the dope cactus

The other day I came across a blog post of 56 motivational quotes that I decided to pick & choose from to add to my planner for July. I quickly realized that although these were some good ass quotes they were mainly from white men. That’s cool & all but I thought maybe I’d challenge myself to find 31 quotes from Black women to share with you guys. Here goes! (Note: You won’t find any Oprah quotes here. She needs to get her mind right.)

1. All great achievements require time. – Maya Angelou
2. You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas. – Shirley Chisholm
3. You can’t focus on the bad thing, you have to focus on getting through it. – Ciara
4. Don’t settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. We need to live the best that’s in us. – Angela Bassett
5. Even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am. – Janelle Monáe
6. The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker
7. If you don’t live your life, then who will? – Rihanna
8. If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself. – Gabrielle Union
9. Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made. – Gabby Douglas
10. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list. – Michelle Obama
11. I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept. – Dr. Angela Davis
12. Dreams become reality when we put our minds to it. – Queen Latifah
13. Week-by-week you grow with your character and it’s an interesting challenge. – Yara Shahidi
14. Discomfort is always a necessary part of enlightenment. – Pearl Cleage
15. No person has the right to rain on your dreams. – Marian Wright Edelman
16. Always follow your dreams. If there’s something people tell you that you can’t do it, go for it. – Mo’ne Davis
17. Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way. – Nikki Giovanni
18. If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow. – Beyoncé
19. Take responsibility for yourself because no one’s going to take responsibility for you. I’m not a victim. I grow from this and I learn. – Tyra Banks
20. I believe that if you’ll just stand up and go, life will open up for you. – Tina Turner
21. What you’re willing to sacrifice is the measurement of how you love – at least it is for me. – Jada Pinkett Smith
22. I learned early on the magic of life is having a vision, having faith, and then going for it. – Elaine Welteroth
23. She remembered who she was and the game changed. – Lalah Delia
24. I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance. – bell hooks
25. History is history. What is done is done. – Sister Souljah
26. It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it. – Lena Horne
27. In complete darkness we are all the same, it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us, don’t let your eyes deceive you. – Janet Jackson
28. The first step is clearly defining what it is you’re after, because without knowing that, you’ll never get it. – Halle Berry
29. The triumph can’t be had without the struggle. – Wilma Rudolph
30. I thrive on obstacles. If I’m told that it can’t be told, then I push harder. – Issa Rae
31. Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live. – Mae Jemison