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Dear Beautiful:: A Self-Empowerment Book for Black Women
From childhood onward, Black women are assaulted with negative messages about their appearance, personalities, behavior, and self-worth. Dear Beautiful! provides empowering journaling exercises, Art Therapy, Daily Affirmations, life lessons, stories, and strategies to enable Black and non-Black women to develop a “Roadmap to Success,” so that they can live their best lives. Dr. Gail L. Thompson, a critically- acclaimed and award-nominated author, Equity and Professional Development Expert, motivational speaker, and former Endowed Professor, seeks to empower others through her work.
200 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2018
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January 13, 2018
An Absolute Must-Read!
This book is utterly superb. While written for Black women and full of information I can imagine Black women loving (and thinking, “Hooray! Someone is covering these topics in a way to which I can perfectly relate!”), I also got so much from this book as a White woman. Along with a better understanding of challenges and opportunities other women face, I felt incredibly empowered by this book.
Part One helped me appreciate my outer appearance (even my wild hair) and understand how my sister, peers, and the media had shaped my previous conception. It taught me the importance of daily affirmations, and I have already started using and benefiting from these. I agree with Dr. Thompson’s quote about God liking diversity, uniqueness, all different shapes and sizes, etc., and this perspective helps me love my individual quirks in a way I didn’t before.
Part Two helped me appreciate my inner beauty. In my life, I’ve encountered people who pretend (expertly!) to be kind but are actually horribly selfish and vindictive (the “poisonous vipers” Dr. Thompson warns of). Navigating life as someone who “plays by the rules” and tries to be a good person (for real, not just when others are looking) can be frustrating when I’m preyed upon. But this book reminded me of my inner beauty’s value and helped me devise a plan to protect myself from “the haters” and practice self-care. I loved the secrets to success, as well.
The book was informative yet fun (you get to draw, color, and write, which I love – I’m not finished with writing in the personal growth exercises but plan to return for “refreshers” throughout my future), moving (stories like that of Sara Baartman and Nina Simone had me in tears, and Dr. Thompson included levity and joy, as well), engaging, original, accessible, helpful, and incredibly empowering. There are many takeaways and resources (like the HennaforHair website, and the need for Vitamin B-12 and iron).
This powerful book is an absolute must-read for all women. I am especially excited for Black women who get to read it. We all will be waiting anxiously for the next volume in this series!
This book is utterly superb. While written for Black women and full of information I can imagine Black women loving (and thinking, “Hooray! Someone is covering these topics in a way to which I can perfectly relate!”), I also got so much from this book as a White woman. Along with a better understanding of challenges and opportunities other women face, I felt incredibly empowered by this book.
Part One helped me appreciate my outer appearance (even my wild hair) and understand how my sister, peers, and the media had shaped my previous conception. It taught me the importance of daily affirmations, and I have already started using and benefiting from these. I agree with Dr. Thompson’s quote about God liking diversity, uniqueness, all different shapes and sizes, etc., and this perspective helps me love my individual quirks in a way I didn’t before.
Part Two helped me appreciate my inner beauty. In my life, I’ve encountered people who pretend (expertly!) to be kind but are actually horribly selfish and vindictive (the “poisonous vipers” Dr. Thompson warns of). Navigating life as someone who “plays by the rules” and tries to be a good person (for real, not just when others are looking) can be frustrating when I’m preyed upon. But this book reminded me of my inner beauty’s value and helped me devise a plan to protect myself from “the haters” and practice self-care. I loved the secrets to success, as well.
The book was informative yet fun (you get to draw, color, and write, which I love – I’m not finished with writing in the personal growth exercises but plan to return for “refreshers” throughout my future), moving (stories like that of Sara Baartman and Nina Simone had me in tears, and Dr. Thompson included levity and joy, as well), engaging, original, accessible, helpful, and incredibly empowering. There are many takeaways and resources (like the HennaforHair website, and the need for Vitamin B-12 and iron).
This powerful book is an absolute must-read for all women. I am especially excited for Black women who get to read it. We all will be waiting anxiously for the next volume in this series!
Displaying 1 of 1 review