There’s a famous quote from Nina Simone that says, “You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.” There comes a time when knowing your worth means walking away from certain jobs, people or situations that do not serve you. At times, this might look rude, harsh, ungrateful or diva-esque, but walking away will always be an act of defiance to protect your peace, integrity and sense of worth.
So fix your crown ladies! Here’s what you can learn from Black celebrities who knew when to walk away.
Kelly Rowland
Lesson Learned: Walk away when you are treated without respect or care
Actress, musician and all around icon Kelly Rowland recently embodied Simone’s “know your worth” mantra when she walked away from a co-hosting gig on “Today with Hoda and Jenna.” After being shown her dressing room, which was allegedly a “glorified closet in an old building,” her team inquired about another room and were told that it was currently being occupied by J.Lo, who was only there for a short segment to promote her new film. Kelly and her team promptly left.
While some haters took to the internet to call her a diva or ungrateful, the following week, Rowland graciously took the stage on the “The Sherri Show,” where she thanked Shepherd for creating a safe space.
Rowland’s actions remind Black women that they set the standard of how people will treat them. You can walk away when you are not treated in the manner in which you deserve
Tina Knowles
Lesson Learned: Don’t fear starting a new chapter
Tina Knowles is a multi-hyphenate kind of lady. The businesswoman, fashion designer, philanthropist and ultimate defender of her daughters Beyoncé and Solange, has gone through two divorces. She was married to Matthew Knowles for nearly 30 years from 1980 to 2011. At the time of their divorce, Knowles was 58 and she has explained how walking away at that age was “almost impossible” to do. She remarried in 2015 to actor Richard Lawson, and in July 2023, Knowles filed for divorce.
Knowles has shown time and time again that despite getting knocked down in love you can get up and keep living. Her resilience exemplifies how to untether your sense of worth from a relationship or man. She’s proof you can walk away when a relationship is not right and not fear the start of a new chapter.
Amanda Seales
Lesson Learned: Don’t try to squeeze yourself in shoes that don’t fit
Amanda Seales consistently remains authentic. The actress, comedian, host and full-time truth teller made headlines when she left daytime talk show “The Real.” Six months after joining the show as the fifth co-host, she chose not to renew her contract. Rumors quickly popped up hinting at dissension between Seales and her co-hosts. Seales quickly shut those rumors down. (Several of her co-hosts also came to her defense.) She would later go on to share that the daytime show was “breaking her spirit.” Seales shared that she didn’t want to be somewhere where she felt people weren’t being honest with her. She also said she felt people were scared of her Black woman-ness.
Seales willingness to walk away from a job that attempted to taint that authenticity is a lesson to never play it small or become a lesser version of yourself to please people.