8 Times Amandla Stenberg Used Her Platform To Empower Black Queer Women

At just 20-years-old, our 2019 Black Women In Hollywood honoree has already carved her own lane as young woman unafraid to speak her truth.

Ian Maddox/@iancredible

By Rachaell Davis · Updated December 6, 2020

Let’s be honest, Black women are breaking barriers and shattering ceilings from big screens to small screens to runways to boardrooms to classrooms and everywhere in between.

As we prepare to honor four extraordinary women in film and television at our 2019 Black Women In Hollywood Awards, we’re elated to have none other than actress, activist and all-around badass Amandla Stenberg among this year’s honorees. At just 20-years-old, she has already carved her own lane as young woman unafraid to speak her truth and use her platform to empower other young people to do the same. Scroll through for a list of fearless quotes from Amandla that aim to empower Black queer women.

Empowering Quotes From Amandla Stenberg

8 Times Amandla Stenberg Used Her Platform To Empower Black Queer Women

Empowering Quotes By Amandla Stenberg

“Gender and sexuality are so fluid—it’s okay to change your mind a million times and figure out what works for you. It’s okay to take your time. I’d been out as bisexual, and people have known I’m queer for a long time. I saw some comments that made me chuckle, like, “Girl, we been knew!” But I wanted to make it very clear that I have romantic love for women. I realized I had so much internalized homophobia and so much discomfort around hooking up with dudes.” – Seventeen Magazine

Benjo Arwas, (Hair) Larry Sims, (Makeup) Kali Kennedy, (Manicure) Tracy Clemens, (Prop Stylist) Lauren Shields

Empowering Quotes From Amandla Stenberg

“I was so overcome with this profound sense of relief when I realized that I’m gay – not bi, not pan, but gay – with a romantic love for women. All of the things that felt so internally contrary to my truest self were rectified as I unravelled a long web of denial and self deprivation.” – Wonderland Magazine

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Empowering Quotes From Amandla Stenberg

“I cannot stress enough how important representation is, so the concept that I can provide for other black girls is mind-blowing. It’s a really really hard thing to be silenced, and it’s deeply bruising to fight against your identity and just mold yourself into shapes that you just shouldn’t be in. As someone who identifies as a black bisexual woman, I’ve been through it, and it hurts and it’s awkward and it’s uncomfortable.” – Teen Vogue

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Empowering Quotes From Amandla Stenberg

“I’m always [inspired] by the fact that being black is just so poppin’. The perspective, the culture, the family, the food…I love everything about being black.” -Seventeen Magazine

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Empowering Quotes From Amandla Stenberg

“Had I had more representations of Black gay women growing up, I probably would have come to conclusions around my sexuality much earlier because I would have had more of a conception around what was possible and okay.” – Human Rights Campaign Acceptance Speech

@amandlastenberg/Instagram

Empowering Quotes From Amandla Steinberg

“Feminism has undergone different waves in our society, and I feel it’s less about equality between the sexes today and more about liberating people from any type of discrimination caused by patriarchy.” – Teen Vogue

@amandlasteinberg/ instagram

Empowering Quotes From Amandla Stenberg

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