Black Girl Magic by Mahogany L. Browne

Black Girl Magic Reviews

• 
  Nay Keppler

  EVERYONE READ THE SHIT OUTTA THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• 
  Tiana Hadnt

  I was underwhelmed by this poem. I can see what it’s trying to do, but....it doesn’t quite do it.
  
  As a black woman, I realize fully that there are things we have to deal with that other women don’t. I realize that this is a good poem for little girls who’ve never been taught that they’re worth anything. For women who look back at the girl they were and wish they’d had someone to tell them these things. Or for women who wished they’d believed these things when they were told.
  
  However, it’s lackluster. It’s not a collection of poetry to inspire and uplift Black women. It doesn’t have the reach it could have had. It’s basically short poem to say “hey, black girls are awesome.” To list Beyoncé and Kerry Washington and Viola Davis and Shonda Rhimes (and make no mistake I love all these women) next to Cicely Tyson and Nina Simone? When there are so many more powerful, ground breaking black women through history they should know about and have as role models? Women who aren’t Hollywood aficionados or singers? (See Vashti Harrison’s “Bold Women in Black History.”) Even women in their own families?
  
  There are so many worlds to expose our girls to, so many lives we can share with them so they can really understand the strength that they come here with. There are so many ways that this poem could have blown the socks off of anyone who read it. There could have been amazing vocabulary to teach our girls, amazing history to teach our girls, and amazing depth to give to our girls. A way to give them a stronger sense of self with stronger foundation.
  
  Because yes we are more than perms and weaves and baby machines and side-chicks. Yes we are more than automatons who bear everything in silence. We are so much more than this poem tells us we are, which is basically just “magical” or “flyy.” It is written in the most stereotypical vernacular, and obviously isn’t trying to go too deep. It doesn’t accomplish anything that our own mothers (or you, if you are a mother) can’t accomplish simply by saying to her (or your) daughter “You can be whatever you want,” or “you are beautiful,” or just “you are worthy, and the world is your oyster.” And subsequently teaching her about all the really awesome Black women (pre Destiny’s Child and Shondaland) that have done all these things people said we couldn’t do. Mathematics, science, literature, engineering, etc. Holding a family together (All the love in the world to both of my grandmothers and two of my great-grandmothers for this). Take the fixation off red lipstick, weave, and high heels and put it on intelligence and how we carry ourselves. How we allow ourselves to be treated within our own culture, not just the world at large. Teach them about real strength. Teach them how to grow.
  
  I guess the purpose of this review is to say that this poem tells us all the things that people said we could do and couldn’t be, but then basically doesn’t really take us anyplace new. It’s a poem that has pretty much been said before and said more powerfully. I suggest reading Maya Angelou’a “Phenomenal Woman” or Chimamada Ngozi Adiche’s “We Should All Be Feminists.”
• 
  Erin Beall

  Buy 20 copies of this and give one to every black girl you meet tomorrow. That’d be a good start.
• 
  Bobbieshiann

  “BUT YOU TELL THEM
  YOU ARE MORE THAN
  A HOT COMB AND
  A WASH N’ SET
  
  
  YOU ARE
  KUNTA KINTE’S KIN
  
  
  YOU ARE A
  BLACK GIRL
  WORTH
  REMEMBERING”!!!!!
• 
  This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books

  Beautiful. Raw. Emotional. Endearing. Empowering. Realistic.
  
  Mahogany L. Browne's poetry pirouettes among stereotypes and expectations of black girls and women, while singing praise and wonder to those in need of hearing positivity and glory. Truly haunting and lovely.
  
  5/5
• 
  Tarina

  Should it count towards my goal if the book is just one poem? Even a poem big enough to stop me in my tracks in the book store aisle, kneel on the floor, and cry?
  Probably.
  This was the book I wish had been on my shelf when I was young and I am so happy to be adding to my shelves now. The art is spectacular, the verses are touching and rhythmic. This is art and beauty and magic. Magic the white lady who watched me murmur this poem to myself and cry didn't understand because those weren't very understanding looks she shot me.
• 
  Lata

  Fierce and proud.
• 
  Melissa

  Wow, this hit pretty hard for me. This poem talked about things that I have tried relaying to other people and they just didn't get it but clearly this author gets it.
• 
  Jillian Heise

  An empowering message in a beautiful book. However, definitely a more mature read. I would not put it in my elementary library, but would love to use it with high school kids in a larger discussion around social justice and race.
• 
  Kate

  Powerful, raw, lovely. It's moving and empowering. <3
• 
  Shyiesha

  Nice use of imagery, but it felt like something was missing. Nonetheless, it is a great read and I will most definitely offer it to young women of color.
• 
  Emily

  I’m really not a poetry person. I don’t even have a poetry Goodreads shelf to put this on (yes, I know I can make one, but I have no intentions is changing my ways). I checked this out because my niece has shown an interest in poetry lately, and I wanted to see if this would make a good gift for her. It’s just one poem, but the book is nicely done. I liked the rhythm of the poem itself, the accompanying artwork, and the “roll call” inside the front and back covers. This poem is not written for me, but I did appreciate it, and I think it would make a nice gift.
• 
  Kirsten

  I can't tell you how much I love this book. There are not enough words. It's for teens but it's also a picture book and it doesn't need to be any longer than it is. It puts into words the expectations that we, as black girls, grow up with and then says throw them out and be who you are, not what people tell you you have to be. Let your black girl magic shine!
• 
  Jeimy

  Empowering words!
• 
  Miss Ryoko

  In your face, honest, beautiful, magical, powerful. I am grateful this book exists
• 
  Jennifer

  Amazing poem with graphics that bring it to life.
  
  Great use of black and red and gold.
• 
  Michelle

  All true.
• 
  Natalie Carbery

  First, I would like to say that I loved this poem. I want to send it to every school library in Chicagoland so that every little black girl can read it.
  
  I would love to see this beautiful poem be expanded into a collection that provides a larger conversation about the extent of black girl magic.
  
  While I love Beyonce and Kerry Washington, I would love more examples of successful black women in all sorts of fields. Let's write and talk about Mama Lola (religious leader and actual badass), Roxane Gay, Bessie Coleman, Maxine Waters, Coretta Scott King! Let's talk about the black girl magic that voted Roy Moore out of office in Alabama.
• 
  Andre

  A visual and linguistic marvel! A poem yes, but one of esteem both aspirational and inspirational. One showing and teaching Black girls to embrace their power. To understand and appreciate the greatness that lies within and around them, to ignore the easy, ubiquitous stereotypes and accomplish whatsoever one will. The illustrations make it appear as if each page is connected by the braided hair of a black girl.
  
  A very short book with the poem spread out over its 40 pages. A lovely piece of poetic work by poet Mahogany Browne and illustrator, Jess Snow that will certainly lift the spirit of all those who read it.
• 
  Brittney Previe

  Solid little books of poetry are important. They prove a point in a small digestible section that leave you craving more. This book is not different. I bought this for my daughter, to teach her the stereotypes that will plague her as a young, beautiful black girl, but she is more than that. She holds a power the world has yet to see, but they will. Simply and eloquently, Black Girl Magic, breaks down the barriers we face as black girls on our society and builds us up through “an anthem of strength.”
• 
  Pegi Ferrell

  This really gets a 4.9. I love the message and the stunning illustrations. However, I wish the women on the "SHINE! SHINE! SHINE!" page had included more than performers. How about Ursula Burns? Angie Thomas? Dorothy Vaughn?
  
  However, I will still recommend this to EVERYONE! I am so excited that the librarian who checked this out to me put it on hold before I left the building. Book power!
• 
  Alia

  Phenomenal
• 
  Sarah

  2019 Amelia Bloomer Early Readers Nonfiction
• 
  Kirsten

  This is a powerful poem, gorgeously illustrated by Jess X. Snow. While this appears to be a picture book, it will speak most strongly to teens and young adults.
• 
  Aaron Dennis

  This was a great reminder for me, as a teacher in a diverse classroom, to make space for those voices who may be too often relegated to background noise.
• 
  Zulfiya

  Illustrations are gorgeous, and the message of the poem is very powerful, but I do not think it is worth turning one poem into a book.
  
  Plus, it is more a recital, a slogan, a manifesto rather the poem.
  I am quite subjective here, but would it not be powerful as a message for any girl, not necessary a girl from a black community? On the other hand, I am a white immigrant who lives in a white bubble often enjoying its benefits without even noticing it.
  
  My main peeve is that nearly all the famous name that are alluded to for inspiration are all actors and musicians. This is so wrong. According to the book blurb, the author is an educator, and it would be more inspiring to list other names, writers and poets, scientists and public figures, and if people do not know them, well, this is one of the purposes of the book - educate and empower. Let them research and educate themselves. Otherwise, it had that feeling of glamorizing pop culture, and it was not a very good aftertaste. I know these names are easier to relate to, but the unsung heroes of Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Octavia Butler, Katherine Johnson, Shirley Ann Jackson are completely ignored.
  Damn it, as a former educator myself, I do want to tell the author - it is your job to enlighten us.
  
  
• 
  Teonna Taylor

  Black Girl Magic is a call and acknowledgement to Black girls and Black women. This candid poem acknowledges the weight and struggles of society's stereotypes and limiting views placed upon Black women and girls. This includes Black girls not "posed to be more than a girlfriend", have dreams, have an opinion, or have any inkling of self love. However, this poem boldly reminds Black girls "you are more than a hot comb and a wash'n'set" and "you are a Black girl worth remembering." Furthermore, this speaker brazenly tells Black girls "you are a threat knowing yourself// you are a threat loving yourself// you are a threat loving your kin// you are a threat loving your children." This poem ends with giving Black girls phrases of love and encouragement that only a Black woman can as the speaker states, "You Black girl magic! You Black girl fly." With these words of encouragement, the poem ends with welcoming Black girls into Black womanhood with "And you are turning into a beautiful Black woman right before our eyes."
  
  Oh, how I loved and relished the words of this poem and invite all Black women and girls to read this too!
• 
  Sarah

  Absolutely beautiful words and illustrations!
• 
  Linnea

  I enjoyed reading this poem and will be reading more from this author.