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The Black Notes: Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls
This collection contains stories and poems written by 12 Black women; it is serendipitous that their voices blend seamlessly, and beautifully, even though the writers are intergenerational. The storytelling crosses local, national, and international cultural sensibilities, giving the reader a glimpse of the way the storytellers 'receive' and share 'Story'. The poets cut through emotional lines to caress the reader, just before they unleash a shaft of insight that rattles your consciousness. Contributors to Black Notes include Motion, Trey Anthony, Itah Sadu, D'bi Young, Sister Souljah, Brenda Lee Browne, Jully Black, and Jemeni.
196 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2017
17 people want to read
About the author
Althea Prince
11 books11 followersDr. Althea Prince is an award-winning author who was born in Antigua and has resided in Canada, the US, and England.
She has taught sociology, first at York University and the University of Toronto, and now teaches at Ryerson University–The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, where she won the Kay Livingstone Award in 2011. Her teaching focus tends to be on African Caribbean peoples in metropolitan communities.
Dr. Prince is known for her work as an essayist and fiction writer.
She has taught sociology, first at York University and the University of Toronto, and now teaches at Ryerson University–The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, where she won the Kay Livingstone Award in 2011. Her teaching focus tends to be on African Caribbean peoples in metropolitan communities.
Dr. Prince is known for her work as an essayist and fiction writer.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 8, 2018
Althea Prince is an award-winning author, activist, sociologist, scholar, professor...which makes it seem fitting to me she would gather together the works of a group of unknown black female writers in one anthology for the world to read.
This book is a really great collection of short writings - stories, essays, prose excerpts and poetry - all from the various perspectives of black women (and girls, as noted in the subtitle: "Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls"). Some of the entries are rather basic but a number of them are small shiny gems that provide access to, and acknowledgement of, the experiences of black women (and girls). Not a long book but certainly an interesting and thoughtfully collected anthology.
This book is a really great collection of short writings - stories, essays, prose excerpts and poetry - all from the various perspectives of black women (and girls, as noted in the subtitle: "Fresh Writing by Black Women and Girls"). Some of the entries are rather basic but a number of them are small shiny gems that provide access to, and acknowledgement of, the experiences of black women (and girls). Not a long book but certainly an interesting and thoughtfully collected anthology.
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October 25, 2019These stories and poems come from black women from a wide variety of backgrounds.
They deal with issues like misogyny, patriarchy, dysfunctional relationships (familial and personal), grief, mental health, and colourism within the black and brown community.
Favourites from this collection include:
'Oya' by d'bi.young anitafrika, that deals with the sexual exploitation of women by men and the misogyny that still permeates many aspects of societies all over the world.
'A Life...A Spirit...A Name' by Barbara A. Arrindell, looks at a hypothetical conversation between the spirit of N unborn child and the creator about the decision his mother will make, it will either see him born or sent back to the spiritual waiting line for the chance to be born.
'Dear Daddy' by Gayle Gonsalves, about a young girl writing letters to her absent father telling him about what is happening in her life. This story looks at trauma, colourism within the black community, and non-conforming gender identity.
'If I Were a Black Girl in Love with Myself' by Jemeni, is a love letter to black women encouraging them to take care of themselves and not just those around them.
Those are just a few of the gems within this anthology. It was a truly wonderful and enlightening read, and I would recommend it to everyone.
They deal with issues like misogyny, patriarchy, dysfunctional relationships (familial and personal), grief, mental health, and colourism within the black and brown community.
Favourites from this collection include:
'Oya' by d'bi.young anitafrika, that deals with the sexual exploitation of women by men and the misogyny that still permeates many aspects of societies all over the world.
'A Life...A Spirit...A Name' by Barbara A. Arrindell, looks at a hypothetical conversation between the spirit of N unborn child and the creator about the decision his mother will make, it will either see him born or sent back to the spiritual waiting line for the chance to be born.
'Dear Daddy' by Gayle Gonsalves, about a young girl writing letters to her absent father telling him about what is happening in her life. This story looks at trauma, colourism within the black community, and non-conforming gender identity.
'If I Were a Black Girl in Love with Myself' by Jemeni, is a love letter to black women encouraging them to take care of themselves and not just those around them.
Those are just a few of the gems within this anthology. It was a truly wonderful and enlightening read, and I would recommend it to everyone.
October 8, 2017
Liked the poems.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews