Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters on Stepping Into Your Power

Written by Tamara Winfrey Harris

Narrated by Donna Schiele and Tamberla Perry

“Dear Black Girl is the empowering, affirming love letter our girls need in order to thrive in a world that does not always protect, nurture, or celebrate us. This collection of Black women's voices… is a must-read, not only for Black girls, but for everyone who cares about Black girls, and for Black women whose inner-Black girl could use some healing.” –Tarana Burke, Founder of the ‘Me Too' Movement

"Dear Dope Black Girl, You don't know me, but I know you. I know you because I am you! We are magic, light, and stars in the universe.” So begins a letter that Tamara Winfrey Harris received as part of her Letters to Black Girls project, where she asked black women to write honest, open, and inspiring letters of support to young black girls aged thirteen to twenty-one. Her call went viral, resulting in a hundred personal letters from black women around the globe that cover topics such as identity, self-love, parents, violence, grief, mental health, sex, and sexuality.

In Dear Black Girl, Winfrey Harris organizes a selection of these letters, providing “a balm for the wounds of anti-black-girlness” and modeling how black women can nurture future generations. Each chapter ends with a prompt encouraging girls to write a letter to themselves, teaching the art of self-love and self-nurturing. Winfrey Harris's The Sisters Are Alright explores how black women must often fight and stumble their way into alrightness after adulthood. Dear Black Girl continues this work by delivering pro-black, feminist, LGBTQ+ positive, and body positive messages for black women-to-be—and for the girl who still lives inside every black woman who still needs reminding sometimes that she is alright.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Release date: Mar 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781523092321

Tamara Winfrey Harris

Tamara Winfrey-Harris is a writer who specializes in the ever-evolving space where current events, politics, and pop culture intersect with race and gender. Well-versed on a range of topics, including Beyoncé's feminism, Rachel Dolezal's white privilege, and the Black church and female sexuality, Winfrey-Harris has been published in media outlets, including the New York Times, the Atlantic, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. And she has been called to share her analysis on media outlets, including NPR's Weekend Edition and Janet Mock's So POPular! on MSNBC.com, and on university campuses nationwide. She is also vice president of community leadership and effective philanthropy at the Central Indiana Community Foundation.

Reviews for Dear Black Girl

[Ramona White-Brown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really did enjoy the stories of all of Our lives! How exciting to be included, cherish even by the women we look up to. Love and Appreciation is what I am feeling ?

[Onneya Leigh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. As a woman of color who teaches in spaces filled with POC this is a must read. This book is for females of all ages no matter what life circumstances you’ve been through or going through. There is a word for you!

[Tamika Marshall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspiring! A great quick read that was uplifting and new aged!

[Alisa Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Black Girls Rock! This book is awesome and inspiring. I love it?

[Alexcia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great Read!!! Tamara did a wonderful job. This will empower women today and for years to come.

[ashlee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was good the first half and the second half gave some advice that I didn’t agree with.

[rod · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a book I wish I had growing up. This is a good read for girls & young women who need that mother to tell them like it is but don't really have someone to do so.

[Deborah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My goodness! This book !!! I loved everything about it . Anyone who loves black girls who grow into black women MUST buy this book! Power is the word that comes to mind when listening to this magnificent book ! A MUST READ ! I will be listening to this over and over again due to sheer inspiration I received from it . Kudos to the Author ! Bravo my dear ! Keep pressing on ! This book in a word is INCLUSIVE! You will see yourself in it and that is what makes it so special ! All the contributions from other women about their lives . Thanks so much for sharing those stories with the world !

[Serena · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is the perfect read for a young black girl to read. It is a great affirmation book for any black woman. I am gifting it to all the my young and old black sistas.

[Parbie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's a must read for all my black sisters who believe in greatness and healing past traumas