Spoken Black Girl: A Wellness Magazine for Black Women Writers & Healers
I thought about what an iconic symbol the Mona Lisa painting is for so many, yet it never spoke to me. Then I started to think about us as Black Women being art, beautifully created and what that means to me.
When I see a woman who carries herself with grace, confidence, or quiet strength, something in me recognizes her. Her beauty reminds me of mine. It’s like looking in a mirror that reflects not just my face, but my spirit. In those moments, I’m reminded that beauty isn’t competition, it’s connection.
To me true beauty is being a beautiful person inside and out. I truly believe that if you take the time to beautify your soul, your outward appearance will reflect what is on the inside.
For me beauty has become more about a certain feeling and an appreciation for the love that is shared between loved ones.
Time in this world can make a Black woman’s love waver, but this piece is a reminder that we deserve to feel good in our skin, with or without the world’s validation.
While sitting with these quotes, I realized that I’m grateful for every woman who ever took the time to care for herself, and love herself even if that’s not what she was taught growing up. So many of the writers below echo the sentiment that mothers are out first mirrors, the individuals who teach us how to love.
With Black Women Writers Week coming up, I bet you’re wondering how best to support the Black woman writers you know and love. Well, I have 10 different ways that you can support Black women writers today!
It’s no coincidence that people everywhere have been picking up Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. It reads like an eerily accurate account of the confusing and frightening times we live in.
Write Heal Thrive was born out of my desire for close literary community. As a writer, I know that this journey can be a lonely one, no matter what stage you find yourself at. I’ve had so many formative literary experiences in my years working in publishing and nonprofit communications that I really want to share with more writers, especially Black women writers.
As the literary landscape continues to evolve, platforms centered on Black women writers remain essential, not only for representation, but for the future of Black women and girls.
After going through so much in my life, things were going well, until it happened.
I had a head-on collision with not only breast cancer, but colon cancer as well, and it changed my entire outlook on life. I found my cancer through an ultrasound.
Today there’s more pressure than ever on moms to juggle multiple responsibilities for work, school, and family, while also being the main source of emotional support in the household. Meditation can be the key to peace of mind when it feels like expectations are piled higher than the dishes.
“The exact cause is unknown”
As I started my research about PMDD (Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder), I saw this phrase repeated again and again. We hear this refrain uttered over so many women’s health diagnoses.
The staggering statistics facing Black moms highlight the increased risk of falling through the cracks in the healthcare system when it comes to our maternal health and overall wellness.
The first step towards building a robust financial foundation is to focus on strengthening your earnings. Historically, Black women have been underpaid, which undervalues our immense contribution to the workforce. It's time to shift the narrative…
With college acceptance letters arriving in mailboxes and inboxes around the country, a new chapter begins for many students and their families. However, the excitement of college acceptance often comes hand in hand with the daunting question, "How are we going to pay for this?"
Creative entrepreneurship can be a thrilling journey because you're not just pursuing a passion, you're stepping into a lifestyle that offers unparalleled freedom and opportunities. However, navigating the path of a creative entrepreneur requires more than just talent and determination. It involves a strategic approach to financial management, self-discipline, and an understanding of the unique freedoms this path provides.
In recent times, our community has been uplifted and deeply moved by the stories of Black women in the ivory towers of academia. Their journeys, marked by both groundbreaking achievements and poignant challenges, remind us of the resilience and brilliance that define us.
Books On My Desk
In Harlem Rhapsody, Victoria Christopher Murray immerses the reader in the exciting and energetic times of the Harlem Renaissance. As a Black woman writer and publisher, this book was absolutely thrilling to read.
From the beginning, Things I Hoped For captures the innocence and uncertainty of a young girl blooming into adulthood and ready for an adventure.
Check out our reading list for Women’s History Month 2023 featuring all Black women authors from our community and beyond! Find your next good read here!
GOODW.Y.N. begins with her recollections of the war in Iraq and how they have haunted her even in her life back in the U.S., drawing parallels between being at war with the world, at war with one's own mind and heart, and at war with and for our own Black bodies.
Listen & Subscribe to The Healing Entrepreneur Podcast
In this episode of the Healing Entrepreneur podcast, we interview GG Renee Hill, a writer and creative coach, about the transformative power of writing and the concept of Story Work from her new book Story Work: Field Notes On Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your Narrative.
On my 33rd birthday, I declared to all of my family and friends that I had adapted a new name, Yaa. The reactions varied widely. Some people love my new name, others not so much.
In this powerful episode of The Healing Entrepreneur Podcast, host Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson sits down with Monetta Wilson, an award-winning yoga teacher, author, and entrepreneur from St. Lucia. With over two decades of yoga experience and a deep passion for decolonizing wellness practices, Monetta shares her journey of bringing accessible, culturally relevant yoga to Caribbean communities and beyond.
Our newest episode is with Katonya Trent, SBG Motherhood contributor, and author of “22 and 6 Born on 11/26”, Katonya is an advocate and voice for NICU moms. Going through a traumatic premature birth experience motivated Katonya to start her organization, KonnectedThru22 and give gift packages to NICU moms filled with items to support their self-care during this difficult time for families. Check out the Amazon Wish List of items! Your support can make all of the difference to a NICU mom!
The globally acclaimed "positivity queen" has become a beacon of inspiration with a colossal online following exceeding two million devoted supporters. Renowned for her daily motivational mantras, including empowering phrases like "Be Great In Their Face" and "Have A Good Day On Purpose," each punctuated with her signature "Ya' Welcome," Alethea has established the influential brand "Pimpin’ Positivity," dedicated to uplifting millions across the globe.
This week, I’m featuring my conversation with Emelda De Coteau, Founder of When Motherhood Looks Different.
In college, I was fortunate enough to work with a therapist at the wellness center. Although I still had to bridge the cultural gap of being a Black woman living in America for her to understand my experience, she imparted knowledge on the importance of self-care, challenging me to journal and try meditation for my anxiety.
Signs of ADHD in Black women can often be overlooked or misdiagnosed, leading to a significant impact on their lives. No one looks at little Black girls and thinks, “ADHD.” The signs are often missed. Mental health stigma stops many people from seeking help even if they do notice the constant fidgeting and daydreaming.
New on the Mental Health Blog
It is an undeniable truth that Black children are born with a target on their backs. That target gets even bigger when those children learn more about themselves and realize that they are trans.
I often wondered—was I being judged, or was I the one casting the harshest gaze on myself? I was lost in my insecurities, watching my life curve down a path I never intended. I thought I had done everything right, yet I found myself in the place I feared the most: single motherhood.
What originally began as a brief visit quickly became a sister circle where vulnerability and support converged to create a healing experience none of us knew we needed. We spent the next several hours, yes hours, discussing relationships (familial and romantic), trauma, forgiveness, self-worth, and other topics important to women.
“It was only when I began to write in my diary to push that memory into the farthest part of my
mind that my metamorphosis gradually, like sand in an hourglass, came. Writing became a
therapeutic offering to myself as I chipped away at those parts of my life that were so confusing,
so ugly, so unkind.”
This is a Black girl rite of passage. We all have to endure the pains that come with “getting your hair done”. We’ve been taught there’s a certain amount of discomfort, from the tight pull of a braid to the burn of a relaxer or hot comb, that is to be expected. We suffer for beauty, and yet we’re still criticized and politicized for the choices we make when it comes to our hair.
After listening to Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah, I couldn’t stop thinking about Meghan identifying herself as a Black woman. I highlight this because, in my ignorance of what I know about The Crown, I would never have imagined at first sight that Megan could be considered a Black woman. However, having watched the whole interview, so many questions and the thirst for further investigation came to my mind.
As Black women, we have a habit of being everyone’s superhero and protector but for ourselves. There is one thing for sure: we, as Black women, are human beings: we’re vibrant, resilient, resourceful self-sacrificing humans. However, especially as humans we have the habit of saving everyone and then us.
I understand I cannot control my familial circumstances. I was adopted into a household of Christianity and emotional abuse. Black womanhood and toxic masculinity. Enmeshment and unavailability. Nor can I undo my family environment where I was rooted in Black superwoman strength and performance under all circumstances. And I definitely cannot forget the ways in which I was raised to be a “good girl”, obey, be nice, and one day, get married.
Shop SBG! Books and Accessories for Black Women Writers
Poetry
I’ve always been weary
of people who are more concerned
with my expression of pain
Than what caused it in the first place.
Today we're joined by a guest! Christie Ann Cruise, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and social justice advocate with a passion for empowering Black women and girls to speak their truths boldly and unapologetically. Her new book, Thick Black Lines, is coming out on June 28, 2024. Join us as we discuss her writing journey with this new book! Be sure to pre-order Thick Black Lines to support this amazing Black woman author! https://www.christieanncruise.com/
I will protect you
I wanna protect what’s mine
I wanna protect because I wasn’t
Protected
Breeze flows through my hair. The clouds are big and puffy.
Podcasts hum in the background and children play outside.
I drift higher and higher as the cool air touches me reaching towards the sky.
A bird passes me and I realize I am flying.
Happy Halloween! To end this month’s theme of Transformation, we present to you three poems from an accomplished and talented poet, Safia Jama.
I promised myself that I would not have postpartum depression this time, as if that’s a thing you can promise yourself. The truth is, it’s beyond our control. No person who has ever experienced a mental health challenge could control it, or we would choose not to. Your body has experienced a great shift
We’ve all heard of getting butterflies in your stomach when you feel nervous, so it should be no surprise that when you’re taking care of your mental health, good gut health is a must. After all, our gut is our second brain. There’s so much to explore when it comes to the connection between gut health and mental health, including the connection between gut health, autism, and ADHD.
By understanding the foundations of our society, we understand that this trauma has shifted DNA, familial patterns, mental health, societal roles, and daily experiences. Understanding the history and the foundations of our society is necessary to understand the complex ways in which these formative actions impact mental health. The dance of injustice has been a long narrative in this country and has shaped the mental health of a people.
What originally began as a brief visit quickly became a sister circle where vulnerability and support converged to create a healing experience none of us knew we needed. We spent the next several hours, yes hours, discussing relationships (familial and romantic), trauma, forgiveness, self-worth, and other topics important to women.
I recently revealed on my popular Instagram reel show: Search for Serotonin that I went on a date. People in my DMs congratulated me and said they were proud of me for taking this step. I thought it was funny all the fuss people made, but I had been very vocal about not trusting anyone ever again and remaining single to protect myself. And now here I am, allowing a man to give me butterflies.
When most people think of a person with Autism, they think of a white male. My second child is an African American female. This is our story. From the moment my husband and I brought her home from the hospital, she was extremely sensitive to light and sound.
PTSD nightmares are a reality for many survivors of trauma, whether you experienced trauma yourself or witnessed a traumatic incident. Every day millions of people are impacted by PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can affect anyone who has experienced physical or psychological trauma.
As a full-time student and international student dealing with depression and anxiety daily, it is a struggle, primarily when you continually deal with hardships: homesickness, social difference, and all-around stress. Sometimes there are difficulties within people. Students who have experienced anxiousness or depressed feelings should know that they are not alone. It merely is not uncommon to feel this way—in particular, being involved in the university community.
After going through so much in my life, things were going well, until it happened.
I had a head-on collision with not only breast cancer, but colon cancer as well, and it changed my entire outlook on life. I found my cancer through an ultrasound.
Today there’s more pressure than ever on moms to juggle multiple responsibilities for work, school, and family, while also being the main source of emotional support in the household. Meditation can be the key to peace of mind when it feels like expectations are piled higher than the dishes.
“The exact cause is unknown”
As I started my research about PMDD (Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder), I saw this phrase repeated again and again. We hear this refrain uttered over so many women’s health diagnoses.
The staggering statistics facing Black moms highlight the increased risk of falling through the cracks in the healthcare system when it comes to our maternal health and overall wellness.
The first step towards building a robust financial foundation is to focus on strengthening your earnings. Historically, Black women have been underpaid, which undervalues our immense contribution to the workforce. It's time to shift the narrative…
With college acceptance letters arriving in mailboxes and inboxes around the country, a new chapter begins for many students and their families. However, the excitement of college acceptance often comes hand in hand with the daunting question, "How are we going to pay for this?"
Creative entrepreneurship can be a thrilling journey because you're not just pursuing a passion, you're stepping into a lifestyle that offers unparalleled freedom and opportunities. However, navigating the path of a creative entrepreneur requires more than just talent and determination. It involves a strategic approach to financial management, self-discipline, and an understanding of the unique freedoms this path provides.
In recent times, our community has been uplifted and deeply moved by the stories of Black women in the ivory towers of academia. Their journeys, marked by both groundbreaking achievements and poignant challenges, remind us of the resilience and brilliance that define us.
When we reimagine grief and loss, we realize that many of life’s events can trigger powerful reactions that deserve to be supported with the same gentle care we would bestow with the death of a loved one.
Beauty today feels like ownership — not approval. It is the way my skin absorbs sunlight like it was born for it, the way my hair grows upward toward the heavens, the way my body carries memory, ancestry, and sensuality with no apology. Beauty is presence. It is breath. It is inheritance.