Before coming over to America our African culture was one that valued the black woman.  We understood the importance of the male and female principles.  There was a level of respect and equality between us.  In Egypt(Africa) black women ruled as Kings(Queen Hatshepsut,etc) and Queens.  Women owned land, owned businesses and held high positions throughout society.  The foundation was matriarchal, meaning the black woman set the tone for civilization and it was through the woman that Pharoahs and Kings were determined.  According to Ishakamusa Barashango, "It was the African woman who through, the seminal science of the Earth-agriculture, set the stage for humanity's quantum leap for the hunter-gatherer, semi-barbaric level to the solid primary plateau of civilization.  That is why she was hailed in olden days as "Mother Earth".  Titled so because man's gratitude for her role in the most important advance in the march towards civilization." 

Then we were taken out of this thriving environment(this is where the self hatred began) into a patriarchal society that was the complete opposite.  Patriarchy perpetuates the notion that a woman is inferior to a man.    This is important knowledge to have(but not to dwell) in order to have an understanding of how we arrived at this state of having such issues with our self esteem.  We all have been affected in one way or the other honestly.  

You all know the story.  We were raped(and as a result sometimes impregnated), taken away from our men to be the master's whore(imagine what that did to the Black man), we were seperated from our families(imagine if you were seperated from your loved ones today...hurtful), we were called niggers, bitches, winches and whores, we were constantly beaten and humiliated, our breasts were suckled on  to feed the oppressor's child(while we had to neglect our own) and so on and so forth. 

The best anecdote for lack of self is love knowing the story of the people from who we came  which is how we get to know who we are.  Black women are from a rich bloodline of Kings and Queens and we are the civilizers of the world.  So, let's get back to our true nature.  One Black woman at a time we can change the world for the better.