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9781647426323

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"""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 Blackwildgirl encourages all of us to reclaim our superpowers and be change-agents in life."" --Katrina M. Adams, author of Own the Arena and former CEO of United States Tennis Association ""Menah Pratt has written a book that offers the chance to cry, to be empowered, to be educated, to be healed, to be liberated. This book opens a path for Black women, especially, to claim their place and voice in a world that has diminished them and their contributions. As an academic, senior administrator, Black woman, Black mother, and Black wife, Pratt's story is an example of how we must demand that our stories and contributions are a valid and important part of any and all discourses. Blackwildgirl might seem to be a book directed to Black women. It is, in the sense that Black women all over the world will be able to identify with the struggles and the victories. However, it is also a book that offers any who cares about justice, about faith, about humanity, and about opportunity to hear and learn from a first-hand account of how racism and sexism impact Black women, their communities, and in fact the larger world. Be ready to cry, to laugh, to mourn, and to celebrate. Most of all, be ready to have your eyes, heart, and mind opened."" --Naomi Tutu, ordained minister and daughter of Bishop Tutu ""Black feminist scholar Menah Pratt's Blackwildgirl is a candid, courageous, provocative memoir that makes effective use of her journal entries, which began when she was only eight years old. Making visible the complexities of her unusual family saga during childhood and adulthood, she navigates an uncertain spiritual journey that is instructive and moving. A gift to 'wild women' everywhere, the book makes an important contribution as well to the evolving field of Black Girlhood Studies, as well as Women's Studies, Black Studies, and Womanist Theology."" --Beverly Guy-Sheftall, PhD, founding director of the Women's Research & Resource Center, Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women's Studies at Spelman College, author of Words of Fire: An Anthology of African American Feminist Thought, and coauthor of Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women's Equality in African American Communities ""Part spellbinding memoir and part luminous teaching, this book shattered my complacency and opened my heart. Sensual and smart, dignified and vulnerable, Menah Pratt manages to simultaneously deconstruct white supremacy and celebrate the Divine Feminine as Black Woman. I haven't been this excited by an emerging voice in a long time. Blackwildgirl ought to be required reading for anyone longing to reclaim their own deepest, fullest humanity."" --Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and God of Love ""At a time when centering Black narratives is more important than ever (indeed, there is no time when they haven't been crucial), Dr. Pratt's memoir is a beautiful, raw, and honest tale of the author's journey from a Blackwildgirl to a Blackwildwoman who has acquired a lifetime's worth of 'wild woman wisdom.' Dr. Pratt tells her tale through the various components of a theater play, complete with acts, stages, and scenes, with original journal entries and poems. Each section will engage you further--as if you were sitting in the front row as both an audience member and, at times, a character yourself. An invaluable book that authentically honors the true power of storytelling told from the impactful voice of a mighty Blackwild woman herself, full of life, spirit, and strength. Thank you for this gift, Dr. Pratt."" --Aurora Chang, PhD, professor and Director of Faculty Development and Career Advancement at George Mason University ""Blackwildgirl is filled with hope, professional advice, and familiar struggle that most Women of Color endure in their professional and personal lives. All would benefit from reading this almost sacred and critical text. The author's spirituality knows no bounds: Africana philosophy, Womanism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam salt and pepper the pages of this book. A pure heart is enveloped in front of our eyes, with deep reflection. She reminds us of Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey. Her visionary and spiritual voice meld into one, going from a Moonlight Sonata to hip-hop and the Psalms. In her feminist hands the act of crying becomes an act of transparency and empowerment, it rises to healing and refurbishing the spirit on the table of our consciousness, not in the closet. Her writings do hold 'the power of the divine, ' which is brought to us through the spiritual talent of her writing voice. This writing relays to us the life of a disciplined athlete, scholar, wife, mother, leader, daughter of an immigrant, breaking stereotypes about Africans, African Americans, womanhood, motherhood, and social class. There is so much beauty, so much hope, so much resilience, and knowledge in a beautiful but challenging life."" --Gabriella Gutierrez y Muhs, PhD, professor of modern languages and cultures and women, gender, and sexuality studies at Seattle University ""Through a flow of journal entries that include poems and meditations, we experience oppression, racism, and disrespect viscerally as the author takes us inside her heart and her head through autoethnography that relates the personal to the public. Combining the work of Black literary figures such as Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni with Black feminists like Audre Lorde and bell hooks, she interrogates the raw, the painful, and the truthful aspects of growing up in America. This is a story of resilience and resonance, a story that causes readers to understand the role of Whiteness in racism in a meaningful way. This is a great way for professors and students to understand the role of institutional and individual racism from the inside out."" --Kris Tilley-Lubbs, PhD, associate professor emerita at Virginia Tech and author of An Introduction to Critical Autoethnography and Education: The Vulnerable Researcher (2023) ""This honest and timely book illuminates necessary burials and rebirths that occur following the many and varied 'setups' Black girls navigate. It asks readers to consider the spirit and psychic costs of taming Black girls and interrogates what resides at the nexus of Black girlhood, spirit, and education. A revelatory story about migration, Black women's audacity, and family affirms this book as a must-read for those committed to Black girls' and women's non-negotiable liberation and for Black women journeying to reclaim their wildness and freedom."" --Dominique C. Hill, PhD, assistant professor of women's studies at Colgate University ""Blackwildgirl is the righteous telling of a Black feminist search for self through reflection and self-validation and through decades of journaling, prose, and poetry. This searing, visceral, vulnerable self-exploration is also an invitation to Black women to find our soft, vulnerable, Blackwildgirl selves, to excavate her from the hidden, neglected, and forgotten places, and to reunite her with our Blackwildwoman. Pratt demonstrates remarkable vulnerability in detailing the trauma, disappointments, and pain she has experienced throughout her life and offers her deep reflections as a Black feminist/womanist gift. She generously allows us to join her journey using her own experiences as an invitation for us to grapple with the thoughtful reflection questions she offers us to keep working on our Blackwildwomen selves. This Black feminist/womanist gift will no doubt have a profound impact on the lives of all the Black women who engage this love offering: a wake and an awakening, a sunrise and a libation. It is a gift to Black women in this realm and the next who have and continue to mourn, celebrate, reckon with, imagine, and heal."" --Andrea N. Baldwin, PhD, associate professor of Black feminisms at the University of Utah and author of A Decolonial Black Feminist Theory of Reading and Shade: Feeling the University (Routledge 2021) ""Blackwildgirl is a love letter to Black feminism and Blackwildgirls across the diaspora. Through an elegant infusion of poetry, letters, autobiography, and Black feminist praxis, Pratt makes clear that work that centers Black women and Black womanhood is necessary when it comes to the exploration of race, gender, and spirituality. A natural storyteller, Pratt provokes you to think deeper and to feel deeper. A truly satisfying read, Blackwildgirl will leave readers breathless, while simultaneously providing space for critical reflection. Pratt is truly touched by the grace of the ancestors as she draws us into her world, wraps readers in her spiritual journey, and leads them toward a clearer understanding of the complexity and beauty of this world and those beyond comprehension. This is one memoir you will want to read time and time again."" --Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown, PhD, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Cincinnati ""Blackwildgirl takes the reader from revolution to revelation, and through various emotions--from pain, to grief, to moments of shock and surprise, to disappointment and betrayal, but ultimately, to feelings of happiness and joy. All the narrative elements that Pratt offers here, from letters, to poetry, coupled with thick descriptive storytelling, provides an abundance of riches for the reader: it intimately brings the reader into the life of a lonely and depressed black girl who ultimately burgeons into a confident and formidable Blackwildgirl. This book is a cause for celebration, not only because it captures the nuances and subtleties of the black girl experience, but also because it breathes life into the bones of Black women and girls everywhere."" --Renata Ferdinand, PhD, Chair and Full Professor, Department of African American Studies, New York City College of Technology (CUNY), author of An Autoethnography of African American Motherhood: Things I Tell My Daughter ""Blackwildgirl takes its readers on a mythic, iconic, revelatory journey. Pratt writes with honesty, passion, and compassion, opening the pathway for other would-be wildwomen and their allies to step up, speak up, and stand up. This poignant, multi-layered, mixed genre story is a must read for those interested in what it means to be a father, a mother, a daughter, a professional, a human being."" --Valerie Lee, author of Sisterlocking Discoarse: Race, Gender, And The Twenty-First-Century Academy ""Dr. Menah Pratt poignantly and creatively peels back the layers of her life and takes the readers on a candid and honest journey toward her personal Utopia she calls Blackwildgirl. This heartfelt yet heart-wrenching work, rich in spiritual reflections, highlights decades of narratives from Pratt's childhood diaries to her adult memoirs, showing her evolution of conquering true superpower as a Black woman in a world that is not always equitable and certain. This work is a beautiful and perfect mirror for young girls and women, especially those from diverse backgrounds, as they explore their own positionality in becoming bold and powerful humans in our rapidly transforming society."" --Dr. Johanna B. Maes, University of Colorado Boulder"

“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 Rodríguez, 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 Director for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at NASPA ”The breadth and depth of Menah Pratt’s soul journey to uncover Blackwildgirl and Blackwildwoman is not just inspirational, but the most unselfish revolutionary act I have experienced in book form maybe ever! She is a shining example of the message… that our story matters.” —Gina L. Carroll, author of The Grandest Garden and A Story That Matters: A Gratify Approach to Writing About Your Life s“Blackwildgirl encourages all of us to reclaim our superpowers and be change-agents in life.” —Katrina M. Adams, author of Own the Arena and former CEO of United States Tennis Association “Menah Pratt has written a book that offers the chance to cry, to be empowered, to be educated, to be healed, to be liberated. This book opens a path for Black women, especially, to claim their place and voice in a world that has diminished them and their contributions. However, it is also a book that offers any who cares about justice, about faith, about humanity, and about opportunity to hear and learn from a first-hand account of how racism and sexism impact Black women, their communities, and in fact the larger world. Be ready to cry, to laugh, to mourn, and to celebrate. Most of all, be ready to have your eyes, heart, and mind opened.” —Naomi Tutu, ordained minister and daughter of Bishop Tutu “Black feminist scholar Menah Pratt’s Blackwildgirl is a candid, courageous, provocative memoir that makes effective use of her journal entries, which began when she was only eight years old. Making visible the complexities of her unusual family saga during childhood and adulthood, she navigates an uncertain spiritual journey that is instructive and moving. A gift to ‘wild women’ everywhere, the book makes an important contribution as well to the evolving field of Black Girlhood Studies, as well as Women's Studies, Black Studies, and Womanist Theology.” —Beverly Guy-Sheftall, PhD, founding director of the Women’s Research & Resource Center, Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies at Spelman College, author of Words of Fire: An Anthology of African American Feminist Thought, and coauthor of Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women’s Equality in African American Communities “Part spellbinding memoir and part luminous teaching, this book shattered my complacency and opened my heart. Sensual and smart, dignified and vulnerable, Menah Pratt manages to simultaneously deconstruct white supremacy and celebrate the Divine Feminine as Black Woman. I haven’t been this excited by an emerging voice in a long time. Blackwildgirl ought to be required reading for anyone longing to reclaim their own deepest, fullest humanity.” —Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and God of Love “Dr. Pratt’s memoir is a beautiful, raw, and honest tale of the author’s journey from a Blackwildgirl to a Blackwildwoman who has acquired a lifetime’s worth of ‘wild woman wisdom.’ Each section will engage you further—as if you were sitting in the front row as both an audience member and, at times, a character yourself. An invaluable book that authentically honors the true power of storytelling told from the impactful voice of a mighty Blackwild woman herself, full of life, spirit, and strength.” —Aurora Chang, PhD, professor and Director of Faculty Development and Career Advancement at George Mason University “All would benefit from reading this almost sacred and critical text. The author's spirituality knows no bounds: Africana philosophy, Womanism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam salt and pepper the pages of this book. She reminds us of Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey. Her visionary and spiritual voice meld into one, going from a Moonlight Sonata to hip-hop and the Psalms. In her feminist hands the act of crying becomes an act of transparency and empowerment, it rises to healing and refurbishing the spirit on the table of our consciousness, not in the closet.” —Gabriella Gutierrez y Muhs, PhD, professor of modern languages and cultures and women, gender, and sexuality studies at Seattle University “A story of resilience and resonance, a story that causes readers to understand the role of Whiteness in racism in a meaningful way. This is a great way for professors and students to understand the role of institutional and individual racism from the inside out.” —Kris Tilley-Lubbs, PhD, associate professor emerita at Virginia Tech and author of An Introduction to Critical Autoethnography and Education: The Vulnerable Researcher (2023) “This honest and timely book illuminates necessary burials and rebirths that occur following the many and varied ‘setups’ Black girls navigate. It asks readers to consider the spirit and psychic costs of taming Black girls and interrogates what resides at the nexus of Black girlhood, spirit, and education. A revelatory story about migration, Black women’s audacity, and family affirms this book as a must-read for those committed to Black girls’ and women’s non-negotiable liberation and for Black women journeying to reclaim their wildness and freedom.” —Dominique C. Hill, PhD, assistant professor of women’s studies at Colgate University “This searing, visceral, vulnerable self-exploration is an invitation to Black women to find our soft, vulnerable, Blackwildgirl selves, to excavate her from the hidden, neglected, and forgotten places, and to reunite her with our Blackwildwoman. Pratt demonstrates remarkable vulnerability in detailing the trauma, disappointments, and pain she has experienced . . . This Black feminist/womanist gift will no doubt have a profound impact on the lives of all the Black women who engage this love offering: a wake and an awakening, a sunrise and a libation.” —Andrea N. Baldwin, PhD, associate professor of Black feminisms at the University of Utah and author of A Decolonial Black Feminist Theory of Reading and Shade: Feeling the University (Routledge 2021) “Blackwildgirl is a love letter to Black feminism and Blackwildgirls across the diaspora. A truly satisfying read, Blackwildgirl will leave readers breathless, while simultaneously providing space for critical reflection. This is one memoir you will want to read time and time again.” —Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown, PhD, assistant professor ofociology at the University of Cincinnati “Blackwildgirl takes the reader from revolution to revelation, and through various emotions—from pain, to grief, to moments of shock and surprise, to disappointment and betrayal, but ultimately, to feelings of happiness and joy. This book is a cause for celebration, not only because it captures the nuances and subtleties of the Black girl experience, but also because it breathes life into the bones of Black women and girls everywhere.” —Renata Ferdinand, PhD, Chair and Full Professor, Department of African American Studies, New York City College of Technology (CUNY), author of An Autoethnography of African American Motherhood: Things I Tell My Daughter “Blackwildgirl takes its readers on a mythic, iconic, revelatory journey. Pratt writes with honesty, passion, and compassion, opening the pathway for other would-be wildwomen and their allies to step up, speak up, and stand up. This poignant, multi-layered, mixed genre story is a must read for those interested in what it means to be a father, a mother, a daughter, a professional, a human being.” —Valerie Lee, author of Sisterlocking Discoarse: Race, Gender, And The Twenty-First-Century Academy “This work is a beautiful and perfect mirror for young girls and women, especially those from diverse backgrounds, as they explore their own positionality in becoming bold and powerful humans in our rapidly transforming society.” —Dr. Johanna B. Maes, University of Colorado Boulder

Author Information

Menah Adeola Eyaside Pratt is a nationally recognized and diversity-award winning author of four books on race, gender, and diversity, and the founder of the Faculty Women of Color in the Academy National Conference. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in Normal, Illinois, she received a BA and MA from the University of Iowa and an MA, PhD, and JD from Vanderbilt University. She currently serves as Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity and a professor of education at Virginia Tech. Pratt lives and works in Blacksburg, Virginia.

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