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Author Talk | Amena Brown

Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl

Amena Brown discusses her essay collection, "Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl," featuring essential tales about growing up in the South and the joy and beauty of being a Black girl.

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).

Books will be available for sale and signing from Charis Books & More. 

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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.

Moderator Morgan Harper Nichols - Bestselling Author, Artist & Researcher Morgan Harper Nichols is a celebrated artist and author known for her viral poetry and illustrations exploring healing and connection. With over a million followers on Instagram, she is the creator of the Storyteller app and founder of Garden24.A PhD student at the University of Georgia, Morgan researches health narratives and digital media. Her work is deeply informed by her diagnosis of Autism and ADHD at age 31. Based in Atlanta, she serves on the Board of Directors for TWLOHA, bridging the gap between art,research, and community mental health.

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