Black Girl, White School: Thriving, Surviving and No, You Can't Touch My Hair. an Anthology
Navigating predominantly white institutions (PWI) as a young Black girl provides amazing opportunities as well as challenging experiences. The poems, anecdotes, and entries found in this book seek to provide support and guidance for Black girls in PWI's and are written by Black girls and women who are current or past attendees of PWI's.
Hair, friendship, dating, motivation, information, racism, self-esteem - nothing is off limits.
Fans of Black Lives Matter books The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Dear Martin by Nic Stone, and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo will love this non-fiction look at life as a Black girls in white schools by girls who have lived it.
This non-fiction book for kids and young adults is edited by Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activist and teen author Olivia V.G. Clarke. Selections from the following writers, poets and leaders:
- Gabrielle Clarke
- Marissa Glonek
- Yolanda Durden
- Soraya Patterson
- Lydia Patterson
- Aminah Aliu
- Tiara McKinney
- Tiia McKinney
- Makayla Terrell
- Ndeye Thioubou
- Sarah Holston
- Katie Quander
- Courtney Pascol
- McKenzie Stringer
- Gabby Anthony
- Ka'Isis Lee
*Now Available: A matching journal for a writing space of Black girls and a separate ally journal for Non-Black POCs and white allies.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource. Easy read. Amazing stories. Incredible insights.This book was such a treat and so powerful. I'd love to see it turned into an audiobook. It would be interesting to hear the girls and women speak their stories.
Olivia Clarke has a serious future as a writer, regardless of whatever else she chooses to pursue. It's amazing that a girl of her age conceptualized this book and took action to bring it to life.
This should be required reading for anyone wanting to teach. It provides insights and would allow any teacher to avoid pitfalls while making every Black girl (and boy) feel more welcome and seen.
-Micheal (Amazon Review)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Important reading, especially for white folkGot it yesterday at 8 pm. Finished it today by 8:30 AM. Black Girl, White School is an insightful peek into experiences that will never be mine or my daughter's (We are white). Real people. Real experiences. Real feelings. Read them. HEAR them. Acknowledging our own biases is ... difficult. And scary. And disappointing. But the work is OURS to do. As Olivia's momma says in the afterword:
... Do not pity a Black girl in a white school. SEE her. SUPPORT her. LISTEN to her and BE FAIR to her. Be a consistent support system, good mentors, better friends and a strong ally. 𝗗𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻.
I love the THRIVE tips throughout...
#blackgirlsmatter
-Eve, Amazon Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
A powerful look at the Black girl experience.I loved reading the different perspectives from all of the women and girls who contributed to the book. They offer a look into a scholastic world where diversity is often defined as putting the few students of color on the academic promotion material but offering little in systemic support for these students.
In an education system that is structured in a way that pushes out and punishes Black girls for the color of their skin and because of adult bias against Black girls, this book shines a light on what these girls feel, and how they cope.
I loved the thrive tips peppered throughout the book as well.
A great first effort by the editor and a triumphant moment for Black girls in white schools everywhere. This is a perspective on the #blacklivesmatter movement that has not been amplified. #BlackGirlsMatter
-Big Reader (Amazon Review)
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read!!!!! Great authorThis book is strong, powerful and honest. It's thought provoking and insightful. My teen daughter and I both read it and look forward to hearing more from Olivia Clarke. She has an important voice. Strongly encourage every one to have their middle schoolers high schoolers read this book.
-Barbara Velasco (Amazon Review)
