Literature celebrating black girl magic highlights the power, resilience, and beauty of black girls and women. It is a genre that seeks to uplift and empower these individuals by providing representation and highlighting their unique experiences. Through various forms of storytelling, such as novels, poetry, and essays, black girl magic literature explores themes of identity, self-love, and overcoming adversity. One of the main ideas in literature celebrating black girl magic is the emphasis on representation. For far too long, the literary world has often marginalized or overlooked the stories of black women. However, this genre seeks to correct that by giving voice to their experiences, struggles, and triumphs.
However, this genre seeks to correct that by giving voice to their experiences, struggles, and triumphs. It aims to provide young black girls with role models and characters they can relate to and see themselves in. This representation is crucial in helping to build self-esteem and confidence in black girls, who are often underrepresented in mainstream media.
Black Girl Magic & For Every One
Poetry Month is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a fabulous reminder to seek out poetry and this year there are two new books to enjoy. They’re both inspirational and seem perfectly designed for gift giving.
Title: Black Girl Magic: A Poem by Mahogany L. Browne
Illustrator: Jess X. Snow
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 40
Genre: Poetry
Review copy: Library
Availability: On shelves now
Summary: Black Girl, they say you ain’t ‘posed to be here
Much of what twenty-first century culture tells Black girls is not pretty: Don’t wear this; don’t smile at that. Don’t have an opinion; don’t dream big. And most of all, don’t love yourself. In response to such destructive ideas, internationally recognized poet Mahogany Browne challenges the conditioning of society by crafting an anthem of strength and magic undeniable in its bloom for all beautiful Black girls. She has travelled the world sharing her vision of Black Girl Magic, and now in collaboration with artist Jess X. Snow, presents her acclaimed tribute in a visual form.
Black Girl Magic is a journey from girlhood to womanhood and an invitation to readers to find magic in themselves.
Review: The end papers speak even before the poem begins. The red pages are filled with names of those who paved the way for this poet. The end note explains that this Roll Call is paying homage to those who “allowed this #BlackGirlMagic to exist.”
Before I even began reading, I was admiring the design of the book. It’s a small, slim, square book decorated with braids. The color scheme is black, red, white, with occasional gold. Stars are a recurring theme along with the braids. The art supports the poem wonderfully without being a distraction.
And the poem. It’s a celebration of Black Girl Magic transcending a variety of expectations many people have for Black girls. It’s a love letter to Black girls and to the women who have brought this book into being. It’s a testimony of the power of this Black Girl Magic. It will likely be a keepsake for many women in the future. It’s an inspirational book many people will want to share with the women and girls in their lives.
Recommendation: This is a lovely book and would be an excellent purchase for all ages. It would be a great one to share in classrooms too.
Extra:
The text is almost exactly the same as the spoken word poem shared in the video below.
Title: For Every One
Author: Jason Reynolds
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Pages: 112
Genre: Poetry
Review copy: Purchased
Availability: On shelves now
Summary: Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds’s rallying cry to the dreamers of the world.
For Every One is just that: for every one. For every one person. For every one dream. But especially for every one kid. The kids who dream of being better than they are. Kids who dream of doing more than they almost dare to dream. Kids who are like Jason Reynolds, a self-professed dreamer. Jason does not claim to know how to make dreams come true; he has, in fact, been fighting on the front line of his own battle to make his own dreams a reality. He expected to make it when he was sixteen. Then eighteen. Then twenty-five. Now, some of those expectations have been realized. But others, the most important ones, lay ahead, and a lot of them involve kids, how to inspire them. All the kids who are scared to dream, or don’t know how to dream, or don’t dare to dream because they’ve NEVER seen a dream come true. Jason wants kids to know that dreams take time. They involve countless struggles. But no matter how many times a dreamer gets beat down, the drive and the passion and the hope never fully extinguish—because just having the dream is the start you need, or you won’t get anywhere anyway, and that is when you have to take a leap of faith.
A pitch perfect graduation, baby, or love my kid gift.
Review: I would have to agree. This would make a great gift, but I would add that like the title says, it is for everyone and not just graduates or kids. This book speaks some truths and offers hope. It doesn’t provide all of the answers to life, but it offers inspiration for getting out there and living, dreaming, and daring.
In the introduction, Reynolds explains that this poem was written over years and was basically a letter he was using to understand himself. I keep going back in the introduction to one sentence, “…they couldn’t get past how foolish it was to be foolish.” Many times we’re stuck because we’re afraid of appearing foolish. This really resonated with me. I know for certain I’ve missed out on things because of fears like this and this is not unique to me. Readers will easily connect with this idea that at times we have all hesitated because of these types of fears.
Reynolds does not write from a place of superiority. He opens with “Dear Dreamer,” and explains that he’s writing in the midst of uncertainty. There are brief moments of humor and many moments of fear and questioning. Throughout the poem readers see that this following of a dream is fraught with difficulties, but we are encouraged to jump anyway.
Recommendation: Get it soon. This poem will have you wanting to get about the business of chasing your dreams.
Posted in Book Reviews, Poetry Tagged recommendation: get it soonAnother main idea explored in literature celebrating black girl magic is the celebration of black beauty and cultural heritage. This genre often takes pride in showcasing the diversity of black beauty, challenging Eurocentric beauty standards. It promotes self-acceptance and encourages black girls to embrace their natural hair, skin color, and features. By celebrating black beauty, literature celebrating black girl magic serves as a powerful tool in combating colorism, racism, and other forms of discrimination within society. Moreover, literature celebrating black girl magic highlights the resilience and strength of black girls and women. It acknowledges the unique challenges they often face, such as systemic racism, sexism, and classism. However, instead of focusing solely on these challenges, this genre celebrates the strength, determination, and achievements of black girls and women who navigate and overcome these obstacles. It instills a sense of self-worth and motivates black girls to believe in their abilities and pursue their dreams despite adversity. Additionally, literature celebrating black girl magic often explores themes of sisterhood and community. It recognizes the importance of forming connections and supporting one another in the face of adversity. This genre emphasizes the power of unity and solidarity among black girls and women. By highlighting these themes, literature celebrating black girl magic cultivates a sense of belonging and encourages black girls to uplift and empower one another. In conclusion, literature celebrating black girl magic is an important genre that provides representation, celebrates black beauty, showcases resilience, and encourages unity. It serves as a source of empowerment for black girls and women, instilling a sense of self-worth and showcasing their unique experiences. Through storytelling, this genre challenges societal norms and fosters a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape..
Reviews for "Black Girl Magic in Young Adult Literature: Inspiring the Next Generation"
1. Amy - 1 star
I found "Literature celebrating black girl magic" to be regressive and divisive. Instead of focusing on universal themes and experiences that can be enjoyed by all readers, this collection seemed to exclude anyone who doesn't identify as a black girl. The stories lacked depth and substance, relying too heavily on stereotypes and clichés. I believe literature should bring people together, not segregate them into narrow categories.
2. Mark - 2 stars
While I understand the intention behind "Literature celebrating black girl magic," I found it to be repetitive and lacking originality. The stories seemed to follow the same formula, with little variation in plot or characters. The book would have been more interesting with a wider range of perspectives and experiences, rather than just focusing on one specific group. I appreciate the importance of representation in literature, but this collection left me wanting more diversity.
3. Sarah - 3 stars
As a reader, I appreciate the concept of "Literature celebrating black girl magic." However, I felt that the execution fell short. The stories lacked nuance and depth, presenting a rather simplistic and idealized view of black girls. I was hoping for more complexity and exploration of different aspects of their lives. While it had some empowering moments, overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to delve into the complexities of black girlhood.