EMBRACING OUR FEATURES...

TURNING PAIN INTO POWER

We live in a world where the image on the screen often carries more weight than the truth within our souls. Too many of us measure ourselves against standards that were never meant for us. The Black community has carried centuries of ridicule for our natural features, and the same battles continue in the digital age.

Here’s the story of our Zambian sister, the brilliant lawyer named Naomie Pilula who stood tall against public negativity, reflects the greater struggle of our people. When she was attacked online for the way she looked, instead of breaking down, she chose to embrace her God-given features. That act of courage speaks louder than any insult ever could.

This is not just about one individual being mocked on social media. This is about a people who have been conditioned to reject their natural beauty. It’s about reclaiming the strength that comes from embracing our noses, lips, skin tones, and hair textures without apology.

What we see in her story is the power to transform pain into something greater. The same fire that was meant to consume her only sharpened her confidence. That should be a lesson to us all.

I, LanceScurv, share this because it is not just her battle—it is ours. Every time one of us stands firm in our identity, it chips away at the chains of insecurity that have been forced on our community.

The Attack on Our Features

When she posted her photo, she was simply sharing herself with the world. What came back was cruel ridicule targeting her nose and facial features. Many of us know that pain, because society has long made fun of the very traits that connect us to our lineage.

Instead of collapsing under that weight, she chose to hold her head higher. She saw her father’s features in her own face and declared that no insult could erase that bond. This is an act of defiance against a culture that tells us we should carve away what makes us who we are.

The insults she faced are not isolated—they reflect the larger hatred directed at our people. Social media has become a stage where the worst of humanity plays out. Yet, her response shows that the power to define our worth lies in us, not in those who mock us.

The Journey Toward Self-Love

She admitted that self-love did not come overnight. There wasn’t one magical morning where she suddenly saw herself differently. Instead, it was a process—day after day, choosing to look at her reflection and claim beauty in what she saw.

This is where the strength of the Black community must rise. We must teach each other to reject the lie that our features are flaws. It is a daily battle to unlearn what has been drilled into us. And like her, we can arrive at that point where no one can take away what they never gave us.

Her sister’s encouragement and her connection to scripture helped her through those hard days. This reveals another truth: we cannot do it alone. Community, family, and faith remain pillars that hold us steady when outside voices try to break us down.

Why This Story Matters

Her testimony goes beyond beauty—it speaks to identity. She said she does not try to be perfect for the internet. Instead, she chooses to shine with authenticity. That is a lesson our people must take seriously.

For too long, we’ve been told to fit into a mold that erases our culture and features. But real beauty is not about chasing approval. Real beauty is standing in your truth and allowing the light within to shine outward.

Every young Black child who hears her words should know: you do not need to reshape yourself to be valuable. Your value exists before the world even lays eyes on you.

Turning Negativity Into Strength

The insults that were meant to weaken her actually revealed her strength. Instead of letting cruel words bury her, she rose above them and claimed ownership of her identity. That is the same spirit our ancestors carried when they faced ridicule, oppression, and chains.

When we, as a community, turn the pain aimed at us into fuel, we take control. We transform curses into blessings, rejection into pride, and shame into glory.

This is what turning pain into power truly looks like.

Her story is more than just an isolated moment of online bullying. It is a reflection of what many of us endure every day. When we choose to embrace our natural selves, we are taking back what the world has tried to strip away.

I, LanceScurv, stand firm in declaring that the Black community must see itself through eyes of love, not criticism. We must break the cycle of tearing each other down and instead lift one another with encouragement and truth.

Confidence is not something granted by strangers—it is something claimed from within. Once we find it, no one can take it away.

Her courage shines as a reminder that beauty does not come from the approval of the crowd. Beauty comes from being unapologetically who we are.

Let us take her example and make it our own. Let us build a future where every Black child looks in the mirror and says with pride, “I love what I see.”

That is where our real power lies.