The extraordinary and deeply gifted Queen Latifah has always been intentional about protecting her private life. That boundary deserves respect.

And still, years ago, she chose to share something sacred: that she is a Survivor of sexual violence in childhood.

For many Survivors, moments like this matter more than people realize. Seeing someone who has built joy, artistry, strength, and a full life after harm can quietly steady the heart. It can soften the loneliness. It can remind someone, in the middle of their own long night, that survival is real and wholeness is possible.

Sometimes it isn’t a speech that carries us forward.

Sometimes it’s simply a light.

A small, honest light that says: you are not alone, and your life is allowed to be more than what happened to you.

---

• “When I was around 18, I looked in the mirror and said, ‘You’re either going to love yourself or hate yourself.’ And I decided to love myself. That changed a lot of things.” 

Queen Latifah

 

 

• You just have to connect with people who believe in your vision and who will work with you and advance your cause.

Queen Latifah

 

• No one ever got ahead by going through the motions. You have to constantly be improving yourself. Make your life the masterpiece you want it to be.

Queen Latifah

 

 

 

“instinct leads me to another flow”/Queen Latifah

 

 

• “I am a strong woman with or without this other person, with or without this job, and with or without these tight pants.” 

Queen Latifah

 

 

• The reality is, I like imperfection. You take away from the world when you’re not yourself. Whatever is unique and special about you was designed by God. And when you try to be someone else, we don’t get you. Who knows what you would have contributed to the world had you just been yourself, if you had just celebrated who you are and just walked boldly?” 

 

Queen Latifah

 

 

• Fear can be good when you’re walking past an alley at night or when you need to check the locks on your doors before you go to bed, but it’s not good when you have a goal and you’re fearful of obstacles. We often get trapped by our fears, but anyone who has had success has failed before.

Queen Latifah

 

 

• Let your inner queen’s voice come through loud and clear. Be strong, be authentic, be you, and you’ll do her proud.

Queen Latifah

 

 

• I really don’t know how to be anyone else, and whenever I try to be anyone else, I fail miserably. Or I disappoint myself. It doesn’t build my self-esteem, and it doesn’t help me grow me at all.

Queen Latifah

 

 

• Sometimes I pray when I really feel like I need God to help me with something, and sometimes we just have conversations. We just kick it.

Queen Latifah

 

Thank you, Queen!

<p>The post 10 Inspiring Quotes from Survivor Queen Latifah first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

🌟 Resilience & Strength

1. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” parade+2meQuilibrium+2Medium+2

2. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” Human Rights Careers+1Time+1

3. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”Medium+1meQuilibrium+1

4. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”A-Z Quotes

5. “Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.” Goodreads+3Pinterest+3Burning For Success+3

6. “I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

7. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”Medium+1meQuilibrium+1

8. “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.”

9. “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision

<p>The post 9 Quotes from Maya Angelou to Nourish the Survivor’s Soul (Part 2) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

🌿 For the Survivor’s Journey

1. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

2. “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”

3. “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”

4. “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”

5. “Nothing will work unless you do.”

6. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

7. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

8. “Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!”

9. “You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”

<p>The post 9 Quotes from Maya Angelou to Nourish the Survivor’s Soul (Part 1) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Sometimes we lose our confidence in ourselves and others. This podcast episode will give you 7 tips to help you recover quickly. Real-life examples include famous stars like Aaliyah and Beyonce.

<p>The post Reclaim Your Confidence: 7 Quick Tips (audio) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Libraries are often called the gateways to knowledge. But have you ever wondered who decides how books get organized? For over a century, most libraries have used the Dewey Decimal System (DDS). It works, but for a long time, it wasn’t fair—or inclusive.

That’s where Dorothy Porter stepped in. A trailblazing Black librarian, she didn’t just shelve books—she reshaped how knowledge itself gets classified.

Who Was Dorothy Porter?

Dorothy Porter was born into a world stacked against her. Opportunities for Black women in the early 1900s were scarce, but she pushed through, excelling in library science.

In 1930, she became the librarian at Howard University, where she quickly spotted a huge problem: the Dewey Decimal System basically shoved all books about Black life and history into a few narrow categories like slavery or colonization.

That meant works by Black authors weren’t easy to find and were often dismissed as “less important.” Dorothy Porter refused to let that stand.

How She Changed the Game

Instead of sticking with Dewey’s biased setup, Porter designed a new way:

• Reclassified Black Literature
  She grouped books by genre and author instead of shoving everything under “slavery.” That meant readers could finally see Black contributions in literature, history, science, and more.
• Balanced Out Religion
  Christianity had been given pages of space in Dewey’s system, while all other religions were lumped together. Porter pushed for a more balanced approach.
• Updated Subject Headings
  She got rid of offensive, outdated labels in catalogs and replaced them with respectful, accurate language.
• Made Libraries More Welcoming
  Beyond classification, Porter championed diverse collections so readers of all backgrounds could actually find themselves in the library.

Building a Legacy

Her work helped establish Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, now one of the world’s most important collections of Black history and culture.

Porter didn’t just reorganize books—she reimagined how knowledge should be valued and accessed.

Why It Still Matters

Dorothy Porter showed that libraries aren’t just places to borrow books. They shape how we understand the world.

Without fair classification, whole cultures can get erased.

Thanks to her, today’s libraries are far more inclusive.

She sparked conversations about bias in systems—conversations that continue today.

Even though the Dewey Decimal System is still being updated (and some libraries are moving away from it altogether), her influence is undeniable.

✨ Dorothy Porter’s story reminds us: challenging the system can open doors for generations to come.

Legacy

Dorothy Porter’s name may not be widely known, but her work speaks volumes. As we continue striving for inclusivity in education, literature, and beyond, her legacy serves as a powerful reminder that who organizes knowledge matters just as much as the knowledge itself.

Next time you visit a library, take a moment to appreciate the system that helps you find the books you need—and remember the unsung heroes like Dorothy Parker who fought to make it better for everyone.

<p>The post Dorothy Porter Wesley: The Woman Who Transformed the Dewey Decimal System first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

The Forgotten Black Woman Inventor Who Revolutionized Menstrual Pads

(article with audio)

updated 8/2025

When we talk about innovation, we often hear the same names repeated. But behind the headlines are pioneers like Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner—a self-taught inventor whose ideas were years ahead of her time. Despite living with disabilities, racism, and sexism, Kenner became one of the most prolific African American women inventors in history.

Breaking Barriers

• A Family of Inventors
  Innovation ran in her blood. Mary’s sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith, also held patents for household items. Creativity and problem-solving weren’t just hobbies in their family—they were a way of life.

• No Engineering Degree, No Problem
  Kenner never had formal training in engineering or design. Instead, she relied on curiosity, sharp observation, and trial-and-error tinkering.

• Living with Disabilities
  Throughout her life, Kenner faced hearing loss and later Multiple Sclerosis (MS). But instead of slowing her down, her health challenges often inspired her inventions—many of which made daily life easier for people with mobility or medical needs.

Patents That Changed Everyday Life

Mary Kenner holds the most patents of any African American woman inventor. Her designs weren’t flashy, but they were practical, clever, and life-improving. Some of her key inventions included:

• Sanitary Belt (1956)
  Before modern pads, Kenner created an adjustable, comfortable belt to hold sanitary napkins securely. Unfortunately, a company that expressed interest backed out once they discovered she was Black.

• Walker Attachment
  A serving tray and side pocket that attached to walkers—helping people with limited mobility carry items safely.

• Toilet Paper Holder
  A simple but genius re-design that made dispensing smoother and more hygienic.

• Back Washer for Showers
  A mounted device that allowed people to clean hard-to-reach areas without strain.

Her inventions may sound familiar now because versions of them eventually became common—but Kenner rarely saw the recognition or profits during her lifetime.

The Struggles Behind the Genius

• Racial Discrimination
  Companies often refused to license or promote her inventions once they realized she was a Black woman.

• Sexism in Innovation
  In the mid-20th century, women inventors were often overlooked, and Black women even more so. Kenner’s genius was hidden behind systemic bias.

• Delayed Recognition
  While her designs improved countless lives, many of her patents didn’t gain traction until years later, when others re-created similar products.

Her Legacy

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner’s story is one of persistence, creativity, and quiet revolution.

• She designed for dignity—especially for women and people with health challenges.

• She showed that innovation doesn’t require formal credentials—it requires vision.

• She proved that even in the face of prejudice and barriers, brilliance can’t be silenced.

Today, when you see everyday products that make life a little easier, you might just be seeing Kenner’s fingerprints on history.

✨ Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner reminds us: true innovation isn’t about fame—it’s about improving lives.

 

<p>The post The Forgotten Black Woman Inventor Who Changed the Lives of Women and People with Disabilities first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Harriet Tubman helped her brothers escape at Christmas. Their master intended to sell them after Christmas but was delayed by the holiday. The brothers were expected to spend the day with their elderly mother but met Tubman in secret.

Enslaved Americans experienced the Christmas holidays in many different ways. It was a time of rest so most of them frequently married during this season. Some saw Christmas as an opportunity to escape, though some slaveholders treated the holiday as any other workday.

Enslaved americans experienced the Christmas… pic.twitter.com/dBa8iqGhSY

— AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY (@AfricanArchives) December 26, 2024

A notice offered a $100 reward each for the capture of Harriet Tubman, then known as “Minty,” and her brothers Henry and Ben pic.twitter.com/jJwSlkzjlG

— History of the day (@hist_of_the_day) December 26, 2024

AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY

@AfricanArchives

learn your history!✊🏿 || IG; http://instagram.com/africanarchives || Support us on http://ko-fi.com/africanarchives

<p>The post Why Harriet Tubman Gave the Gift the Freedom on Christmas Eve first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

<p>The post Strong Self-Compassion for Women first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Mood Book: Serwa

Mood Bood Serwa by Tonya GJ Prince

<p>The post Mood Book: Thy Name is Serwa (eBook of Quotes) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Building on the true story of the United States’ first elected woman mayor, Susanna Salter, this short episode inspires listeners to believe they can achieve their goals against the odds. She was ridiculed right into running for mayor. She had to shut them up somehow didn’t she?

<p>The post Survivor Affirmations: Actually, I CAN and I WILL (podcast short) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>