Be Advocates for Others

Dear girls,

I hope and pray you will be advocates for others – including Black women.

If you remember nothing else, please remember these tidbits:

Play a role in the fight for justice. Find an activity that resonates with you and get involved.
Involve White people to the cause. If they are sincere and want to help, embrace them.
Do not apologize for wanting to help your own people. Being pro-Black does not mean you are anti-White.
Have courage. You can’t worry about what folks are going to say. They are going to talk about you no matter what you do.
Identify other young people with passion and encourage them to become activists. Be real and authentic. If not, they will not deal with you – and they shouldn’t.
Support others. You are going to expect support from others. You need to give it if you want to receive it.
Leverage your authority, position and power to help others. Your fancy job title and degrees – which you will earn one day – will not matter if you do not have the guts to use them for good.