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Quote: “I have always wanted to be both man and woman, to incorporate the strongest and richest parts of my mother and father within/into me-to share valleys and mountains upon my body the way the earth does in hills and peaks.” Written by: Audre Lorde Written in: 1982 Why you should it: A poetically-written “biomythography” by Black, queer, feminist, womanist, and activist Audre Lorde. Lorde talks about her sexuality, desires, and outlines her trials and triumphs in her life in the only way she can. This “biomythography” is disturbingly passionate and true. It will resonate with every reader.

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“ sing a black girl’s song

sing her song of life

she's been dead so long

closed in silence so long

she doesn't know the sound

of her own voice

her infinite beauty

she’s half-notes scattered

without rhythm/no tune

sing her sighs

sing a righteous gospel

ler her be born”

Written by: Ntozake Shange 

Written in: 1975 

Why you should read it: Portrays the idea of a universal Black women. 7 ladies portray each color of the rainbow and tell stories of sex, abortion, loss of life, rape, shame, and more.

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Just a reminder from The Home Girl Box. Check them out here or on instagram: @thehomegirlbox

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“My great-grandmama told my grandma the part she lived through that my grandma didn't live through and my grandma told my mama what they both didn't live through and my mama told me.” Written by: Gayl Jones Written in: 1975 Why you should read it: Gayl Jones describes a powerful lineage of four women who have endured mental and physical abuse all from the same man, and how they have survived or have not survived through it.

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The Wall of Respect: Artists from The BAM

Recently the Chicago Cultural Center put on an exhibit called The Wall of Respect: Vestiges, Shards, and the Legacy of Black Power. It was an iconic public piece of artwork created in August 1967 by 14 members of the Visual Arts Workshop. It was a gathering place for Black artists who were part of the Black Arts Movement (BAM), townspeople, and photographers.

Here is The Wall of Respect (earlier version): 

 The Wall of Respect (later version):

6 main parts of The Wall of Respect (earlier version):

Theatre Section: Significant Black Actors and dancers. Featured are Claudia McNeil, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, James Earl Jones, Oscar Brown, Jr., Cicely Tyson, Sidney Poitier, Darlene Blackburn.

Rhythm and Blues: Key religious leaders. Featured are Muddy Waters, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ray Charles, James Brown, Smoke Robinson, Aretha Franklin, The Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder.

Jazz: A genre most linked to the Black Freedom struggle, it honored instrumentalists, singers, composers, and band leaders. Featured are Charlie Parker, Charlie Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, Max Roach, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, and Nina Simone.

Religion: Nat Turner, Wyatt Tee Walker, Elijah Muhammad, a congregation

Literature: Philosophers, poets, novelists, and essayists. Featured are W.E.B. Dubois, James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lerone Bennett, John Oliver Killens, Amiri Baraka.

Statemen: Key figures in Black politics and the Black Liberation movement. Featured are Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, Marcus Garvey, Adam Clayton Powell, Stokely Carmichael, Malcom X, and others.

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    Morgan Parker: Poet from New York.                                                       

Toni Morrison: Novelist from Ohio

Octavia Butler: Sci-Fi Writer from California

Roxanne Gay: Writer of all types from Nebraska

Audre Lorde: Poet and Non-Fiction writer from New York

Zora Neale Hurston: Non-fiction writer and novelist from Florida

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 Although this is old news, I still thought I’d share it. It is about a sixth grader, by the name of Marley Davis, who got tired of not seeing herself being represented in young literature. To combat that, she began “#1000BlackGirlBooks”. At first, it was just a book guide that would ghelp young Black girls find books with character that looked like them. She decided to take it a step further, though. In November of 2015, she decided to start a book drive where she would collect 1000 books in which Black girls were the main characters — not the sidekicks or background characters. By February, she had hoped to travel back to her mother’s hometown in Jamica and host a festival where she could give books to schools and libraries. 

Marley says:  “[Representation] definitely matters because when you read a book and you learn something, you always want to have something you can connect with,” she said. “If you have something in common with the characters, you’ll always remember and learn a lesson from the book.”

Visit Marley’s website here to keep track of her progress!

 Finely, Taryn. “This 11-Year-Old Wants To Help Kids Discover Books They Can Relate To”. Huffington Post. 23 June 2016. huffingtonpost.com/entry/this-11-year-old-wants-to-help-kids-discover-books-they-can-relate-to_us_56a65087e4b0404eb8f2438f. 9 April 2017.

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First, who is Maxine Waters? 

She is the U.S. Representative for California's 43rd congressional district, but has been serving multiple districts since 1977. She comes from a middle class, single-parent household, and has worked her way up into the political job from working in factories and as a telephone operator.

Secondly, how did Black millennials give her the label “Auntie”?

As a democrat, and as a Black woman, Waters has been against Trump and his whole administration from the start. She has been on numerous newscasts, firmly and confidently stating facts and her opinions. Her latest remark to Bill O’Reilly was this: "Let me say this. I'm a STRONG Black woman. I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be undermined.”

Her strong personality has not gone unnoticed by many people on social media. Especially by Black millennials. In pictures, her facial expressions are of one of a Black aunt who is not for the bull-shit and unfair policies set forth. A stereotypical “Black Aunt” is someone who is bougie, or acts as if she is from a higher class, kind of judgmental, and just unbothered by others. Waters throws “shade”, or judgement, whenever she speaks in her facial expressions like a lot of black aunties do, and is not afraid to stand up for that she believes in. She has no time for any nonsense whatsoever. Honestly, she’s kind of expiring for her tough personality and for being one of the many prominent Black woman in politics today.

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“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”

Author: lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965)

Written in: 1959

Why you should read it: It perfectly portrays the African-American struggle in the 50s and 60s on the South side of Chicago, IL. Written as a play, it paints the portrait of three generations living under the same household and their strifes. Character development is prominent in this play.

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I’ve been doing a project recently for one of my classes where I have to read over 20 children books. I’ve been trying to read ones written by African American woman authors. Here’s what I’ve read so far:

1. Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Margaret Musgrove. This one isn’t written by an African American writer, but I believe it is such an insightful book that many children (and adults) can learn from.

2. Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield. This one is a book of lyrical poems in the voice of a young girl. 

3. Brown Girl Dreaming By Jacqueline Woodson. Another book of poems by well-known children’s author Jacqueline Woodson.

4. I love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley. An ode to little girls with black, tangled, and coiled hair. This book celebrates why little black girls should be proud of their hair. 

5. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson. Another by Jacqueline Woodson, this one celebrates family and traditions in a Black historical setting. 

6. Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen. Based loosely off of Debbie Allen’s own life, this book celebrates a young Black girl who stands out from the rest of her dance class. 

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7 Trans Women of Color Have Been Killed in 2017 So far and This is Who They Are

1.     Jaquarrius Holland from Louisiana was shot on February 18th

2.     Chyna Gibson from Louisiana was gunned down on February 25th

3.     Ciara McElveen from Louisiana was stabbed to death on February 27th

4.     Mesha Caldwell from Mississippi was killed on January 4th

5.     Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow from Dakota was killed on January 6th

6.     Keke Collier from Illinois was shot on February 22nd

7.     Jojo Striker from Ohio was killed on February 8th 

Last year it was reported that 23 trans women or gender non-confirming people were killed in 2016 alone. This is bigger than what you may define as a “woman” and bigger than being able to be use a bathroom. People’s lives are being taken away, loved ones are being taken away because someone doesn’t agree with who these women are. It’s Woman’s History Month and these women should be here to celebrate it.

Check out the rest of the story here

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Welcome to She Prowess!

I am excited to write this blog and showcase many many African American women who have contributed compelling and work of value to the literary world. These woman may include Toni Morrison, Angela Davis, Toni Cade Bambara, Maya Angelou, Ann Petry, Octavia Butler, Zora Neale Hurston, and more! this blog will feature a book review, interviewing video, or a list of facts about different African American woman authors.