I'm an activist. I'm a proud activist. So I want to be someone

When Kat Graham declared, “I’m an activist. I’m a proud activist. So I want to be someone who is pro-black and pro-Africa and still be somebody that has positive influence,” she was not simply speaking of her own mission, but of a calling that has echoed through the struggles and triumphs of countless generations. To be an activist is to stand against silence, to stand against indifference, to raise one’s voice where injustice seeks to suffocate truth. And to be a proud activist is to recognize that such work is not shameful, but noble — a torch passed from the ancestors to the children of today.

The ancients knew that voices raised for justice shape the course of history. In the days of Moses, a man stood before Pharaoh and demanded freedom for his people. In the days of Greece, Demosthenes thundered against tyranny, stirring Athenians to resist oppression. So too does Kat Graham take her place in this lineage, declaring her commitment to be pro-black and pro-Africa, not as words of exclusion, but as words of affirmation — affirming dignity, worth, and identity in a world that too often seeks to diminish them.

History provides living proof of this necessity. Consider Nelson Mandela, who bore imprisonment for decades yet never abandoned his devotion to his people and to Africa. His activism was not a weapon of hatred, but a flame of resilience. When he was released, he did not rise with bitterness, but with the resolve to bring reconciliation. His positive influence transformed not only South Africa but the conscience of the entire world. Kat Graham’s words echo Mandela’s example: to be an activist is not to sow division, but to cultivate strength, pride, and unity.

Her declaration also speaks to the balance between identity and influence. To be pro-black and pro-Africa is to honor one’s heritage, to embrace one’s roots, and to proclaim that blackness and Africanness are sources of power, beauty, and wisdom. Yet Graham also reminds us that activism must transcend the personal and radiate outward. It is not enough to fight for identity alone; one must also strive to bring positive influence — healing, inspiration, and empowerment — to the wider world. True activism uplifts not only the self but all who encounter it.

At the heart of this teaching lies the courage to claim both pride and service. For too long, oppressed peoples were told to shrink back, to be silent, to hide their voices. But Graham’s words stand as a defiance of that command: one can be proud of who they are, proud of where they come from, and at the same time embody goodness, hope, and upliftment. There is no contradiction between being rooted in one’s heritage and reaching outward to influence the world.

The lesson here is clear: activism is not merely protest, it is also creation. It is the creation of new narratives, new opportunities, and new futures. To be an activist in the spirit of Graham is to use one’s platform — whether grand or humble — to speak life into the community, to affirm identity, and to inspire others to walk tall. This requires courage, discipline, and above all, love.

In practice, this means each of us must consider how we can combine pride in who we are with a commitment to be a positive influence. For some, it will mean speaking truth in public spaces. For others, it will mean teaching children their worth, supporting communities in need, or telling stories that honor heritage. The form may differ, but the essence is the same: to stand tall, to be proud, and to make that pride a blessing to others.

Therefore, remember Kat Graham’s wisdom: be a proud activist, be pro-black, be pro-Africa, and yet be a force of positive influence. Let your voice be both shield and torch — defending what is sacred, and illuminating what is possible. For the world is changed not only by power, but by those who dare to stand proudly in their truth and transform that truth into light for others.