Well-Read Black Girl
Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
NOMINATED FOR AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD • An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.
“Yes, Well-Read Black Girl is as good as it sounds. . . . [Glory Edim] gathers an all-star cast of contributors—among them Lynn Nottage, Jesmyn Ward, and Gabourey Sidibe.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives—but not everyone regularly sees themselves in the pages of a book. In this timely anthology, Glory Edim brings together original essays by some of our best black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all—regardless of gender, race, religion, or ability—have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature.
Contributors include Jesmyn Ward (Sing, Unburied, Sing), Lynn Nottage (Sweat), Jacqueline Woodson (Another Brooklyn), Gabourey Sidibe (This Is Just My Face), Morgan Jerkins (This Will Be My Undoing), Tayari Jones (An American Marriage), Rebecca Walker (Black, White and Jewish), and Barbara Smith (Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology)
Whether it’s learning about the complexities of femalehood from Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison, finding a new type of love in The Color Purple, or using mythology to craft an alternative black future, the subjects of each essay remind us why we turn to books in times of both struggle and relaxation. As she has done with her book club–turned–online community Well-Read Black Girl, in this anthology Glory Edim has created a space in which black women’s writing and knowledge and life experiences are lifted up, to be shared with all readers who value the power of a story to help us understand the world and ourselves.
Praise for Well-Read Black Girl
“Each essay can be read as a dispatch from the vast and wonderfully complex location that is black girlhood and womanhood. . . . They present literary encounters that may at times seem private and ordinary—hours spent in the children’s section of a public library or in a college classroom—but are no less monumental in their impact.”—The Washington Post
“A wonderful collection of essays.”—Essence
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
We often enjoy books because we can identify with the characters or stories—so for Black women, options have historically been pretty limited. In this compelling anthology of essays, 21 notable Black women celebrate the iconic Black female authors, poets, and playwrights who’ve awakened gratitude and inspiration. Glory Edim, founder of the Well-Read Black Girl book club and literary festival, has collected deeply moving reflections from luminaries like Jesmyn Ward, N. K. Jemisin, and Tayari Jones, each describing the love, courage, self-definition, and resilience they’ve felt in the works of their most beloved creators. We were struck by their stirring words about such pioneering artists as Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, and Zora Neale Hurston, and we put down the collection feeling amazed about the ways that each generation of Black artists inspires the next. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or an appreciator of creativity, Well-Read Black Girl is a must-read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Started in 2015 as an Instagram page, Well-Read Black Girl has grown into a nationwide book club and Brooklyn literary festival. WRBG founder Edim's collection of brief, pithy, and original essays by 21 distinguished black women addresses the question, "When did you first see yourself in literature?" The answers include discovering "the right book at the right time," reading a book first through one lens and later through another, and recognizing oneself in figures as seemingly far removed from one's experience as Hans Christian Andersen's little match girl. As expected, a pantheon of black women writers are acknowledged, with Veronica Chambers, Marita Golden, and Jamia Wilson paying tribute to, respectively, Jamaica Kincaid, Zora Neale Hurston, and Nikki Giovanni. There are thought-provoking surprises as well: Stephanie Powell Watts recalls finding inspiration in the Jehovah's Witnesses magazine Watchtower, and N.K. Jemisin in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. The book's thematic organization sections include "Books on Black Feminism," "Plays by Black Women," and "Poetry by Black Women" makes it easy for readers to dive in based on personal preferences, though they could just as contentedly read from cover to cover. Speaking directly to black women readers, this book contains a journey from which anyone can derive enjoyment and benefit.
Customer Reviews
5/5
Good going back to read again -Got me thinking
Unexpected
I didn’t expect this book to lead to other books about Black writers. Some of whom I’d never heard of. Different women bringing their lives showing me different stories about their experiences. My thoughts, my feelings, my emotions - all in 300+ pages. I am not the only one.
Black Authors matters
Absolutely love reading this book and listening to all the black girl magic that was displayed on these pages. It was magnificent