Growing up, my mother would always instill in me the value of being a Black woman in a society that constantly belittles us. There is a quote once said by Malcolm X that has stuck with me since I can remember, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”
On a daily basis, we are ridiculed in songs, television shows, movies, and so on because of our skin color and sex, yet, expected to reach the same calibers of societal privileged people. Time and time again, we have proven the inner and outer strength that is exuded through our melanin skin. When society tells young Black girls that we are not good enough, it becomes difficult to stand with confidence and embrace our inherited gifts.Â
My dad used to always tell me knowledge is power. Believe it or not, books hold a vast amount of information about anything you could possibly think of. Books take you to an imaginary world filled with learning and life lessons.Â
The novels below are the books that have helped me navigate life and ease the transition from high school to college as a young Black girl in a male-dominated society.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
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In this book of poems, Rupi Kaur takes us through a journey of hurting, loving, breaking, and healing. It is about going through tragedies such as abuse and heartache but overcoming them through self-love and healing. Kaur expresses her vulnerability at the beginning of the book but ends with a great deal of strength. If you have ever gone through emotional tragedies, this is the book for you.
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Soulja
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This novel is about a teenage girl named Winter, daughter of a local drug lord, Â growing up in Brooklyn, New York. Winter is young, strong-willed and confident but cold and selfish towards others. Throughout the novel, it is apparent that she was misguided and emotionally abandoned by her parents. She does not know how to love, what proper love is, or even how to be kind to others. Sister Souljah created characters that were faced with adversity but had the choice to take a different route. With that being said, this novel is filled with life lessons about the right way to love, drugs, and being self-less at the right times. Â
In the Meantime by Iyanla VanzantÂ
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Many of us rush the idea of falling in love before completely loving ourselves. Throughout my late teens and early twenties, I tended to value other people’s love towards me than my own self-love. Because of this, I craved other’s love and affection then felt empty once it stopped. I found myself falling in love with the wrong men then questioning myself. This novel taught me that self-love is the best love and once I accomplish full self-love then I can heal and get the most out of life. Eventually, the right man will come but this time I won’t accept less than because I love myself more than anything or anybody else.Â
Becoming by Michelle Obama
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Throughout the past ten years, Michelle Obama has become a maternal figure to many young Black girls. Her beautiful style and grace shined through the amazing work her husband did for this country. We had no choice but to fall in love with her strength, intelligence, and warmth. In this novel, she shows a vulnerable and open side we’ve never seen before, letting the readers know she’s an ordinary girl like us. After reading her journey of trials and tribulations, she becomes a mother or sister in your head. Mrs. Obama also gives great advice on love, business, and life itself.Â
The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women by Elaine Meryl Brown Marsha Haygood, Rhonda Joy McLean
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Business and leadership makes the world go round. The wave of entrepreneurship is at an all-time high. We are told over and over again that the way to financial freedom is entrepreneurship. Luckily, everyone has the opportunity to become a millionaire but we must work 10x harder than the average individual. In this book, three executives give us the tools to successfully conduct business and carry ourselves in a proper manner to make it to the top. This is the perfect novel to achieve great leadership skills.Â