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Summary:

"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. 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 on 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."--Publisher information.

Table of Contents:

• Magic mirrors / Jesmyn Ward
• Why I keep coming back to Jamaica / Veronica Chambers
• Her own best thing / Tayari Jones
• Go tell it / Barbara Smith
• Legacy : a conversation with Rebecca Walker
• Zora and me / Marita Golden
• Space to move around in / Renée Watson
• Gal : a hard row to hoe / Gabourey Sidibe
• The need for kisses / Dhonielle Clayton
• Witnessing hope / Stephanie Powell Watts
• Dear beloved / Nicole Dennis-Benn
• Dreaming awake / N.K. Jemisin
• To be a citizen / Morgan Jerkins
• Two New Yorks / Zinzi Clemmons
• Putting women center stage : a conversation with Lynn Nottage
• Finding my family / Bsrat Mezghebe
• Complex citizen / Mahogany L. Browne
• Living a "soft black song" / Jamia Wilson
• Amazing grace / Carla Bruce-Eddings
• Continue to rise : a conversation with Jacqueline Woodson

• Books for a black girl's soul / Kaitlyn Greenidge.

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Contributors:

Edim, Glory, 1982- , editor

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Subjects:

American literature — Women authors — History and criticism

American literature — African American authors — History and criticism

African Americans — Race identity

African American women in literature

American literature — Women authors

American literature

American literature — African American authors

African Americans

Genres:

Essays

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Physical Description:

xxv, 239 pages : illustrations ; 19 cm

Call Numbers:

PS153.N5 W37 2018

ISBNs:

0525619771 (hardback)
9780525619772 (hardback)
9780525619789 (Ebook) [Invalid]

Library of Congress Control Numbers:

2018031893

OCLC Numbers:

1055759209