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8 Unforgettable Speeches From 2017 Every Woman Needs to See

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Black Women in the News

8 Unforgettable Speeches From 2017 Every Woman Needs to See

Let’s face it: 2017 was a rough year. But before we step into 2018 and bid a not-so-fond farewell to this annus horribilis, it’s worth revisiting some of the year’s most profound and poignant moments—specifically, those that occurred during speeches delivered by some of the most prominent women in politics, business, and entertainment. Their words inspired us and are worth reflecting on as the year comes to a close. Here, eight of the most memorable speeches of 2017.

Tracey Ellis Ross at the Glamour Women of the Year Summit
Ross is a Golden Globe winner. She’s launched her own clothing line. And she’s realized the power that comes with living your life on your terms—and wants every woman to do the same. “My life is mine. Those words stopped me in my tracks,” Ross said at the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Summit. “If my life is actually mine…then I have to really live it for myself. I have to put myself first and not be looking for permission to do so.” And when the Black-ish star called on women everywhere to “truly [own] our own power, agency, and sexuality” she became the life coach you never knew you needed.

Elizabeth Warren at the National Women’s Law Center 45th Anniversary Gala
At the NWLC’s premier event in October, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren gave an honest, emotional account of her own struggles being a working mother trying to find affordable child care. Any parent who has grappled with finding child care or considered leaving their own jobs to stay at home because the costs of daycare or preschool are too costly can relate to Warren’s story—as well as stand behind her pleas for government action. “Until we decide, until all of us decide—men and women, married and single, black and white, old and young—that we are willing to invest more in all our children, then we cannot build a country in which women have an equal opportunity to build a future,” Warren said. “The energy to make these changes will come from people like you, people who fight for equality every day. And most importantly, the energy will come from the many people all across the country who have joined this fight and made it a part of their lives.”

Oprah Winfrey’s Commencement Address at Agnes Scott College
When it comes to commencement speakers at colleges and universities, Oprah Winfrey is pretty much the gold standard. Though she delivered several speeches during the 2017 graduation season, her address at Agnes Scott College—a small women’s college in Georgia—was filled with plenty of wisdom about living a life of substance. “You have got to find a way to nurture that which is the essence of you,” the media mogul said. “You’ve got to find a way to continually give back to yourself so that you are a full woman. You want to be a woman who’s full of herself. I used to fear that. When I first started out, people would say, She’s so full of herself. And I now say, Yes. I am. So full.”

Lena Waithe at the Emmys
The Master of None star made history at this year’s Emmy Awards: Not only was she the first black woman to win for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, she was the first black woman to ever even be nominated in the category. And in her poignant speech, Waithe gave a heartfelt message to the LGBTQIA community. “I see each and every one of you,” she said. “The things that make us …

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I am a future butterfly at the stage of growth when I am turning into an adult. I am enclosed in a hard case shell formed by love, family, and friends. It is the hardest stage of becoming a black butterfly. You will encounter many hardships only to come out stronger and better than what you went in. At this stage, you are finding out who you truly are and how to love yourself.

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