are not too big. You are not asking for too much. You are here to take up space.

Black woman, you come from a legacy of dreamers, storytellers, and visionaries who changed the world simply by daring to believe in themselves. You are carrying the spirit of those who came before you—the ones who wrote poetry when their voices were silenced, who created art in the face of struggle, who built and invented and imagined despite the odds stacked against them. You are not just a dreamer; you are a reflection of their resilience.

• Dream Loud.

  Don’t shrink yourself to make others comfortable. Don’t quiet your ambitions to fit into a world that wasn’t designed with you in mind. Dream so boldly that the world has no choice but to pay attention.

  
  

• Create Fearlessly.

  Write your stories. Sing your songs. Paint your visions. Build your dreams. Whatever is inside you, let it out. The world is waiting for your unique brilliance. Your creativity is a gift, and it is meant to be shared.

  
  

• Take Up Space Unapologetically.

  You don’t need permission to exist as your full, authentic self. Walk into every room like you belong there—because you do. Speak your truth with confidence. Show up, stand tall, and own your greatness.

And when the world tries to tell you that your dreams are too ambitious, that your voice is too loud, that your creativity doesn’t fit?

Smile. Keep going. Prove them wrong.

Because the truth is, the world needs you. It needs your stories. It needs your vision. It needs your passion. And most of all, it needs you to believe in yourself even when no one else does.

So, dear Black girl, keep dreaming, keep creating, and keep being the masterpiece you were born to be. Your story is just beginning.

Paula