Dear Spoken Black Girl Readers,

The time has come once again to make our voices known and heard in this great American literary cannon that we as Black women writers are an integral part of, no matter how much the powers that be wish for our silence. At SBG, we will persist in publishing voices that exhibit exceptional literary merit, while also embodying the heart of Spoken Black Girl’s mission to uplift mental health. This issue goes deeper than your typical beauty magazine.

It’s September, which is the perfect time to delve into a book by bell hooks. The Black feminist literary legend was born on September 25th. If you’re a fan of Black feminist literature and you haven’t read Sister of the Yam, what are you waiting for? You can join the Spoken Black Girl Community and read in community!

The MFA (Master of Fine Arts) is one of the most highly debated degrees. Do you really need it to be a successful writer? The definitive answer is no. You don’t. I’ve been telling writers for years that you don’t need an MFA to be successful—and now, in the second year of my MFA, I still maintain the same opinion.

As a writer, one of the hardest things you’ll ever do is go through the editing process with your book. You know that phrase “Kill your darlings” or rather the age-old writer advice? Well in the creation of Departure Story, I had to kill quite a few darlings before publication.

Out of all of the literature I’ve read, it has been the voices of gay, queer, and lesbian Black women who have made the most profound impact on my thinking and writing, shaping narratives and breaking boundaries with their unique perspectives and powerful storytelling.

Reclaiming softness is how I compensate myself for the years where I was unnecessarily hard, when I put myself in situations to experience roughness. I forgive my past self, and I grant her the rest she didn’t think she deserved.

While sitting with these quotes, I realized that I’m grateful for every woman who ever took the time to care for herself, and love herself even if that’s not what she was taught growing up. So many of the writers below echo the sentiment that mothers are out first mirrors, the individuals who teach us how to love.

With Black Women Writers Week coming up, I bet you’re wondering how best to support the Black woman writers you know and love. Well, I have 10 different ways that you can support Black women writers today!

It’s no coincidence that people everywhere have been picking up Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. It reads like an eerily accurate account of the confusing and frightening times we live in.

It’s more important than ever that we pour into our communities and support small businesses. One great way to do this is to shop Black-Owned for the holidays. I hope you check out the shops of all of the proud sellers on this list. You’re bound to find the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones!

Write Heal Thrive was born out of my desire for close literary community. As a writer, I know that this journey can be a lonely one, no matter what stage you find yourself at. I’ve had so many formative literary experiences in my years working in publishing and nonprofit communications that I really want to share with more writers, especially Black women writers.

I found her beautiful voice on ACX and I didn’t even know she was Guyanese at first! We instantly connected over the book and our mutual passion for telling more diverse stories, especially those representing the global Caribbean Diaspora. I’ve interviewed Rukiya below. I hope her journey can inspire you! Plus, I have included a sneak peek of Departure Story, the audiobook!

As the summer months roll in, let’s celebrate Vitamin D3 season! Our bodies naturally generate vitamin D3 when we get lots of sunlight, but did you know that melanated folks tend to produce less D3? Fortunately, Black Girl Vitamins has a supplement that gives us our full daily dose of D3 every day, rain or shine!

We are pleased to introduce the newest group of contributors to Spoken Black Girl Magazine Issue 5: Motherhood. Read about them and follow their journeys!

Today we’re talking to actress, producer, and multitalented creative, Andrea Lewis. Andrea Lewis is the Executive Producer of The Black Beauty Effect on Netflix.

Marsai Martin continues to shine a light on a unique style of beauty in her “Four Eyes Are Better Than Two” collection of eyeglasses from GlassesUSA.

When the world is in trouble, we readers, writers, and artists often reach for voices of solace to guide us through. No one has ever given me as much faith as the voices of our Black women writer ancestors.