Positive affirmations, meditations, and mantras for Black women
More than 100 songs to positively affirm and uplift Black women everywhere.

Black Women Get to Be, the newsletter and podcast, was created by Qubilah Huddleston and is driven by connection and community. If you’re new here, subscribe (free or paid), like this post, share it with a friend or two, and leave a comment below while you’re at it. I’d love to hear from you.
This month’s newsletter is deviating a bit from my usual writing, but for good reason. Last week, while starting my morning routine, I revisited my “Healing Affirmations for Black Women” Spotify playlist that I curated last year or so. My spirit was feeling a bit heavy and I knew that hearing the songs I carefully selected for the playlist would feel like a warm, close hug from my mama, who currently lives more than 300 miles away.
I created this playlist to be played in the exact order I added the songs (the first couple of tracks anyway), but there are no rules. I skipped over the first two tracks to play “Be You” by Ashley DuBose. This song has been in my rotation for years, and I regularly evangelize about this song because of its powerful message. Here’s a snippet of the first verse and chorus1:
Yes I know how it feels to be on the outside looking in, never fitting in
They don’t understand (naw)
Why you’re not like them
But it takes a special kind of view to see life the way you do
And you can search the world high and low
There will never be another you another you no no no
And it’s hard I know
Cuz you’ve got a heart of gold
And you just want the world to know
It’s okay to be you
You are different
You ain’t like none of them
You got your own swag, your own style, your own thing and baby that’s cool
It’s written in the stars
You’re supposed to be who you are
So do your thing, do your thing, do you-you
Upon hearing the first couple of lines, tears that I’ve been needing to release for weeks came crashing down my cheeks. I guess all it took was for hearing Ashley joyfully remind me that being me is the best thing I can do for myself. Once the tears stopped flowing, I knew that I needed and wanted to share my playlist with my subscribers.
With the way this society tries to make Black women feel worthless, I believe we have to do all we can to protect our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. And due to the meteoric rise of Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for President, racists and misogynists are having their moment terrorizing and degrading Black women.
So here’s my offering to the Black women reading this. And to the people who love Black women, platonically and/or romantically, share this playlist with them. Sharing is caring, and Black women deserve a lot more care than we’ve been getting.
After you’ve spent some time listening, I’d love to know what song(s) resonate with you the most or if there are songs that I should add. Let me know in the comments or click the button below to message me directly.
Abrazos y besos* for reading my work! It’s dope to know that people are interested in what I have to say. I am self-care and personal growth strategist who helps Black women who do too much, do less. I envision a world in which Black women trade in their superhero or magician capes for radical self-care, rest, and joy. I come in love and grace, and as always take what you need, leave what you don’t.
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* Means “hugs and kisses” in Spanish.
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Lyrics copied and pasted from https://lyrics.lyricfind.com/lyrics/ashley-dubose-be-you
Kicking this playlist with I Got So Much Magic and then Junie brings up so many memories of 25 yr old me 🥹 makes me think of DC. Also makes me think of all the concerts we attended
I've been curating an affirmations playlist which I started with some songs from India Arie, but it's been finding other songs. I needed this, thank you! I'll be back 🤎