Whether it be my late grandmother’s resilient spirit and unconditional love for her family, my mother’s deep commitment to walking by faith and not by sight, my sister’s fearlessness in charting her own path, or the glorious and complex Black women I have shared space with along the way, their stories have filled my cup over and over again.

The phrase Black Girls Don't Need Filters™ divinely came to me in 2014. Now, the mission of this online community is even clearer: centering Black women and their stories at the beautiful intersection of culture, activism, and entertainment to create more space for Black women to just be. If Black Girls Don't Need Filters™ can be even a drop in the cup that represents all the Black women who have nurtured, protected, and guided me, this labor of love will be the gift that keeps on giving. Here’s to the stories we’ve told and all the ones we have yet to tell.

- Yasmin Kalese, BGDNF Founder + Believer