Dear Black Girl: Letters from Your Sisters on Stepping into Your Power by Tamara Winfrey Harris
When Tamara Winfrey-Harris asked a few Black women on social media to write a letter encouraging young Black girls— she received an array of inspiring work reflecting body positive, LGBTQ+, anti-respectability politics, feminist and loving stories. These letters are the basis of Winfrey-Harris’ second book, Dear Black Girl. This collection of 12 honest and intimate letters of support is addressed to young Black girls. In this title, Winfrey-Harris organized and compiled a selection of letters, providing an wide range of experiences and identities on how Black women can nurture future generations.
One of my favorite areas of this book is that each chapter is paired with an inspirational prompt entitled “Letter to My Black Girl Self.” These prompts encourage others to write a letter to themselves— in a way to pass down, and to teach, the art of self-care, self-love and self-nurturing.
For readers that admire Ntozake Shange, Tarana Burke, and Roxane Gay— this title is perfect to add to your home library. The way Winfrey-Harris highlights specific issues, the politics of visibility and desirability, explores womanhood and intersectionality of race and gender with politics in this wonderful title is simply refreshing.
This book is like a Chicken Noodle Soup for Black girls, by Black girls— it’s a wonderful reference to use or book to gift. Each time I open this book, I feel like I’m having a conversation with an auntie or older cousin. My favorite chapter is Chapter 5: I Didn’t Ask For This: Tough Stuff.
Now, this title is the second book from Winfrey-Harris, as her debut 2015 book, The Sister Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America. Her first title won the Phillis Wheatley Award, Independent Publishers Living Now Award and the IPPY Award. I give this book a solid 5 out of 5.
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