losing our literary legends

This one's for you, Nikki Giovanni.

Wednesday Wisdom

“Once you know who you are, you don’t have to worry anymore.” ~ Nikki Giovanni

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Morning Musings

When my friend and fellow well-read Black girl, Stephanie, texted me about Nikki Giovanni’s passing on Monday night, my heart broke. Here we had lost yet another literary legend.

I immediately thought back to the summer day in 2019 when I learned of Toni Morrison’s passing. Thankfully I had an appointment with my Black lady therapist later that day to help me process, but if you’ve read Stop Waiting for Perfect (or you’ve been reading this newsletter since then), then you already know what a pivotal moment that was in my personal and professional life.

Zora

Maya

Alice

Audre

Octavia

bell

Toni

And now Nikki.

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We can rattle off their names as if they’re our own. Because, in a way, they are. As a writer, these Black women writers who came before me, who made a way out of no way, who paved a way for those of us coming after them, are my ancestors.

We may not share blood, but we share a literary lineage. We share a love of words and a gift for twisting and molding them into something bigger than us, bigger than life itself.

I’m in no way comparing myself to these literary giants and yet, I feel a personal responsibility as a Black woman writer to carry on the torch, to continue their lifelong love affair of words, to prove to other Black women writers that this is possible.

And not only is it possible, but YOU can do this. You can make a living as a writer and still show up as your full, authentic self every day all day. You, too, can have this…if you want it. If you’re willing to work for it. If you’re willing to answer the call.

It’s not lost on me that last week’s newsletter was about making room for your gifts. I would dare to say that anyone who’s read Nikki Giovanni’s work has been touched by her gift. I know I have.

Like Toni, I came to know Nikki’s work later in life. But better late than never.

I distinctly remember tuning in to Well-Read Black Girl’s virtual fest where the founder Glory Edim was in conversation with Nikki Giovanni. It was during that Zoom that I learned the Biden-Harris ticket had won the 2020 election.

And later that day I rushed out to get a copy of Nikki’s latest book at the time, Make Me Rain (Poems & Prose). How delighted I was to see that one of my favorite indie bookstores had a signed copy! I knew it was special then, but now? Even more so. How proud I am to hold this literary heirloom and count her as part of my literary lineage. 🫶🏾

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ICYMI

Shoutout to

Nancy Reddy

of

Write More, Be Less Careful

for including Stop Waiting for Perfect in her second annual bookish gift guide 🥰📚

the second annual good creatures gift guide

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Links I Love

• Sha’Carri Richardson Spikes Off: A Sprint to Greatness On and Off the Track (Essence)

• What If Friends Are The Life Partners That Matter Most? (Romper)

• The Tangled History of the Silk Press and Its Cultural Significance For Young Black Women (Teen Vogue)

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What I’m Reading

The year I move to Chicago 11 years ago, it snowed on my birthday: October 29. Having lived in Maryland my entire life, I wasn’t accustomed to such an early snowfall. And when my eternal work husband Pedro mentioned he liked when it snowed, because that meant it was actually warm enough to snow, I knew I was in trouble. Now I share the sentiment.

When I saw psychologist Kari Leibowitz’s book How to Winter at my local library, I picked it up without a second thought. I started reading it last week on the plane to New Orleans of all places, but the timing was right as Chicago was a rigid 26 degrees when I landed on Thursday—a stark contrast to the 55-degree temps I’d just enjoyed in the Big Easy.

In her book, Leibowitz looks at cultures that endure darker, colder and longer winters than most of us in the U.S. and, surprisingly, fare better. Not surprisingly, it starts with cultivating a positive “wintertime mindset.” I’m certainly willing to give it a try!

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