letters to black girls
Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters On Stepping Into Your Power features the best of the Letters to Black Girls Project – more than 30 feminist, anti-racist, body positive, LGBTQ+ positive, anti-respectability politics and pro-Black letters from Black women to Black girls wrapped in author Tamara Winfrey-Harris’ analysis. Dear Black Girl is a must-read antidote to the world’s ugly, unforgiving gaze – a balm for the wounds of anti-Black-girlness.
More than a year ago, Tamara asked some Black women on social media for 12 letters to give to a group of Black girls in a workshop. The call went viral. Instead of 12 letters, Tamara received more than 50 from all over the world. An idea was born.
Now Tamara and award-winning writer Rochelle Riley have launched the Letters to Black Girls Project.
The goal is to support and inspire teenage black girls through feminist, anti-racist, body positive, LGBTQ+ positive, anti-respectability politics and pro-Black letters from black women.
Will you write a letter to a black girl?
Here is what you need to do:
1. Write a letter (see tips for writing a great letter in the next column).
2. Complete a Letters to Black Girls submission form.
3. Send us your letter and and submission form. You can do this in one of two ways:
Complete a form and upload a letter online
or
Mail your letter and submission form (download form here)
Mail to:
Letters to Black Girls Project
℅ Tamara Winfrey-Harris
PO Box 472
Noblesville, IN 46061
Do you know a black girl?
Tips for writing a great letter:
Be real, honest and vulnerable.
Share your experiences and words of encouragement. You won’t know the girl who receives your letter; simply think about what you needed to hear when you were a teen.
Be mindful not to make assumptions about class, religion or sexuality.
Make your letter as special as possible. For letters sent via U.S. mail, use nice paper.
Sign it – even if you use a pseudonym.
Please spread the word. There are nearly 12 million black girls in the United States. That’s a lot of letters! We need as many letter writers as possible. Help us make this request go viral!
Also consider hosting a letter writing party. Gather your friends, sorors or church members on an afternoon, provide some snacks and beverages, and spend a few hours writing inspiring and supportive letters to black girls. We’d love to feature your party here. Tell us about it and send pictures to info@letterstoblackgirls.com!
Read more than 30 of the best letters from the Letters to Black Girls project in Tamara’s forthcoming book, Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters On Stepping Into Your Power.
Letters to Black Girls Project
℅ Tamara Winfrey-Harris
PO Box 472
Noblesville, IN 46061
