It’s incredible to experience a time where #BlackGirlMagic has the space to take up many forms – including a beautifully crafted anthem created by Mahogany L. Browne. Browne is an internationally recognized poet, author, activist and educator who transformed her poem Black Girl Magic into a book with beautiful illustrations created by Jess X. Snow, that pays tribute to the struggle faced by black girls and women for simply existing.
Black Girl Magic is a reiteration of an emerging movement, which is still a work in progress, that we’re lucky to be able to watch unfold – one where black women and girls can claim their space and time, confidently exude everything that makes them magical, and to put simply – exist. Browne’s poem is introduced with a series of things “you ain’t posed to do” as a black girl, such as wear high heels or red lipstick, smile in public, dream, or even love yourself. Her poem concludes with, “You are a black girl worth remembering,” and “you’re turning into a beautiful black woman right before our eyes.”
The uplifting and reassuring book is not only beautifully written, it is also atheistically pleasing – it features a hardcover with front that mimics uppercase handwriting and illustrations of black girls, women and braided hair. The book was released earlier this year and can be purchased through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Mahogany L. Browne has also come together with poet and vocalist, Jamila Woods and writer and poet, Idrissa Simmonds to create and poetry anthology, The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic, which focuses on “debunking the myth of hip-hop as a boy’s club and asserts the truth that the cypher is a feminine form,” according the book description. The beautiful cover art is by Brianna McCarthy and the edits are by the three aforementioned queens. The book debuted April 17th and as Mahogany so kindly tells us, be sure to get two copies, one for you and one for your friends/students/neighbors. The anthology can also be purchased through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Check out Mahogany L. Browne’s poem Black Girl Magic for PBS' Brief but Spectacular video series below and be sure to keep up with Mahogany on Instagram for events, readings and future work.