Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays

An irresistible delight, this hilarious and heartwarming essay collection gathers essential tales about growing up in the South, the pitfalls of date night, and why no one should ever tell a Black girl how to Black Girl.

Black women always find a place to meet: in the natural hair aisle, at Beyoncé concerts, online in memes and shared cultural language. This book is one of those spaces—a living room where readers can reflect on beauty standards, identity, and the everyday realities of Black womanhood. Here, “Black Girl” is a verb. Here, Black women can Black Girl in every way we want to.

Amena Brown’s Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl blends storytelling, humor, and pop culture commentary drawn from her Southern upbringing and the community of Black women who have shaped her life. After graduating from Spelman College, she built a career celebrating Black womanhood through performance and writing.

In this collection, she reflects on experiences such as dancing in Janelle Monáe’s “Tightrope” music video, collaborating with Tracee Ellis Ross on natural hair storytelling, drawing wisdom from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and preparing for her first Essence Fest speaking engagement.

Ultimately, Brown celebrates Black women as a world unto themselves—a galaxy of customs, language, and shared understanding—rendered with humor, insight, and heart.