"Power is the ability to control the narrative. Your narrative. Your story, told through your lens, told in your voice. That's important. Power is also strength, and I'm not just talking about carrying seventeen bags of groceries inside in one trip. I'm talking about the strength to stand up--stand up for what you believe in, stand up for someone else, stand up after you've been knocked down, dragged down, or talked down to."
This eloquent definition of power comes from Kwame Mbalia's Introduction to Black Girl Power, a rich and vibrant anthology of narratives written for older juvenile readers by some of the best and brightest of today's Black writers. The stories all center around girl protagonists facing serious stressors. Most settings are familiar to preteens; some less so. But the shero always prevails.
*In Elise Bryant's The New Rules it's the first day of middle school for Maya. The bestie she'd counted on for support has recently ditched her for a less babyish chum. She feels like she can't possibly fit in until...
..."But, suddenly those assessing stares, those judgy glances, look a lot more self-conscious and nervous. Could they be just as freaked out about middle school and these new rules and what everyone else thinks about them as I am? Could that be...normal?"
*Zetta, protagonist of Natasha Diaz's One Of Those Days, and her mother are about to move away from the only home she's ever known. It's their last day in her familiar neighborhood. She knows exactly how she wants to spend it. But a weird kind of magic seems to be messing everything up.
*Billie, narrator of Leah Johnson's Brave prides herself on her toughness.
"The thing is, you gotta be fearless when you're a girl playing [ice] hockey. Otherwise, people think they can run all over you. And nobody runs over Billie Louise Tate Jr., no, sir. I spit and I fight and I can outskate and outeat and outscore anybody."
But a diagnosis of pediatric ITP is an opponent she hasn't counted on.
In Tola Okogwu's An Aria For Abi Abi loves singing and wants desperately to audition for a role in her school's opera production. Her mother wants her to instead focus on running.
"I'm juggling so many expectations, I feel like a clown sometimes. Everyone has a role they want me to play...obedient daughter...grateful scholarship kid...dedicated athlete. How am I supposed to be all these things and still be me, too?"
That's only a sample of the truly engaging stories readers will encounter. I consider Black Girl Power to be an exceptionally good gift for girls about to make the make the big transition to middle school with its increased challenges and responsibilities.
On a purrrsonal note, tonight's the last year of 2025. Although on the larger scale it seemed to be an unbroken stream of unmitigated disasters, in my personal life there were some real special moments, mostly centered around my finally graduating from UMaine with a masters degree in higher education: student services: the huge surprise party in the career center that had food, cards, gifts, music, a slide show, and a book with pictures and messages (So many people worked on it and kept it secret for weeks and my whole family attended--even Eugene who hates parties); the actual graduation where the president spoke glowingly about me and I got a standing ovation; and the press coverage of my accomplishment (Channel 5 News, People Magazine. Another high point was being able to perform in a drag show put on by a UMaine drag club my friend Jaxon and I started. Scattered through the year were skills I regained that I'd lost to the stroke--especially swimming. In the summer and fall groups discovered my photography talents and counted on me to be paparazzi for their social media. Better believe I'm going to develop that skill. But the most precious moments were those I spent with family and friends.
Tobago and I plan to party at home tonight: stay up after Eugene goes to bed, reading and snuggling near the tree. I have a Fancy Feast entree for her and 1 Ghirardelli chocolate for me. I hope you have a happy and safe night.
Yes, I have crafted my resolutions. You can learn about them tomorrow.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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