“When we see you, we see ourselves, and we see ourselves as intelligent and beautiful and proud...”
Today has been a strange and heavy day, but as I reflect on my journey, I realize it was Nichelle Nichols’ birthday. To say that I feel a deep sense of gratitude for her life is an understatement. Even in the midst of the uncertainties and of all the griefs I’ve been processing, remembering her brings me pause and, in this pause, hope.
It’s hard to articulate the depth of her influence, but I know that in so many ways, she has shaped the person I’ve become and am continuously becoming. Through her courage, resilience, and vision, she became a beacon not just for me but for so many women who dare to dream beyond the boundaries society set for them.
I think about all the ways she opened doors for people like me—the multilingual explorations I’ve embarked on, the places I've traveled, the opportunities I've grasped—all of them sparkled out of the trail she blazed. Nichelle reassured me that there is indeed no limit to what I can dream of, especially as a woman of color. I remember often saying that I hoped to be one of her ancestors, working to give the women who come after me the chance to be bold and unapologetically themselves, to embrace the greatness within them, just as she did. Her legacy is a reminder that we are part of something bigger, and it is up to us to carry it forward.
As the skies of opportunity seem to darken around me, around all of us, I continue to hold on to the faith that she inspires in me. She showed me that there is power in being an advocate, a supporter, a friend, a mother, and a sister. Sometimes, just existing is an act of defiance. In the face of adversity, she showed me that I too can stand tall. Today, as I watch the sunset (I know, cliche right?), I find comfort in knowing that there’s a strength in me that will never fade and that I can keep going, no matter how dark it gets around me. Through all the griefs I’m working through, I carry a core of warmth, a light that she helped ignite and that I will always kindle.
Nichelle, I’m still learning how to walk in your footsteps, but with each step, I know I’m not alone. Your spirit lives on in all of us who are determined to make the world a better place. Happy birthday. I promise to continue boldly going.
