Rising Together in Unapologetic Splendor

Ever find yourself dimming your light to fit into someone else's comfort zone? Our latest Melanin Unicorn episode shatters that notion with the electrifying wisdom of Queen Luvvie Ajayi Jones, who implores us all to never break ourselves down into bite-sized pieces for anyone's consumption. This week on the Melanin Unicorn Podcast, we celebrate our global community, spanning from Africa to New York, and revel in the unity that our shared experiences as black women bring to the forefront.

Join us as we honor Luvvie, a Nigerian sister and four-time New York Times best-selling author, in our 'Black Woman Moment'—a segment where powerful quotes spur us into action. Luvvie's Writing Academy beckons to those with tales yearning to be told, and her words remind us of our regal nature and the brilliance we possess. Through this episode, we channel the spirit of connectivity and the relentless pursuit of dreams, affirming that our collective voice is a beacon of inspiration. So, let's rise together, shine unapologetically, and let the world feel the full force of our incredible light.

Books by Luvvie Ajayi Jones:
- I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual
- Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighting Manual
-  The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons From a Professional Trouble Maker
- Rising Troublemaker: A Fear Fighting Manual for Teens
- Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess (Childrens Book)

Luvvie Ajayi Jones Author Academy: Learn How To Write

Transcript

Kerry: 0:00

Hello and welcome to the Melanin Unicorn Podcast. I'm your host, Kerry, and this is a weekly podcast that is dedicated to the empowerment and the upliftment of black women. If you are feeling stuck, I'm going to help you get unstuck, so you will no longer want to sit on the side of the road, but instead get up and start running towards your dreams and goals in life. Plus, we are going to hold each other accountable. I just want to give a praise report. When I checked my stats on my podcast, I discovered that I have listeners in Africa, I have listeners in Canada, I have listeners in California, I have listeners in Pennsylvania, I have listeners in New York. I am blown away. I am blown away. But let me tell you something. I am so grateful, and I am so thankful because this podcast is a labor of love. There are some fumbles, there are some flags on the play, there are some timeouts, there are some zero minutes on the clock, but I keep pushing through and because of that, I believe that this podcast is resonating with my fellow queens, and I'm just so grateful for that. You know, because we're in this together, I'm learning as I go along your pressing play on every time I release an episode, and so that just brings me so much joy to know that not only is this podcast helping me to put myself more out there, but it's also helping you. And so, again, like I said, we're in this together and it's only upward and onward from here. And on that note, let's start the show. Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Kerry: 2:42

So today's episode is about Black Woman Moment. This segment, short but mighty, features a Black woman whose quote just really causes you to stop, think and act, and so today's spotlight goes to Luvvie Ajai Jones. She is a writer, she is a speaker, she is just an in power of women and she is fearless and unapologetic, and so she leads that charge, and I love reading her posts on social media and her newsletters. She also has a writing academy now, so if there's anybody or aspiring authors, please check her program out for new and returning writers. So I would like to say that this is an affirmation, and, according to dictionary. com, an affirmation is the act or an instance of affirming, state of being affirmed, a declaration of the truth of something. So, as I said before, today's Black woman moment belongs to Luvvie Ajai Jones. She is a Nigerian sister, a four-time New York Times best-selling author, like I said, speaker, entrepreneur, who thrives at the intersection of culture, business and leadership. And here is what Miss Luvvie had to say Never break yourself down into bite-sized pieces, let them choke.

Kerry: 4:56

That's a word and that will preach and what she's saying here. You don't dim your light, you don't dumb yourself down for anybody. If they can't handle your light, if they can't handle your brilliance, if they can't handle your creativity, if they can't handle your intelligence, let them choke. You don't dim your light, you don't break yourself down, you don't shy away, you don't hide, you do none of that. You shine bright, like a diamond, like our other fellow queen, Bad Gal Riri. Shine bright and if they can't handle that, that is not your problem, that is their problem, and either they will conform, get on that bandwagon, or they won't. But either way, you don't break yourself down for anybody, because you are a queen and remember that.

Kerry: 6:11

And on that note, thank you so much for joining me here for our Black Woman moment, and show notes will be available on Buzz Sprouts. I will leave a link to where you can purchase author Luvvie Ajai's books. You can follow the show on Instagram at the Melanin Unicorn Podcast, and I will see everyone next week for our next full episode. And remember you are love, you are excellent, you are beautiful, you are well, you are safe and, most importantly, you are you. I will speak with you soon. Enjoy the rest of your day, wherever you are. Take care.