Blackwildgirl - by Menah Adeola Eyaside Pratt (Paperback)

About the Book

In this deeply reflective autobiography of acts, stages, scenes, and letters to Love beginning at the age of eight, Blackwildgirl, a childhood queen superpower dethroned in a bargain made by her parents, embarks on a forty-five-year quest to reclaim her crown and become Blackwildgoddess--a fierce warrior for justice in the world.

Book Synopsis

In this deeply reflective autobiography of acts, stages, scenes, and letters to Love beginning at the age of eight, Blackwildgirl, a childhood queen superpower dethroned in a bargain made by her parents, embarks on a forty-five-year quest to reclaim her crown and become Blackwildgoddess-a fierce warrior for justice in the world.

Review Quotes

"A multifaceted epic that aims to offer validation and encouragement to those who may be struggling under similar systems of oppression. An engaging remembrance and a useful study of race and gender in America."
-Kirkus Reviews

"If there is one book every Black woman needs to read in her life, it's Blackwildgirl. She puts into words the emotions and frustrations many of us struggle to verbalize, even to ourselves. She offers her book as an extension of her Doutorando [journals] for us--for those who have no safe space to pour out their hearts and souls, who need to take the weight of the world off their shoulders for even a moment."
--Readers' Favorite, 5 Star Review

"Once upon a time, Before time could be counted, Soft words were spoken, Then a song was sung, And a seed hearing those sounds followed them out, To become a part of the newness, To become a part of this warmth, To Become . . . to become, to become a journey into Girlhood. Menah Pratt follows That sound to That warmth to That possibility and invites us to travel with her."
--Nikki Giovanni, poet

"A powerful and genre-defying autobiography that takes readers on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment . . . an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the experiences of Black women and girls as they journey towards self-discovery and empowerment. This book is a valuable resource for parents, daughters, women, husbands, partners, and lovers of women."
--Sharon Tettegah, Director, Center for Black Studies Research, Professor, The Department of Black Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

"A searing memoir with unexpected twists and turns. A testament to the human spirit."
--Stanlie James, author of Practical Audacity: Black Women and International Human Rights

"Every now and again a poet comes along and allows her reader a peak beyond the veil. Blackwildgirl takes us on a journey across time and geographies through the eyes of a determined spirit. The book is in conversation with every precarious daughter who dared to live free. Pratt boldly, yet delicately, reveals the warrior spirit within!"
--Venus E. Evans-Winters, author of Black Feminism in Qualitative Inquiry: A Mosaic for Writing Our Daughter's Body

"In this beautifully written and moving book, Menah Pratt combines autobiography, womanist theology, and Jungian psychology to trace the loss and recovery of her girlhood self. . . . Dedicated to wildgirls and wildwomen, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to live in the fullness of creativity, wisdom, and joy."
--Corinne Field, Associate Professor, Department of Women, Gender & Sexuality, University of Virginia, co-editor of The Global History of Black Girlhood

"Blackwildgirl starts like a strike of thunder a few hundred miles away, like a storm catching up to you. I was left gasping for air on several occasions. And at the same time, I felt enveloped with a warm hug. Once I got started, I could not stop. Be prepared to be moved!"
Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríiacute;guez, author of For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts

"Beautifully and painfully intimate. . . .This work creates new entry points to hear, see, and love on Black girls."
--Corey J. Miles, author of Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South

"Blackwildgirl offers a deeply intimate and empowering experience, providing Black girls and women with the potential for reconciliation, reclamation, and a deeper awareness of their inherent goddess wisdom."
--Asha' Jones, Assistant