Growing up Black had its challenges, but I never allowed it to be detrimental to my life. I knew I had to work harder than most to succeed. No problem. I’m used to working hard to achieve my goals. My parents taught me the value of hard work and how to live my life without restraints. They also taught me the value of being a Black woman in a world where we are so misunderstood. Television and media continue to portray us as loud, angry, and overly sassy. In films and television series, we're typically cast as maids, nannies, and mistresses to married men, despite the real-life accomplishments we have achieved as doctors, attorneys, entrepreneurs and CEOs of successful corporations.