Book of Awesome Women Writers

BeccaAnderson comes from a long line of preachers and teachers from Ohioand Kentucky. The teacher's side of her family led her to become a women'sstudies scholar and the author of The Book of AwesomeWomen. An avid collector of meditations, prayers and blessings, shehelps run a “Gratitude and Grace Circle”' which meets at homes, churches andbookstores monthly in the San Francisco-Bay Area where she currently resides.Becca Anderson credits her spiritual practice with helping her recover fromcancer and wants to share this with anyone who is facing difficulty in theirlife.Author of Think Happy to StayHappy and Every Day Thankful, Becca Andersonshares her inspirational writings and suggested acts of kindness athttps://thedailyinspoblog.wordpress.com/She also blogs aboutAwesome Women, like those in her book BadassAffirmations, at https://theblogofawesomewomen.wordpress.com/Born in Port-au-Prince, M.J. Fievre, B.S. Ed, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Barry University. A seasoned K–12 teacher, a creator of safe spaces, and an initiator of difficult conversations, she spent much time building up her students, helping them feel comfortable in their own skin, and affirming their identities. Her close relationships with parents and students led her to look more closely at how we can balance protecting a child’s innocence with preparing them for the realities of life. She has taught creative writing workshops to children and teens at the O Miami Poetry Festival and the Miami Art Museum, as well as in various schools in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), and South Florida. She’s also been a keynote speaker at Tufts University (Massachusetts), Howard University (Washington, DC), the University of Miami (Florida), and Michael College (Vermont) and has served as a panelist at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference (AWP).M.J.’s publishing career began as a teenager in her native Haiti. At nineteen years old, she signed her first book contract with Hachette-Deschamps for the publication of a YA book titled La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, M.J. has released nine YA books in French that are widely read in Europe and the French Antilles, and she is the author of the award-winning Badass Black Girl book series for tweens and teens (in English). One Moore Book published M.J.’s first children’s book, I Am Riding, as part of a special limited series edited by Edwidge Danticat. A middle-grade book, Young Trailblazers, and picture book, Sam Is Afraid of Christmas, are both set to be released by DragonFruit in the fall of 2021.As the ReadCaribbean program coordinator for the prestigious Miami Book Fair, M.J. directs and produces the children’s cultural show Taptap Krik? Krak! For her podcast, MJ has interviewed many literary legends, including Edwidge Danticat, Alice Randall, and Nikki Giovanni.

“Formidable and daring, resilient and hopeful, The Book of Awesome Black Women is a beacon of acknowledgement for the transformative work Black women have done and continue to do. Rendered with simple truth and trail-blazing candor, we are honored by their lives, their stories, their grace and the inspirational precedent set for all to follow in their footsteps.”—Bridgitte Jackson-Buckley, interviewer, memoirist, and author of The Gift of Crisis: How I Used Meditation to Go From Financial Failure to a Life of Purpose “In The Book of Awesome Black Women: Mighty Females Who Changed History, Becca Anderson and M.J. Fievre remind us how central Black women are and have been to American and world history and culture. No matter how much you think you know about the awesomeness of Black women, this book will give you more reasons to celebrate what Black women have done and are destined to do. This book is a balm and a healing for all who will read it.”—Marita Golden, author of The Strong Black Woman: How A Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women “The Book of Awesome Black Women is full of Black women trailblazers who have paved the way for future generations of Black girls to build their own achievements, successes, and triumphs. Here are the foremothers whose stories and lives will help teach young Black girls the power they hold within to change and redefine social boundaries.”—Varla Ventura, author of Sheroes: Bold, Brash, and Absolutely Unabashed Superwomen “A celebration of indomitable black women who scaled centuries of oppression to reach the mountaintop. The encapsulated biographies prove that the impossible can be possible.”—Marlene Wagman-Geller, author of Women of Means: The Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics and Other Poor Little Rich Girls “The Book of Awesome Black Women is a powerful resource for young Black girls to empower themselves with the stories of their foremothers. The Black women in this book will guide and lead future generations to recognize that they have the love, strength, and ferocity to change their world.”—Karen Arrington, author of Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America“The world needs more works celebrating the excellence of strong, accomplished Black women! This is an excellent introduction to those who’ve earned their places in history.”—Chrisanne Beckner, architectural historian, writer, and author of 100 African Americans Who Shaped American History

• ContentsIntroductions – MJ Fievre and Becca AndersonChapter One – Hidden Figures No Longer: Black Women in STEMChapter Two – SHEroes: Unstoppable Black Women Who Busted Down BarriersChapter Three – Amazing Artists: Musicians, Actors and Other Creators of ColorChapter Four – The Truest Eyes: Awesome Black Women WritersChapter Five – Let a New Earth Rise: Poets & Literary PioneersChapter Six – Recovering and Reclaiming Identities: Black Women in Visual ArtsChapter Seven – All-Kinds-of-Awesome Athletes: Women and Girls Who Leveled the Playing FieldChapter Eight – Activists Who Kick A**: Fighting For Civil Rights, Human Right, Queer Rights & Climates RightsChapter Nine – Unbought & Unbossed: Black Women Fighting for EqualityChapter Ten – Black Women Leading the Way: Mighty in the Classroom, the Military, and the ChurchChapter Eleven – Black Bodies on the Move: Awesome Black Models and DancersChapter Twelve – SHEO’s & SHEroes: Black Women Give Back and Make the BestBossesConclusion