I was forced to learn early – like many little Black girls do – that the way others perceive me, often does not match up with how I see myself. I remember when I was about eight, I wanted to be a ballerina. I was in a dance school in Union, New Jersey. A little white girl asked me what I was doing in the ballet class. I said, “I’m going to be a ballerina.” She then told me I couldn’t be a ballerina “because there were no ‘Black’ ballerinas.” I can’t believe that even as a little girl, others were starting to define me. What she couldn’t project, is that there would be a Misty Copeland.

As I grew into my teenage years, it certainly did not get easier to overcome negative perceptions and bias. As a teenaged girl, I was in a girl group called 3LW.  Back then, there were so many words used to define me and a lot of them weren’t always positive. I sometimes felt that I wasn’t good enough, and the group had a lot to do with those emotions. I was often told my voice was too “soulful,” or that being a darker skin girl, I wasn’t as “relatable.” They tried to fit me into an image that didn’t define me. Those words were starting to break me down and negatively affect my self-esteem. Those words also forced me to grapple with my own insecurities. I went through a time when I didn’t really think that I could make it. Being defined by and criticized for my skin color almost broke me.

That’s why when My Black Is Beautiful filled me in on #RedefineBlack, I was so moved because it brought me back to the little Naturi within me. I knew I had to partner with them on their movement to change the words that some still use to define ‘Black.’  For so long, many have associated “Black”-ness with negativity. It’s time for us to clap back! All dictionaries need to remove the negative definitions and associations with the word ‘Black’.

I thank God for my parents intentionally and deliberately speaking positive words of encouragement to me from an early age. Despite the dictionary definition, I was grateful to hear my Black was beautiful when I was a little girl, from those I loved and those that loved me. I owe it to my parents for having a deep understanding that words can make a powerful impact on how we feel. It’s funny, because when I watched the #RedefineBlack video, it made me emotional and brought me back to that little Naturi in ballet class.

Needless to say, I never listened to that other little girl in ballet class, but her words somehow stuck with me – even if they laid dormant – because I’m human. That’s why a call for change is so necessary. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had to overcome descriptions that didn’t define me. Working with My Black Is Beautiful, we have now seen first steps towards progress, with both Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster making updates to the word ‘Black’ and challenging other dictionary sources like Oxford to follow suit.

The entertainment industry and society that we live in also contributes to our perceptions. These perceptions are what forced me to move on from 3LW.  I was told that my sound was not “commercial,” among other descriptions. Although the fans wanted it, the management pulled it all apart. In an instant, all the blackness that once made me magical in 3LW seemed to have been reversed. I’ve always been a brown-skin girl from Jersey, and true to who I am.

After 3LW, I went to college at Seton Hall in New Jersey, lived in the dorms and needed to take some time off to redefine myself in a different light. Then I got on Broadway and that changed my life.

To be able to learn myself again – outside of the perceptions of others – I had to literally start over. I went from pop star, to everyday college life. I loved it. I struggled financially, but I was able to really get grounded. I mean, I sold like 1.6 million records and only had like $10,000 to my name! In school, I had to realize that it is important to know and be confident with yourself. When we know ourselves, we take back our power and are able to understand that the offensive and derogatory words others may use to define us, do not describe us. Not having an easy journey has given me something to pull from, but I am still here and stronger because of it.

When I was in Hairspray, I committed to acting. I was on Broadway for three years and not many people know that! I was growing, working and reaffirming myself. I learned that especially when we are young, it’s important to take the time to plant positive, uplifting words within ourselves and get in touch with our life journey.

I was learning how my Black was always beautiful and thriving, even outside of 3LW. It took me some time to realize this myself. I have learned that there is so much beauty in simply celebrating both the nuances that bring us together and celebrating our differences by loving, and uplifting each other with reassurance.

I always say that embracing my Blackness took me rebuilding my own self-esteem. Learning to embrace that my Black is beautiful was an ongoing process of me positively defining my beauty and confidence, outside of others’ perceptions. That’s why I believe that as long as dictionaries continue to give priority to definitions of the word ‘Black’ that privilege negative meanings of blackness – meanings that represent oppression and injustice – these words and perceptions will continue to affect so many of us.

Today, I truly embrace that my Black is beautiful when I'm just being me (not Tasha!). When I’m just chillin’, no makeup on, catching up with friends in New York, just being myself — all while defining my worth on my own terms. Magical, vibrant, confident! These are a few words that I use to define my Black. It’s time dictionaries also acknowledge and celebrate a robust, flexible and affirming definition of blackness.

To be honest, embracing my blackness has really been an ongoing process. At the end of the day, we have to love, and uplift each other. In my experience, I know words particularly impact young girls. Now, I try not to compromise or change myself to try and fit into whatever mold is popular. It’s never worth it, and it impacts perceptions of those most vulnerable – our girls.

I’m still learning so much about how important it is to elevate and support all that is beautiful about Black culture. Sure, there are some days and moments where I don’t feel as pretty or secure (I also try not to read all the social media comments)! I’m a work in progress. But I have to dig deep. As you embrace and understand that your Black is beautiful, my advice would be to make sure you take time to love yourself – just as you are. Our existence alone is enough.

Being a mother of a beautiful Black girl also gives me additional fuel to champion and call for change. When I look into my daughter’s eyes, I am reminded of how beautiful Black is. From a little girl, my parents told me that I was beautiful, Black, period. My father always told me that I could be anything that I wanted to be. I’m grateful that I had positive encouragement growing up. I learned early-on that words matter.

So many of us – myself included – yearn for positive, affirming words to help us keep going. I know that the words dictionaries still use to define blackness – “dirty,” “angry,” “evil,” – do not describe us. It’s time to #RedefineBlack. Way, way back – and not many people know this – I moved to Los Angeles with only one movie under my belt – Notorious. The truth is, I desperately wanted to hear positive words of affirmation in this business. 10 years later, that insecure girl that I was, has grown into a confident, powerful woman; an amazing single-mother with a successful career and a fearless spirit. I’m defining myself as “grown,” y’all. And thank God!

Our Black is beautiful, period. At the end of the day, if we tell our stories – if we reclaim control of the words that define and describe us – we are all seen, and heard.

Join me with My Black Is Beautiful and DoSomething.org to #RedefineBlack in the dictionary. Let’s take action at MBIB.com.

This post is brought to you in partnership with MBIB.