When I was a kid, I used to spend a lot of time at my best friend Malik’s house. His Grandma Pearl practically adopted me. She was the kind of woman who made everyone feel like they belonged.
Most days, you’d find her on the front porch in her rocking chair, humming gospel tunes and snapping green beans. She smelled like vanilla and cocoa butter, and her laugh could light up the whole block.
Whenever one of us messed up or felt down, Grandma Pearl would pause, look us straight in the eye, and say, “Baby, storms don’t last—but strong women do.”
I wasn’t her grandchild by blood, but I never felt like an outsider. She poured her wisdom into all of us, just like any good grandma would.
To honor Grandma Pearl—and all the amazing Black grandmas out there sharing love and wisdom—I asked my readers to tell us the most important lessons they learned from their Black grandmothers. Their stories were sweet, wise, and full of heart. Here are 72 of my favorites.
“My granny use to say, ‘Nothing beats a failure but a try’.”
@keyabempoweredwriter
“If you gon’ be something, be the best.”
Loretta Mae Collins
“From both my grandmothers, I learned that family comes first and that it takes sacrifice, strength and community to keep families together. Miss them both so much.”
@nylalag
“You attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.”
Miss Thelma Johnson
“Everything that glitters ain’t gold.”
@crownjewel21
“A closed mouth don’t get fed. You have to speak up and tell people what you need when help is necessary.”
@kmojones
“Forgiveness ain’t for other people, it’s for you.”
@sapodillaunleashed
“My grandma taught me ‘Be positive, even in difficult situations, and every day, look forward to miracles.’ She went through a lot but she always tried to teach us how to be happy.”
@chayabeecool
“If things don’t go your way, go the thing’s way.”
@krystlekleer
“Not only through her words, but even from her life story, I’ve learned from my grandma to never apologize for being who I am, never give up, and don’t ever stray from the standards I have for myself for anyone!”
@jess.do.it.95
“‘Never let a snake in your bosom. If you do u can’t be surprised when they turn around and bite you’. Her way of saying be careful who you allow to get close to you because you can’t trust everybody and everyone is not your friend. She also use to tell us ‘not to share our good news’ because as badly as you’re praying for it, someone may be wishing against your blessing.”
@finding_lisha
“Keep a prayer on your lips.”
@lynnepoowhtitdooo
”Keep your faith in Jesus, he will see you through. Never fail to pray and give God thanks and glory for all the things he has done and still doing.”
@belovedbykriss
“Never bite the hand that feeds you.”
@ayyyyyy_shanti
”My grandmother taught me how to pray. She just turned 86 at the beginning of February. Although she has Alzheimer’s, she still sing songs that glorify God. I’ll love her forever!”
Julia T. Allen
“Don’t give or get your love from one place. You need to give and receive all kinds of love for a full life. Spread it around, cultivate all kinds of relationships, only one relationship will not serve a wide beautiful life.”
@eisroughdraft
“A hit dog will holler.”
@rominabrown
“A pretty face alone takes you nowhere, be a woman of class and substance…Thanks Grandma.”
@yanna_ma_irie
“If that man doesn’t treat you right, tell him to put two eggs in his shoes and beat it!”
@the_titansclash
”Your word is your bond and don’t say anything if you really don’t mean it.”
@ladymufasa
“I don’t care how flat you make a pancake, it still has two sides!”
@danigrl01
”My grandmother passed away in 2006. She taught me to stand up for what I believe in. She made me the political activist I am today. I read four newspapers a week and she instilled in me the will to give. Even when I don’t think I can I have something to give. And most of all be grateful. I miss her everyday.”
@runningyogitx
“Everything good to ya ain’t good for ya.”
@jbrylander
”To always have your own money!!! She would call it coffee can or mattress money.”
Ky Nicole Johnson
“Excuses are like butts. Everyone has them, and they all stink!”
@alf130
“Never let anyone or anything steal your joy.”
@im_marab
“You made your bed, so lie in it!”
@sknight39
”Everything that looks good to you may not be good for you, and everything that’s good for you may not look good to you.”
@hiswarriorforlife
“All skin folk ain’t kinfolk.”
@dopelikedasia
”My other grandma said to save money for emergencies, to treat yourself every now and then, and how to have fun with 5 kids and 15 dollars (she always had us going somewhere we never really noticed when money was lacking).”
Jasmine Love
“Every new broom sweeps clean.”
@arteaa23
“Always follow your intuition. if a man doesn’t treat you right, don’t be afraid to leave. Talk to God. Be good to people but if they’re not good to you, leave them alone.”
@ohsowrite
“Don’t let the right hand know what the left one is doing.”
@au_naturale_hustle6
”My grandma retired at 55. During her retirement she returned to school to obtain not just her bachelors, but her masters, and doctorate in family health and counseling. The lesson I learned…you are never too old to reach for your dreams.”
@mrshillroebuck
”I absolutely adore my grandmother. She practically raised me. One of the biggest lessons that she taught me was to be patient and wait on the Lord. She would always tell me ‘Trinita, remember it’s not going to happen on your timing. Just hold on to his word.’ I am so blessed to still have her with me.”
@mstrinita
“To be a strong Black, classy, intelligent lady, never settle, and that education is vital!!”
@_ummabdulfataah
“This world doesn’t owe you anything! You have to work for everything!”
@trmoore81
“Can’t have champagne taste on a soda pop budget.”
@lady_jk79
“Never ever disrespect or look down on another woman because of her actions…you don’t know her story and why she made the choices she’s made…”
@s_elle_wally
“No matter what job you have, be the best at it, even if you’re a janitor.”
@ga_4eva
“Idle hand is the devil work.”
@operation_phase2
“Sharing, even if it’s just your time or knowledge. I would come in from school, hurry up with my homework so I could go out to play. She would stop me and make me help my cousin and sisters with theirs before I could go outside.”
Bobby Nash
“Never let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. Always love the Lord with all your heart.”
Monica Octavia
“People are going to talk about you whether you are doing good or bad. So, you just let them talk. Do what’s best for you.”
@jog225
“Every closed eye isn’t sleep.”
@crystal_light827
“They both taught me prayer changes things.”
Shan Martin
“It doesn’t cost a thing to speak to or compliment someone. You never know what they are going through.”
@xo_chenell
“God has plans we know nothing about. When it comes to life, boys and men can wait. Your health is everything.”
@whatisherlife
“‘It’s okay to be different… even if that means being different from the whole family…’ I was in college but still wanted to hang out with cousins who weren’t doing much with their life…”
@mcgheesintheam
“Every grin ain’t a friend.”
@itslauren_89
“Do everything with love; family is EVERYTHING.”
@tynette1
“To whom much is given, much is required. Go out and do good today!”
@only1elle
“My grandmother always said through God you can do anything.”
Angela Link
“Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are.”
@toya_saaa
“Whenever a task is first begun, never leave it till it’s done. Be it big, or be it small, do it well or not at all.”
Candace Dyson
“My grandma was my everything. She taught me how to PRAY; love; cook. Save money, be happy with what I have… the list is endless…”
@neeksanguine
“Keep moving. Physically, emotionally, mentally. It’s the key to stay young and healthy.”
@ttwinkles923
“Every goodbye ain’t gone, every shut eye ain’t sleep.”
@chasethewaist
“To always be kind to folks, don’t be a fool and the power of faith and prayer.”
@prettyeyed5
“Never go to someone’s house to eat empty handed.”
@meljohn05
“Take care of your teeth and sometimes you have to tell people NO, even people you love.”
@agrlhasnoname1
“Homeownership is true freedom!”
@1stnamesiouxsan
“Don’t give a man enough money to buy a mosquito a pair of stockings…Grandma Gracie Lee Robinson”
@luv.angelaxoxo
“I learned about the act of giving. My grandmother always gives unselfishly. I loved the times she slips me a little money in my hands even though I tell her no.”
@culturedsister
“Be prepared; handle your business!”
@donnalove2
”Strength comes from community as well as self.”
@calypsochutzpah
“How to be graceful under tremendous pressure.”
@nodrivel99
“When the time is right, you’ll know.”
@caresseaudra
“You don’t believe fat meat greasy, huh?”
@therealmonicaj
“Grandma told me to cook 2 or 3 meats on Sundays— so I would have them for the rest of the week.”
Bernell Holmes
“She taught me the importance of getting up early to have a cup of tea or coffee and just being still to get my mind right for whatever the day would bring.”
@mz.sun.shine
“My grandmother, 94 years old, told me how to be a woman of integrity- to be the same at your core no matter who you are with…to be one who can laugh loudly and unashamedly, love wholeheartedly, take care of people and the blessings you’re blessed to have in life.”
@dreagreene6
Reading through these stories reminded me just how powerful a grandma’s love can be—especially the kind that comes with soul food, Sunday sermons, and no-nonsense advice. If you’re lucky enough to still have your grandma around, give her a call. And if she’s watching over you from above, I hope these words made you feel her smile. Grandma Pearl would’ve loved every single one.
Read Also: 80 Empowering Good Morning Quotes for Black Grandmas
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