Dear Black Girls
by A’ja Wilson
“Dear Black Girls is filled with phenomenal stories and empowering insight on what it means to be a woman in today’s world. I didn’t want to put it down.” ―Tunde Oyeneyin, New York Times bestselling author of Speak
About the book
This is a book for all the girls with an apostrophe in their name.
This is for all the girls who are “too loud” and “too emotional.”
This is for all the girls who are constantly asked, “Oh, what did you do with your hair? That’s new.”
This is for my Black girls.
In this empowering and deeply personal collection—adapted from and expanded upon the piece of the same name in The Players’ Tribune—WNBA star A’ja Wilson shares stories from her life. Despite gold medals, championships, and a list of accolades, Wilson knows how it feels to be swept under the rug. To not be heard, to not feel seen, to not be taken seriously. As a fourth grader going to a primarily white school in South Carolina, she was told she’d have to stay outside for a classmate’s birthday party. “Huh?” she asked. Because the birthday girl’s father didn’t like Black people.
Wilson tells stories like this: stories that held her down but didn’t stop her. She shares her contribution to “The Talk,” and how to keep fighting, all while igniting strength, resilience, and passion. Dear Black Girls is one remarkable author’s necessary and meaningful exploration of what it means to be a Black woman in America today—and an of-the-moment rallying cry to lift up women and girls everywhere.
A’ja Wilson
A’ja Wilson is a professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces. The two-time MVP is the face of the WNBA and the Aces, one of the industry’s hottest franchises. She and the USA Women’s National Team won gold at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, Tokyo Olympics, and 2018 FIBA World Cup. Off the court, A’ja has built the A’ja Wilson Foundation, which serves as a resource for children who struggle with dyslexia and empowers them to reach their full potential. A’ja currently resides in Las Vegas. Dear Black Girls is her first book.
Praise
“Through honest stories and inspiring lessons from her life, A’ja Wilson reminds us to never doubt who we are or apologize for being true to ourselves. Dear Black Girls is a must-read for every Black girl out there.”
“After reading Dear Black Girls, I needed a moment to compose myself. Never has a book so perfectly captured my attention and made me feel so seen. I highly recommend this book!”
Olympic medalist and two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson’s first book is a love letter to Black girls—a testament to their histories, a tribute to their triumphs, and a celebration of their potential. Dear Black Girls tackles serious subjects with humor and warmth in a voice so wise and relatable that it feels like a pep talk from an old friend.
“Watching A’ja Wilson on the court is amazing, but to know her life story and all that she has overcome is witnessing poetry in motion. She epitomizes resilience, determination and courage. A’ja embodies the true spirit of what it means to be inspiring, always pushing herself and others to be the best version of themselves. It’s a joy and an honor to see her book and know her story and how this will impact all women.”
Media coverage
About Moment of Lift Books
Moment of Lift Books, created by Melinda French Gates in partnership with Flatiron Books, publishes original nonfiction by visionaries who are working to unlock a more equal world for women and girls.
