as women’s history month comes to a close, i want us to think critically about the ways that Black women and girls show up in our lives and within our larger society. too often, Black women are relegated to be learning experiences for other people. our pain and trauma is used to teach or educate. we are put in the position of soothing and supporting others while our own wants, hopes, desires and needs are sidelined.
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Black women are not here for you. we are worthy of love, support and care just by the nature of our existence. we don’t need to earn or prove our worth. ever. we deserve to thrive, to experience joy and excitement and radical care.
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this edition of Reading for Black Lives is an opportunity to highlight narratives by Black women, for Black women. i wanted to curate texts that hold us tenderly at their center, rather than casting us at the margins.

book list:

mouths of rain edited by brione simone jones

here comes the sun by patsy dennis-benn

black girls are from the future by renina jarmon

i know why the caged bird sings by maya angelou

loud black girls edited by yomi adegoke & elizabeth uviebinené

movement in black by pat parker

badass black girl by m.j fievre

in search of our mother’s gardens by alice walker

surpassing certainty by janet mock

if you are interested in purchasing a book, click on an image and you will be taken to a Black-owned bookstore where you can purchase the book directly!