M. J. Fievre - Badass Black Girl: Quotes, Questions, and Affirmations for Teens (Gift for teenage girl)

Praise for Badass Black Girl

In an era when Black girls are bombarded with negative stereotypes on traditional and social media platforms, Badass Black Girl offers welcome advice to Black girls to embrace their individuality and to develop positive mental and body images. Written in clear understandable prose, Fievre provides numerous examples of women such as a Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, and Madam C. J. Walker, who exemplify Black excellence, and equips Black girls through a series of exercises and affirmations with the tools to become Badass women who know the ir worth.

Geoffrey Philp, author of Garv eys Ghost

Protecting our young Black women and femme-identifying youth is so importantM.J. Fievre lays this out with grace, care, and the most powerful love in the phenomenal Badass Black Girl . So often, our society tells us that were so strong, so resilient, so able to fix everyone elses worldthis book reveals the truth: Black women/femme-identifying people are just as tender, just as in need of affirmation and praise, just as worthy of an embrace from self and from those around us. This book is a celebration, an affirmation, a history text, a little bit of memoir, and an exuberant prayer for the prosperity of Bla ck women.

Ashley M. Jones, author of Magic C ity Gospel

M.J. Fievre gives every girl her own set of black pearls o f wisdom.

Marie Ketsia Theodore-Pharel, author of Beauty Walks in Nature

Badass Black Girl is the big hug you need. M.J. Fievres newest work is a glorious love letter to the Black women who have shaped and loved us, to our griots and groundbreakers. Within these pages, Fievre celebrates Black girls in all of their power, vulnerability, and beauty and offers instructions for self-love, taking responsibility, creating art, and expressing gratitude. I wish I had this book when I was younger, and Im happy I hav e it now.

Jennifer Maritza McCauley, author of SCAR O N/SCAR OFF

Youll come away from Badass Black Girl feeling as if youve known the author your entire life, and its a rare feat for any writer. M.J. Fievre is the best friend, the confidante everyone ye arns for.

Michael Reid, Mike, the Poet, author of Dear Woman and The Boyf riend Book

Badass Black Girl

Quotes, Questions, and Affirmations for Teens

MJ Fievre

Mango Publishing

Coral Gables

Copyright 2019 by M.J. Fievre.

Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Cover Design: Roberto Nez

Cover Illustration: Cincinart (Shutterstock)

Layout & Design: Roberto Nez

Photos and Illustrations: Shutterstock

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Badass Black Girl: Quotes, Questions, and Affirmations for Teens

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2019948827

ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-172-8, (ebook) 978-1-64250-173-5

BISAC category code OUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

When It Rains, It Pours: Other Strategies to Discover
Your Talents

I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fe arlessly.

Oprah Winfrey , American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and phil anthropist

Dear Badass B lack Girl,

You are a true warrior who inherited the strength, courage, wisdom, love, and dignity of our ancestors. You stand on their shoulders, carrying a history of triumph. Yes, it is true: you also still carry some of the pain of yesterdays Black heroinesthese creators, innovators, and agents of changeand you are faced with the tremendous struggle of the modern girl of color. But make no mistake: you are strong and you can conquer whatever challenges this world hands you.

Your very existence defies history. Never forget those who broke the unjust rules society once used to limit their progress, those who fought hard to get you to this moment, those who gave light so others could find the way through dark times. Because of them, you get to walk into a restaurant through the front door, sit at the front of the bus, and cast a vote for leaders who represent your ideals. Walk in the freedom they secured for your sake. Be proud of your rich skin, and may your hair be a crown that stands tall. Be proud of your deep-rooted culture(s). Be proud of the power of those who came before you, as the strength of generations will propel you forward and carry you through dif ficulties.

Be fearless. But, as you move through the world, remember: your biggest responsibility is to remain thoughtful, to honor where you come from, and to recognize you didnt simply appear and find your own voice. Alice Walker wrote, How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves as we are, we must know our mother s names.

Kenbe (b e strong) ,
MJ

It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody else and be myself, I actually started to own, accept and love wh at I had.

Tracee Ellis Ross , American actress, model, comedian, director, and telev ision host

Dear Badass B lack Girl,

You think I dont know you, but I do. I see you when your face is stretched by a smilewhen you make those around you feel like they are the only people youve ever truly smiled at. But Ive also seen your face when you clamp your lips as if you could trap your sadness inside. And there is a story therebeginning, middle, and endall laid out within the curves of your mouth. I see you with more possibilities than you could eve r imagine.

Unless they get in the way of the talents you do have, please dont waste time focusing on the talents you dont have. Dont even seek to improve them ( maybe later). Dont obsess over your flaws. How many hours will you spend furiously perfecting scales on the piano before you realize playing music is not your forte ? Not everyone is Hazel Scott or Nina Simone. You dont have to be on the dance team if its not your thing. You dont have to know the lyrics to the latest Cardi B. or Nicky Minaj song. You dont have to be fluent in Spanish. You dont have to make a mean brea d pudding.

Stop trying to be someone elsethe girl your friends, your boyfriend, your teachers, or your parents want you to be. Instead, cultivate YOUR strengths. Be YOU. Dont expect your flaws to fall from you like dried-up flakes of skin. If youre not meant to do something, let it go. All your life, youve been told that you need to get better at what youre not good at and dont care about. It may be true that its good to try new things out, and that we surprise ourselves when we learn something new, but your time is better served when you focus on what you alread y do well.

You have so many talents. Prioritize them. You may not know exactly what these talents areand th ats okay.

Youll figure it out, and this book will help you.

In the meantime, you dont have to prove yourself to others. You cant dance. So, what? Slow dance, low dance, and fast dance like no ones watching. Do it because the groove hits your spine and moves you in a certain direction. You cant sing? So what? Belt out Beyonc, croon to Aretha Franklin (R-E-S-P-E-C-T), and swoon to Alicia Keys with all the strength your off-key voice can muster. Play your music loudly, so the bass thumps in your heart and makes your chest feel like its alive. Beca use it is.