Another Reason Why Janelle Monae Is One Of Our Most Beloved Naturals

Celebs: we all have our favorites, some you love and some you love to hate. They are often our source of entertainment or point of reference for what is trendy, but very rarely are they trendy naturals or our source of emotional support when we need to hear the message of self love.

Grammy nominee Janelle  Monáe is not just a Cover-girl and pop icon but an inspirational force that has captured our hearts. As it turns out, we are not the only ones that think so.

In 2012 she was a recipient of BET’s Black Girls Rock Award, which seeks to highlight young black women who have been a source of empowerment for the younger generation. In her emotional acceptance speech this is what she had to say:

“When I started my music career, I was a maid. I used to clean houses. My mother was a proud janitor. My stepfather, who raised me like his very own, worked at the post office and my father was a trashman. They all wore uniforms and that’s why I stand here today, in my black and white, and I wear my uniform to honor them. This is a reminder that I have work to do. I have people to uplift. I have people to inspire. And today, I wear my uniform proudly as a Cover Girl. I want to be clear, young girls, I didn’t have to change who I was to become a Cover Girl. I didn’t have to become perfect because I’ve learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness. Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable.”- Janelle Monáe 

Now that is one phenomenal message! With the number of attacks against our ethnic uniqueness throughout the course of this year – shopping while black, walking while black, schools threatening to ban Afrocentric styles- we’ve had to seek out uplifting resources to keep our children grounded in a world where they are ridiculed and ostracized because of our diversity.

Some time ago we shared with you some tips on how you can teach your child to accept natural hair even when others don’t. At the heart of the issue though, is the need for us to teach them self-love and acceptance which will go a far way in affirming the sense of who they are.

We pointed you to some resources which would be instrumental in the process and it  is for this reason that we also recommend Janelle  Monáe  as an ideal inspirational icon for young black girls.

Not only is she a proud and trendy natural, but  she is also a motivational beacon; a disciple of the message of self acceptance. So if you want a role model for your children to help them recognize that their black is beautiful, check out these videos of her awesome message.