Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth.

by Beverly Bond (Editor)

Overview

From the award-winning entrepreneur, culture leader, and creator of the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! movement comes an inspiring and beautifully designed book that pays tribute to the achievements and contributions of black women around the world.

Fueled by the insights of women of diverse backgrounds, including Michelle Obama, Angela Davis, Shonda Rhimes, Misty Copeland Yara Shahidi, and Mary J. Blige, this book is a celebration of black women’s voices and experiences that will become a collector’s items for generations to come.

Maxine Waters shares the personal fulfillment of service. Moguls Cathy Hughes, Suzanne Shank, and Serena Williams recount stories of steadfastness, determination, diligence, dedication and the will to win. Erykah Badu, Toshi Reagon, Mickalane Thomas, Solange Knowles-Ferguson, and Rihanna offer insights on creativity and how they use it to stay in tune with their magic. Pioneering writers Rebecca Walker, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Joan Morgan speak on modern-day black feminist thought. Lupita Nyong’o, Susan Taylor, and Bethann Hardison affirm the true essence of holistic beauty. And Iyanla Vanzant reinforces Black Girl Magic in her powerful pledge. Through these and dozens of other unforgettable testimonies, Black Girls Rock! is an ode to black girl ambition, self-love, empowerment, and healing.

Pairing inspirational essays and affirmations with lush, newly commissioned and classic photography, Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic and Rocking Our Truth is not only a one-of-a-kind celebration of the diversity, fortitude, and spirituality of black women but also a foundational text that will energize and empower every reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501157929
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	02/27/2018
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	279,390
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 9.80(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Beverly Bond is a women’s empowerment leader, entrepreneur, mentor, philanthropist, celebrity DJ, cultural curator and social innovator. In 2006, Bond founded BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and created the annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards to celebrate the excellence and dynamic accomplishments of Black women across sectors. Bond’s work as a businesswoman and community leader has earned her prestigious accolades and recognition, from being included on Ebony magazine’s Power 100 list of most influential Blacks in America, two Gracie Awards, and three NAACP Image Awards and beyond.

Table of Contents

Word is Bond Beverly Bond ix

Introduction Michelle Obama xix

I Femme Noire 1

Formation Beyoncé 3

Hip-Hop Feminism: The Remix Joan Morgan 5

The Third Wave Rebecca Walker 7

Nerdland Melissa Harris-Perry 11

Art Imitates Life Mickalene Thomas 15

Herstory Audre Lorde: Sister Outsider 16

II Black Girl Magic 17

On Another Level Rihanna 19

I Stay Woke Erykah Badu 21

The Champ Is Here Serena Williams 27

She Get It from Her Mama Tracee Ellis Ross 29

Iridescent Soul Valerie June 33

I Slay Danai Curira 35

Herstory Nina Simone: I Put a Spell on You 38

Black Girl Magic: For Us Solange Knowles-Ferguson 39

III Boss Up 43

Know the Ledge Cathy Hughes 45

All the Way Up Suzanne Shank 47

Venus Rising Venus Williams 51

Strictly Roots Donna Byrd 55

Fly-Sci Dr. Knatokie Ford 57

Know Your Worth Luvvie Ajayi 63

Green Is the New Black Lisa Jackson 65

Herstory Bridget "Biddy" Mason: Faith and Fortune 70

Power Play Jessica O. Matthews 71

Herstory Sylvia Robinson: Cold Crush Sista 75

IV Lift Every Voice 77

Herstory The RBGs: Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Nana Yaa Asantewaa 78

All Power to the People Angela Davis 81

I Am Joy Joy-Ann Reid 85

Black Lives Matter Patrisse Cullors 89

Because of Them We Can Eunique Jones Gibson 93

Why We March Tamika D. Mallory 95

Freedom Song Toshi Reagon 101

Lyte as a Rock MC Lyte 105

Reclaiming My Time Maxine Waters 107

Herstory Pauline Murray: High Priestess 111

V More Black More Beautiful 113

Flawless Naomi Campbell 115

Nappy Roots Michaela Angela Davis 117

Soul Glow Lupita Nvong'o 121

Masterpiece Jazmine Sullivan 125

Soul Food Afya Ibomu 129

So Fresh and So Clean June Ambrose 133

Model Citizen Bethann Hardison 135

In the Spirit Susan L. Taylor 137

Herstory Roberta Flack: I Am Legend 140

VI Movers and Shakers 141

On Pointe Misty Copeland 143

Dancing Spirit Judith Jamison 147

The Beat of Our Drum Luam Keflezgy 151

Herstory Ana "Rokafella" Garcia: B-Girls Will B Girls 153

VII Still I Rise 155

My Life Mary J. Blige 157

Bent, Not Broken April Holmes 161

Supa Dupa Fly Missy Elliott 165

Herstory Maya Angelou: Phenomenal Woman 166

Insight Haben Girma 167

Black Blues Terrie Williams 171

VIII Shot Caller 175

The Art of Storytelling Mara Brock Akil 177

King Me Regina King 179

Flip the Script Shonda Rhimes 183

Fresh Princess Tatyana Ali 185

Made You Look Issa Rae 189

Views from Our Lens Julie Dash 191

Lights, Camera, Action! Ava DuVernay 195

The Big Picture Nzingha Stewart 197

Who Shot Ya? Melina Matsonkas 199

Herstory Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun 201

IX Young, Gifted, and Black 203

Who Rocks Next? Maya Penn 205

Belle Sabreuse Ibtihaj Muhammad 207

Who Rocks Next Yara Shahidi 211

Herstory Ruby Bridges: Over Troubled Waters 214

Fem the Future Janelle Monáe 215

Pledge: I Am 218

Acknowledgments 221

Photography Credits 225

Black Girls Rock!: Remixing the Revolution 229

About Beverly Bond 231

Editorial Reviews

What Bond has created is a resource for black girls and women alike to look to and find inspiration from in a world that has historically ignored, and undervalued them. In celebrating women, Bond celebrates diversity, individuality, and a world-wide sisterhood.

Booklist Review

2017-12-05
An entrepreneur and two-time NAACP Image Award winner profiles successful black women from across the globe working in all fields of endeavor.In 2006, Bond founded BLACK GIRLS ROCK! to empower young black girls and women and celebrate their achievements. The movement arose from the author's personal history of struggle in a white-dominated world that denigrated black females for everything from the way they looked to what they said and did. Meant to serve as a companion to that movement, this book gathers interviews, editorials, personal essays, and photos that spotlight more than 60 influential black women including Michelle Obama, Rebecca Walker, Serena Williams, and Janelle Monáe. Each of the nine sections celebrates different aspects of what Bond calls "Black Girl Magic": "a power and energy rooted in black ancestral traditions, spirituality, and sacred feminine wisdom." The book opens with a declaration from Michelle Obama that "the secret to everything in life…is education." Building on the former first lady's sentiments, Walker emphasizes the need for black women to help others envision a "more pluralistic, intersectional, and reciprocal in its justice-seeking" women's movement. To develop the fortitude that is at the heart of all success, tennis champion Serena Williams speaks of the need for black girls to engage in competitive sports to build "confidence…self-awareness and pride." But as Monáe suggests, it is also important for black girls and women to be in "full control of [their] magic and how [they] choose to use it." To live true to one's identity—rather than society's ideas about that identity—is the ultimate necessity and freedom. Rich in collective wisdom, Bond's book is aimed primarily at a black female audience, but the courage, grace, passion, and intelligence that characterize each of the separate narratives are sure to motivate any woman seeking to succeed in a (white) man's world.An inspiring collection.

Kirkus Reviews

Beverly Bond’s opening is personal, empowering, and believable. Her choice to include these particular black women’s voices reaffirms her exhortation to “Listen! Listen to OUR stories.” Not all of the segments are narrated by their original authors, but they’re powerful nonetheless. The audiobook begins with an introduction by Michelle Obama filled with elation and oomph! It’s as if your big sister is revving you up for what’s to come. The diverse narrations are presented in tones of resilience, perseverance, and self-worth. The women, who represent entertainers, scientists, models, athletes, inventors, and more, share their voices as a reminder that anything is possible in a world that may say it is impossible. This compilation of personal moments affirms the truth that these black girls do indeed rock. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile

Beverly Bond’s opening is personal, empowering, and believable. Her choice to include these particular black women’s voices reaffirms her exhortation to “Listen! Listen to OUR stories.” Not all of the segments are narrated by their original authors, but they’re powerful nonetheless. The audiobook begins with an introduction by Michelle Obama filled with elation and oomph! It’s as if your big sister is revving you up for what’s to come. The diverse narrations are presented in tones of resilience, perseverance, and self-worth. The women, who represent entertainers, scientists, models, athletes, inventors, and more, share their voices as a reminder that anything is possible in a world that may say it is impossible. This compilation of personal moments affirms the truth that these black girls do indeed rock. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile