My Black Resilience is My Superpower | Melissa Mitchell | TEDxCollierHeights
In her powerful and deeply personal TEDx talk, Melissa A. Mitchell explores the ancestral, cultural, and personal dimensions of Black resilience, framing it as an inherited and intentional superpower. Through vivid storytelling, she invites the audience to imagine persistent adversity—academic achievement met with rejection, career success shadowed by illness, personal tragedy layered on professional struggle—and to see how these experiences forge resilience rather than defeat.Melissa recounts her own birth as an act of survival and symbolism, drawing parallels between her journey and the broader African Diaspora experience. She unpacks how the erasure of African excellence from historical narratives distorts Black identity, emphasizing that resilience is not a new phenomenon but a birthright passed down through kings, queens, artists, inventors, and survivors.The talk traces Black resilience from ancient Kemet through slavery, the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement, and into the modern day—where Black creativity, innovation, and perseverance continue to redefine the world. Through inventions, art, education, and activism, Black communities have consistently responded to oppression with brilliance.For Melissa, art becomes both protest and purpose—her paintbrush a pulpit, her creativity a legacy tool. She positions herself as a modern griot, carrying the weight of those who came before her and using her talents to honor them. Ultimately, Mitchell asserts that Black resilience is not just a reaction to hardship—it is a divine inheritance and a creative force, making her and others who embrace it, truly unstoppable. Melissa A. Mitchell is self-taught artist, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she has a love for vibrant colors, unique shapes, and bold dark lines that she attributes to her Bahamian heritage, melodic sounds and the colorful world around her.In 2014, she founded Abeille Creations. Melissa has gone on to create over 500 original art pieces, 40 larger than life murals and been featured in Forbes, Vogue, ESSENCE, SHEEN Magazine, Rolling Out Magazine and The Huffington Post, among others. Most notably, she is known for turning her lively artwork into textiles, specifically head wraps named after influential women in her life, seen on the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Amara La Negra, Yandy Smith, Karen Civil, Rebecca Gross. The author of, Views from My Kaleidoscope.Melissa,has partnered with two billion dollar brands—the recent winner of Spanx’s Illuminate-Her contest with her Bra-llelujah Bralette and Under Statements Thong collection. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 9:42How to join the 10% of startups that succeed | Sandeep Kondury | TEDxSouth CongressSandeep Kondury reveals why knowing the lingo can be the difference between fading out and winning the market. He explains how crafting the right words or phrases can capture the attention of clients or customers and build culture, and propel your startup into the top 10%.As a Startup Operations Architect and Venture Capital Strategist, I empower early-stage ventures through innovative financial modeling and operational frameworks. With experience evaluating over 800 startups and driving successful capital raises, I specialize in identifying high-potential opportunities and optimizing growth through data insights. My journey spans building systems at Astralabs, advancing financial strategies at Forecaster, and now pioneering the Groundwork Framework at Startup Haven Ventures. A founder and Gildre community member, I am passionate about sharing insights on innovation and collaborating to shape the future. Let’s connect and explore the transformative power of forward-thinking strategies and technology.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 16:07The Dinner Table: How One Meal Turned Into a Mission | Billy Council | TEDxHarlem“Son Day Dinner” is more than a meal it’s a sacred space where Black men come together to be fed in body, mind, and spirit. In a world that often demands strength but denies vulnerability, this monthly gathering offers a table where healing, honesty, and brotherhood are always on the menu. Through my own journey from trauma to transformation, I share how one dinner table saved my life and how I’ve set the table for others to feel seen, heard, and whole. This talk is a call to reclaim the spaces that nourish us, and to build new ones for the men who need them most.” William “Billy” Council is a Harlem-based community leader, youth advocate, and social justice strategist. As Founder of the CouncilHim Foundation and Manhattan Director of Project Pivot (NYC Public Schools), he champions violence prevention, mentorship, and leadership development for young people. Billy also serves on the boards of New Heights Academy and the Renaissance Center of Mastery After School, and consults with Global Kids to advance civic engagement. A former City Council candidate and co-founder of The Rens basketball program, Billy uses sports, education, and policy to shift resources to historically excluded communities. His work has earned recognition from the NAACP, National Action Network, Harlem Fashion Week, and more. Through grassroots leadership and philanthropic impact, Billy is creating lasting change in Harlem and beyond. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 7:57How to handle disliking others | Xinnuo Xu | TEDxYouth@JLHSWe all meet people we just don’t like — but why? Xinnuo dives into the psychology of aversion, blending science with everyday experience. With warmth and wit, she offers strategies for managing negative feelings and discovering unexpected respect — or even connection. Xinnuo Xu is a student at Jinling High School. She’s an active member of the Student Council and excels at both writing and dancing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:26Codependent Relationships and Ways to Recovery | Yun Liu | TEDxYouth@JLHSYun opens up about the emotional traps of people-pleasing and codependency — how they form, why they hurt, and what it takes to break free. With honesty and hope, she shares the tools that helped her find balance, autonomy, and self-worth. Yun Liu is a Senior 3 student at Jinling High School. She used to have a people-pleasing personality, which has given her a lot to reflect on over the past three years. In her talk, she will share insights on codependent relationships and the path to recovery. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:44O "X" da Questão na Educação Infantil | Gil Menslin | TEDxSão Francisco do SulGil Menslin compartilha sua experiência como professora e formadora online na educação infantil. Ela destaca que a verdadeira inovação não está nas telas, mas na conexão humana, no diálogo e na escuta ativa das crianças. Inspirada pela pedagogia de Reggio Emilia, enfatiza a importância de valorizar as experiências e teorias infantis. Para a construção de uma sociedade com pessoas inovadoras e resolutivas, com boa análise crítica começa com uma infância que promove pertencimento e participação. Professora de Educação Infantil a mais de 20 anos e atualmente é professora em atividade com as crianças de 3 anos. Formadora de professores, palestrante, fotógrafa e criadora de conteúdo pedagógico para redes sociais. São mais de 63 mil seguidores no Instagram e quase 20 mil inscritos no YouTube. Mais de 2 mil alunas online e presencial em cursos de sua autoria e com parcerias. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 6:19Productivity and Time Management | Asliddin Abdurahimov | TEDxNamanganPSProductivity isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing what matters. This talk explores how focus, habits, and mindset shape our ability to work smarter, not harder. It offers simple yet powerful strategies to boost efficiency, reduce burnout, and achieve meaningful results. Motivated by the pursuit of purposeful work, this speaker explores the science and habits behind true productivity. With practical tools and mindset shifts, they help others overcome distraction, manage time wisely, and achieve more by focusing on what truly matters. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
