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In honor of Black History Month, Naomi has written a blog for the WWE’s Community site, speaking about her experiences as an African American woman and how they shape her role as a WWE Diva.
In the blog, Naomi reflected on how her mother taught her to persevere in the face of life’s biggest challenges:
Like so many African-American children, I grew up dealing with racism and ignorance, and I know kids across the country are still dealing with the same obstacles. That is why I love to work outside the ring and spread positive messages, just as much as I love performing inside the ring. When I interact with young fans, I want to instill a sense of confidence in each and every child, just as my mother did for me. For 35 years, my mother worked tirelessly to support my brother and I. She was always there to make sure I stayed on track, even when I wanted to give up or when someone told me I wasn’t good enough. She made sure the word “quit” wasn’t in my vocabulary. Throughout my entire life, I’ve never seen my mother quit. Everyone has their insecurities, but I learned early on that no one but me can determine my worth or decide my limitations. That is the message I hope to pass on to every person questioning themselves and their ability.
She also spoke about the purpose she holds highest – empowering women:
While I am proud to represent black women, my role as a Diva and an athlete is to be an empowering voice for women, period. Regardless of race, we all want the same things: love, respect and our individuality. My hope for the future is that, by loving what makes each of us different, we will learn to celebrate the diversity of those around us. There’s no better time than now to look in the mirror, find what we love about the reflection staring back and widen the lens through which we view each other.
Read the full blog on Community.WWE.com.
