“Strong Black Girls is reminiscent of our foremother, Anna Julia Cooper, who declared that only the Black woman can say ‘when and where I enter,’ and of Queen Latifah, who declared, ‘Ladies first.’ Much of our scholarship has been focused on the (legitimate) plight of Black boys. However, this does not mean that our girls are not worthy of attention and care. This volume underscores that they are simultaneously strong and vulnerable—and that is something we need to consider as they navigate society and its institutions..”
— Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emerita, University of Wisconsin
“As Black women, we need to be reminded that we matter. These chapters help us remember and affirm that, even in the face of violence and erasure, we matter. . . . This book is a wonderful testament to the magical everydayness of the survival of Black women and girls..”
— From the Foreword by Adrienne Dixson, professor of education policy, organization, and leadership, College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
“The scholars of this volume provide us a textured and uninhibited glance into Black girls’ multiple realities, offering a worthwhile read for educators, parents, policymakers, and any adult helping to shape Black girls’ existence across spaces.”
— Venus E. Evans-Winters, professor of educational administration & foundations,
women & gender studies, and African American studies, Illinois State University
“Danielle Apugo, Lynnette Mawhinney, and Afiya Mbilishaka have gathered together the voices of several powerful Black women—and one strong Black girl—to lead the conversation about their lives in schools, and to imagine what an education that celebrated and nurtured their magic might look like. The stories collected in Strong Black Girls are unflinchingly remembered and richly narrated, spanning generational and geographic distance to bring readers to an understanding of Black girls’ experience in the classroom.”
— Isabel Nuñez, professor and director of the School of Education, College of Professional Studies, Purdue University Fort Wayne
“This book is a necessary addition to the growing library focused on Black girls and Black girlhood. I would consider this a must-read for emerging and established scholars who are grappling with pervasive questions on how anti-Blackness has harmed Black girls but it doesn't stop here. This is an effort to pivot the conversation from deficit to desire, from delinquent to resilient… and that is this book's power.”
— Maisha T. Winn, associate dean of programs and Chancellor's Leadership Professor, co-founder and faculty director, Transformative Justice in Education (TJE) Center, School of Education, University of California, Davis
An email from the conference organizer, Legacy Conference, GreenDot Public Schools:
“Good morning Helena,
Thank you again for making this year’s Legacy Conference transformative! We have attached your session feedback here.”
“Amazing! The best session I attended. Thank you for sharing your world with us and for teaching us how to appreciate our own. I love the Donato-Sapp family values!!! Words of Wisdom to live by. Thanks for sharing.”
“Best speaker!! Incredibly humbled by what she had to bring to us today! Please have her speak again at a future Green Dot event so more people can hear her! Truly amazing!”
“Helena is an amazing girl. I have learned to leave space for my students to share their stories. I also learned that kids CAN tackle tough topics.”
“You brought me to tears. This was my favorite session and I want to thank you for confirming that ‘kids can tackle tough topics.’ You are an inspiration to us all.”
“This was an emotional roller coaster. I began crying in the first 10 minutes and had to turn my camera off. Helena is a great and inspiring speaker and I am very glad that through twists and turns of the day I ended up attending this.”
“It was amazing to listen to what Helena has accomplished. Her ability to live boldly and create a space for herself in this world was truly inspiring. Her ideas and voice are so strong and I would love to hear more from her.”
“Helena is absolutely incredible, and I honestly think that every educator in our network should hear her speak. She brings such a unique perspective, and really demonstrates that our students have powerful stories to share, that should absolutely be encouraged to be shared. Thank you so much for bringing such a useful, inspiring, and powerful presentation forward.”
“AMAZING!!! POWERFUL!!! TOUCHING!!! INSPIRING!!! Helena, you are all of these words and more! Thank you for sharing your talents and your words with us today! I pray that God continues to shine his light on you and bless you as you go through life blessing others! Thank you for being with us today!”
“On behalf of Team Trevor, we want to thank you for your hard work and activism – we appreciate you and we love this PSA! Tremendous work!”
— Team Trevor
The Trevor Project
“I honestly thought your PSA was great. I’m really proud of you, and I’d say your video seemed like it was made my someone much older (that’s a compliment!). Extremely well done and you talked about a lot of important issues, and I liked the ‘call to action’ to viewers so they could learn more and do more. Way to go!”
— Sameer Hinduja
Co-Director, Cyberbullying Research Center, Professor of Criminal Justice, Florida Atlantic University
“Very nice job Helena! Keep up the good work!”
— Justin W. Patchin
Co-Director, Cyberbullying Research Center, Professor of Criminal Justice, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
“We watched the video, Helena, and think you did a wonderful job explaining the issue and offering ways to learn more and help.”
— The Edutopia Team
“The fortune to behold Helena’s effervescence is one of the fondest memories I have of the past year. A deeply committed bibliophile, Helena absolutely devoured every single piece of literature I thrust her way. She was an integral member of our class community as we delved thoughtfully into the intersectionality between human history, literature, and our own identities as beings brought up in society. Her understanding and command of language and concepts related to social justice is transcendent, and the moments where I felt the most joy as Helena’s teacher were those not when I was “teaching” Helena, but when I remained open to the reality that I have much to learn from this brilliant young person. Many students believe to excel is to complete work faster than everyone else. Helena understands the reality that it is in conversation about powerful questions and wonderings that we come to understand tiny snippets of the world around us with more fidelity, and this learning in community is our best hope for a better world. A powerful womanist, Helena helped her teachers and classmates question normative language and assumptions about race, class, and gender in a world where the marginalized minds and voices are often forced to take up less space. Helena embodies the work of a fierce social justice warrior, and I have no doubt that her dreams of transformative justice will continue to take shape as she interacts with those around her. When offered the opportunity to help others, Helena is all in. She is selfless and empathetic; Helena also possesses boundless patience for other humans, adult and small. The quality of Helena’s work speaks for itself. She is an accomplished writer and has been featured in magazines, received national awards, and she even authored a chapter in a book over the past year. When given an assignment, Helena delves into nuance and gives things deeper meaning. Helena thrives when she is given the opportunity to think through things, wonder about what she wants to say before being forced to put her pen to paper. Helena gracefully (and unknowingly) assisted me in reconceptualizing the 6th-grade curriculum to phase out archaic models of assessment which colonize and depersonalize the learning process because I have seen how much she thrives in spaces where assessment is individualized and authentic. One of my biggest regrets about next year is that I will not have a front-row seat to be able to witness what Helena goes on to do in person next year, but I look forward to hearing about it. ‘I know you will be wonderful because you are truly wonderful. I adore you and I wish and hope wonderful things for you, darling one! Be brave!’”
— Dr. Casey Quirarte,
Helena’s 6th-Grade Humanities Teacher
“What a fantastic, reaffirming article featuring one of our most prolific artists. It has been personally fulfilling for me as an educator to have a front row seat to witness Helena’s transformation into a beacon for the positive impact of unconditional love and support – it has not been without struggle.”
— Stephen Elicker
Helena’s Art Teacher
“Kudos to Helena and Ms. Varona for officially beginning our first Social Justice focused Workshop. After their second meeting, Helena and Ms. Varona agreed that the format was best served in the form of a course, rather than meetings during study hall. We had an incredibly small window to actually open this class, and it's going to host some growing pains... but we're doing it - and it's thanks to Helena and her work with Girls Learn International. Ms. Dickens and I are both participants in the course to ensure the space remains brave/safe, and also to provide Ms. Varona feedback as a first-time facilitator.
In all honesty, I do believe this space is the start of something truly special.”
— David Perram
Assistant Head of School for Student & Academic Affairs
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