This enduring anthem for Black girls celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world.

You are a thousand curls

unfurling in your hair.

You are a thousand fists

standing proudly in air.

You are the song of swallows,

lifting sun as they sing—

breaking light with their beaks,

breaking sky with their wings …

Black girlhood is beautiful! In this deeply moving celebration and rallying cry, and in the face of the many messages that still work to convince Black girls that they should shrink themselves, hide their light, know their place, Brynne Barnes reclaims that narrative: A Black girl’s place is everywhere, and her selfhood is everything she can dream it to be.

With poignant, poetic prose, this empowering book centers the inherent worthiness and radiance of Black girls that is still far too often denied. A love letter to and for Black girls everywhere, Black Girl Rising alchemizes the sorrow and strength of the past into the brilliant gold of the future, sweeping young readers of all backgrounds into a lyrical exploration of what it means to be Black, female, and glorious.

EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES SELF-LOVE: This uplifting anthem of Black brilliance shuts out invalidating messages and replaces them with unconditional assertions of Black girls’ rights to be loved, to be inspired, and to exist fully in their power. Everything about Black girls deserves to be seen and celebrated—and this book provides a welcome opportunity for readers of all ages to do so!

EXCELLENT READ-ALOUD: Warm, loving sentiments paired with poetic prose and a light rhyme make this book a great choice to read aloud together at story time, bedtime, or any time. It’s sure to become a fast favorite and inspire countless moments of parent-child connection.

"… this work extols the beauty, bravery, and possibilities of young black girls. The author explores strong role models, female and male, from the past to inspire readers to envision the prospects of a glorious future. … [T]he rich vocabulary, flowing narrative, and specific word emphasis encourage[s] exuberant read-alouds."—School Library Journal

Brynne Barnes

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