Queen Latifah Didn’t Know She was Girl Growing Up – ‘I was Running Around w/My T-shirt Off Like the Boys’

*Actor/rapper/Jazz singer Queen Latifah opened up about her upbringing at TheGrio Awards this past week. She detailed how her life has taught her to be unapologetically herself.

“It all starts with the family for me,” Latifah shared with the audience. “My parents raised me with the idea that Black is beautiful. Black is beautiful, Black is beautiful. Black is OK.” She continued, “You start saying it enough and you start believing me. And so I didn’t realize at the time that what they were preparing me for was a whole world.”

“I didn’t know I was a girl, initially, I had to be told that,” Latifah said. “That had to be explained to me…. ‘Cause I was running around with my T-shirt off like the boys … I wanted to play the sports and all these things had to be explained to me because I was free. And so my whole life would feel like I’ve been trying to maintain my freedom to be me.”

Today, she said, “I wear these beautiful gowns and dresses because I want to, because that’s part of me. I play in the dirt, I play basketball with the boys — ’cause that’s me. I love who I love because that’s me. I know me. I know what I’ve done and what I haven’t done. “I realize that life is fleeting,” Latifah continued, “and you just gotta do the best you can. Be as honest and genuine as you can. Don’t go for what people are trying to tell you about yourself. It’s not true. I said, don’t go for what people are trying to tell you about yourself.”

MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Engaged! Blair Underwood Says He and Friend of 41 Years (Josie Hart) to Marry

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

Wait. there’s more …

Check out what folks are saying about Queen Latifah’s tale of being a tomboy:

gottaluvninya
I love her but I’m not believing this..Not back then sorry..

redbone723
I believe it. Either way, I always loved her like a good Sis. Idc who she with in her free time.

lovelyyy_lanese
I love Queen but huh

alexandrina.andre
As someone who has taught kids from several different countries, I understand exactly what shes saying. At a certain age kids, no matter what language or race, don’t understand gender and race, they just want to have fun and to be happy. It’s really that simple. That’s why childhood is supposed to be the happiest years of our lives. But then reality sets in and real life comes at us fast. ????????

Now we need to hear from YOU. Just scroll down a lil’ bit and speak YOUR mind!

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!