Spoken-word poet and performing artist Amena Brown will be visiting Call & Response to discuss her latest essay collection!
Join us as we celebrate poet, performing artist, and author Amena Brown's new essay collection, Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl! Q&A and book signing to follow discussion. Amena will be joined in conversation by Chicago-based culture writer Taylor Crumpton!
An irresistible delight, this hilarious and heartwarming essay collection gathers essential tales about growing up in the South, the pitfalls of date night, and why no one should ever tell a Black girl how to Black Girl.
Black women always find a place to meet: in the natural hair aisle, at Beyoncé concerts, even online in memes and catchphrases. This book is one of those places: a living room where readers can contemplate how a well-picked afro can defy the laws of physics and why boob sweat has to exist in the first place. Here, Black Girl is a verb. Here, Black women can Black Girl in every way we want to.
Amena Brown’s book Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl blends storytelling, humor, and pop culture commentary to traverse the magic and wisdom she's gleaned from being raised by Southern Black women, and supported by the community of Black women who hold her down today. After graduating from the International Black Girl Headquarters (the renowned HBCU Spelman College), Amena has built a career telling stories and celebrating Black womanhood. In her book, she shares stories of dancing in Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" music video and partnering with Tracee Ellis Ross to compose odes to natural hair. She imparts essential life lessons from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and tells hair tales, including wisdom on the ideal style for her first speaking gig at Essence Fest (box braids, 100 percent).
In the end, Brown shares that Black women are a whole world. A galaxy of customs, language, code, and unspoken understandings, all explored with humor and heart in this unforgettable book.
Amena Brown is a spoken-word poet and performing artist whose work interweaves keep-it-real storytelling with humor. She is the author of How to Fix a Broken Record and Breaking Old Rhythms. Her poetry was featured in the New York Times bestselling book Rhythm of Prayer. Brown was featured in Olay’s Face Anything campaign alongside Jennifer Hudson. She was also the poetic partner for PATTERN Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross’s natural hair care and beauty brand. She lives in Atlanta.
Taylor Crumpton is a highly successful music, pop culture, and politics writer primarily focusing on Black culture. Boasting over nine years of experience, Taylor is currently in the drafting process of two books and also holds the prestigious role of columnist for TIME Magazine. Her work has been featured in the nation’s most revered publications such as NPR, ESSENCE, them, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Refinery 29, NYLON, Wall Street Journal, Harper's Bazaar and more. She previously worked as the Arts and Culture editor for D Magazine and frequently appears as a guest commentator, panelist, and speaker in the media and entertainment industries.
Thursday, 09, 19.00 - Thursday, 09, 20.30 Chicago, IL _$25