Authors Who Look Like Me.

I have been taking a Black Women Writers class this Fall and have read and experienced the amazing works of Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, Phyllis Alesia Perry, Sapphire, and many others. Reading their works has made me realize the truth of my writing and dreams of being a writer.

There is nothing like reading work that tells your story. Like finding exerts of writings that leak with your experiences and knowing that you aren't alone. I think particularly as a black girl, I was always searching for books that would address my intersectional experience. I NEEDED my books to talk about colorism, gender, race, class, sex and sexual identity. These are things that I wanted to understand, but didn't always feel comfortable talking about with parents or mentors.

Over the past few months I have seen my dreams come into fruition. I have read and realized the power in my story and the ways in which I can change lives. Words can save lives. MY words can change lives. My writings have saved MY LIFE.

So, I am starting a reading challenge to only read books, poems, short stories, and other works from writers of color for the an entire year.

With this new challenge I have a started a reading list for the year.

- Shifting, Charisse Jones and Kumea Shorter-Gooden, Ph.D.
- Kindred, Octavia Butler
- The Politics of Black Hair, Althea Prince
-The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
-Beloved, Toni Morrison
-The Color Purple, Alice Walker
-Half of A Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
-Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
-Feminism is for EVERYBODY, bell hooks
-Why Black People Tend To Shout, Ralph Wiley
-Ain't I A Woman, bell hooks
-The Mis-Education of the Negro, Carter G. Woodson
-How Europe Undeveloped Africa, Walter Rodney
-The Black Unicorn, Audre Lorde
-The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin
-Notes of a Native Son, James Baldwin

Of course, I will be adding in new books throughout the months. I am asking you all to join in this reading challenge with me. The more, the merrier. Let's see how we can grow. Let's see how much we can learn when we read our own stories.

Please, comment below some of your favorite books by writers of color!

Keep reading and I'll chat with you all soon! :)
Stay Happy, Stay Healthy.
~Naturallykbiggie

Listen here, Black Girl.

A letter to myself, and other broken black girls.
We are not shattered, we are simply letting the light shine through.

Listen here, Black Girl.

I know your knees are tired.
Bruised and beaten from all the time they’ve spent shoved into hard wood, carpet, and linoleum.
I know your eyes are cried shut from all the pain this black skin brings.
All the pain, this black girl brings.
I know what it’s like to be searching for someone whose love holds all that deep skin, and knotty hair, and wide hips of a woman.
I know what it’s like to come up breathless and empty handed.
Knuckles and fingertips carving around pieces that don’t fit, simply because they are pieces.
And they aren’t quite as shattered as you, Black Girl.
I know, Black Girl.
That the compliments are nothing in comparison to the pictures.
To the Nia Longs,
And Anita Bakers,
And Beyoncé No Last Name Women.
I know.
I have sunken into this skin before.
I have sat there.
I have died there.
I had rotted there.
But listen here, Black Girl.
Don’t you see?
I know you can’t right now,
But you are glorious.
And I know, those words have fallen into deaf ears.
Ears you harden so often they aren’t familiar with the sound of love.
But no one can train them to know what it’s like to be poured into like you can.
And you can.
And you will.
And God willing, I will teach you.
I will be all the woman you have dreamed of.
I will show you how to love yourself like you want someone else to.
I will be your Nia Long,
Or Anita Baker,
Or some other Beyoncé No Last Name Woman.
I WILL,
Be
Someone you are proud to become.
All that deep skin, and knotty hair, and wide hips of a woman.
I want you to read this, when all the world around you is caving in and breathing space is limited.
Read aloud.
Read through the tears.
Scream at the top of your lungs if you must.
Just keep reading.
And when you are done,
Look at your beautiful self in the mirror and say,
“Listen here, Black Girl.
You be all the magic they are afraid of.
You shine so bright, you blind everyone around you.
Sit in the valley if you must.
Cry, deep, Black Girl tears.
But when you are ready, and this time must come…
RISE.”