Growing up I've never had a true role model or significant figure that I looked up to in a "when I grow up I want to be them" sort of way. Whenever it was addressed in class I always took the easy way out and picked the most successful African-American woman at that time. But never was I really intrigued by them or what they did. Although I do have respect for Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Serena Williams, and just successful women in general they never had a great affect on my life like one would think. I love my family to death but it's hard to really have a strong desire to aspire to be one of my five siblings who are all very different from me or my parents who grew up on an entirely different circumstance than I.
At a young age and even today I tend to find my inspiration through musical artists. Whether it be urban rap or R&B only a few artists have really had an important role of shaping who I am today. Ever since middle school I've connected with the soothing rhythms of Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. Their music taught me what it is to be in a society that wasn't built for you and how the road is not always going to be this amazing journey through life. At times when I was down and out they pulled through with encouraging words and so much more. Ways that I think stem from choruses of their songs and much more. Other artists also have had this affect on me in a positive light. When people listen to rap they automatically associate it with violence, gangs, and bad influence. But in all honesty there is much more where that comes from. Listening to the voices of people who have endured the same institutionalized racism as I had from the start of middle school sparks a light in me. The voices of people who understand me and take pride in the skin they are. My identity has been shaped from this exactly.
