We get the chance to chat with a lot of our favorite black celebrities, tastemakers and thought leaders, so we decided to start asking them about their pride in being black.
Many of them talked about our resilience and strength throughout history, some talked about our undeniable talents, while others mentioned our dance skills, dopeness and more. Whatever the reasoning, it’s clear that being black is an incredible experience despite society’s often-negative narratives around blackness.
Broadway star (Hamilton, Aladdin) James Monroe Iglehart talked about the “it” that black people have that so many people wish they could get their hands on. He said, “There’s a swagger that we have that when we create something, everybody else wants to be a part of it. There is a pride I take in the fact that we had a struggle from 400 years until now, and each time that the struggle is there, we rise above it.”
Check out all the reasons Iglehart is proud of his blackness in the video above.