Vuma Lilli

“What I know now is that when we derive our worth from the relationships in our lives—the intimate ones, the social circles we belong to, the companies we work for—we give away our power and become dependent upon external validation. When that is taken away, our sense of value, and identity, goes with it.”
― Elaine Welteroth, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are

“Let's be very clear. Europe is not my center, Europe is on the outskirts. After one hundred years here, did they speak my language? I speak theirs. My future does not depend on Europe, I'd like them to understand me but it makes no difference. Take the map of Africa, place Europe and America together and there's still room left. Why be a sunflower and turn toward the sun? I myself am the sun!”
― Ousmane Sembène

“If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.”
― Michelle Obama, Becoming

“Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.”
― Michelle Obama, Becoming