A documentation of RENAISSANCE, Champion Stories is a living collection of Black women reclaiming power, purpose, and promise. The walk isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Encourage your sisters to keep going.
A BLACK GIRL CHAMPION STORY
Shared & Written by Sierra Ivee
Putting Yourself Back Together
I couldn’t unsee her, me. I couldn’t unsee myself.
Let me explain. A strange thing was happening. I was in a love connection that made me feel free. In other words, this brotha had your girl wide open! I’d determined this connection to be a safe space, genuine and expansive.
I didn’t want to admit that I was living in a red flag paradise. My young heart felt “free”, giving the greenlight for my fullest expression to live. My essence emerged freely and often, a confident service of love and power.
Passing by a mirror one evening, I made eye contact with myself. Conviction. My conversations carried depth, my positions were worthy of consideration, my visions could transform my life; they could transform the world.
Who was this woman?
A multifaceted artist, carrying magnificent light. A rare vessel of leadership, liberation, and power. A Philly-jawn and fly girl! She was whole.
Yet, only pieces of her showed up in my day-to-day world.
Shrinking, masking, and selling myself short had blocked access to her. This was a hard truth.
Life, for all intents and purposes, looked good. City of my dreams. Check. Remote work. Check. Romance. Check. Prime apartment with a view. Check. Luxury vehicle. Check. Unfortunately, I was in agreement with a lifestyle that didn’t align with the power of my essence. Therefore my output flows didn’t return inputs of freedom and abundance.
In other words, I was existing in a warped reality, accepting it as truth and calling it “the dream”. Settling. I was modeling brokenness with a beautiful smile.
Mental angst. I was fighting against myself daily, to keep the fragment dream alive. Too afraid to be undone.
Share your story. Join Vol. 1: RENAISSANCE
(continue reading below)
Complete the intake form for the opening archive, Volume I: RENAISSANCE
Our team will review your submission.
Selected participants may be invited to a conversation, interview, or photo session.
Stories may be featured in written, audio, video, social, or exhibition formats.
Note: Submissions are first held within the RENAISSANCE archive, where they are thoughtfully reviewed and curated. Stories may then be shared across Black Girl Champion platforms in written, audio, video, and community formats.
Continued.
Surrendered.
I spent time with the woman in the mirror often, becoming a student of her mind. She was God-guided, with a thirst for wisdom. At her encouragement, I surrendered my life to God and trusted in what I didn’t yet see. An act of faith.
My parts and pieces back together.
Our parts and pieces back together.
Journey. Expression. Direction. I fully immersed myself in our collective stories, finding gentle healing within the expressions of Black women across generations and genres. My parts and pieces back together.
I discovered hidden gems, like “Drenched in Light” by Zora Neale Hurston, “Cinderella’s Stepsisters” by Toni Morrison, and “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou.
Releasing my old life felt like a series of TKOs and a mind on fire. I watched Rocky for encouragement to get back up, sang Queen’s “We Are the Champions” and Vicky Winans’ “To God Be The Glory” to call forward the victory. I prayed everyday, all day. I prayed like I’ve never prayed before in my life! In my quiet time, I picked up my once crisp Bible, to anchor my mind throughout the transition.
Weaving my story, our stories together brought forth revelation. What do they tell you about us?
Revelation of renaissance.
We are vessels of leadership, liberation, and power. We are whole, fragments. Mirrored hearts, once broken, now remembered.
We are Black Girl Champions. ■
Share your story. Join Volume 1: RENAISSANCE
Champion Stories is a curated archive documenting RENAISSANCE through the voices of Black women. Stories may be publicly shared in written, audio, video, photographic, or exhibition formats. While every submission is valued, not every story will be featured immediately. Selected participants may be contacted for follow-up conversations and future archive releases.
