Sistah Girl: Step into Your Greatness

By "Dr. Nay" Renee N. White and Ed.D.

During these unfortunate times of racial turbulence and the unveiling of devastating societal inequities, such as economic, educational and health disparities, young people require social-emotional guidance to cognitively process what is unraveling around them in their community, country and world. More than ever, it is crucial that young adults of color are provided with the encouragement to understand their individual cultural being, and to facilitate their thinking processes about their stance on social justice issues like Black Lives and school violence. As an African American woman, mother of two successful adult sons, and college professor with 30+ years of experience as a literacy and cultural diversity educator, it is my responsibility to serve as a role model and mentor for young people.

Sistah Girl: Step into Your Greatness is written in a unique approach that fuses my three roles into a meaningful, entertaining, and educational experience for young ladies of color. Through my thought-provoking poetry, I aim to reinforce my teen readers’ self-confidence, explore their culture, and empower them to address the injustices that they are passionate as budding social activists. To enhance comprehension, I have incorporated literacy strategies, such as journaling after each poem and end-of-chapter graphic organizers to encourage readers to make intrinsic connections and examine their authentic ideas about real-life topics. Also, inspirational quotes of renown women of color are integrated to further emphasize these relevant concepts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hybrid Global Publishing
• Release date: Aug 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957013428

Book preview

SISTAH GIRL

Step Into Your Greatness

Dr. Nay

Renee M. White, Ed.D.

Published by

Hybrid Global Publishing

333 E 14th Street

#3C

New York, NY 10003

Copyright © 2022 by Dr. Nay Renee White

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.

Manufactured in the United States of America, or in the United Kingdom when distributed elsewhere.

White, Renee.

Sistah Girl

ISBN: 978-1-957013-41-1

eBook: 978-1-957013-42-8

LCCN: 2022910468

Cover design by: Natasha Clawson

Copyediting by: Wendie Pecharsky

Interior design by: Suba Murugan

Author photo by: Owen Clark

https://drnay.blog/

CONTENTS

Preface

Poem-Dear Sistah Girl

Introduction

Note to the Reader

Poem-Reflection

Note to Parents

Chapter One - Making Positive Choices

Tribute to Sistahs of Greatness

Journey Into Womanhood

Sistah Hood

The Sistah’s Bond

Sistah Hair Respect

A Sistah’s Destiny

Reflective Activity #1

Chapter Two - Making History

Ancestry

As a People

Juneteenth

Life’s Survival

The Flavors of People

You’re a Role Model

Reflective Activity #2

Chapter Three - Making A Difference

Stand Up to Bullying

Do Black Lives Matter?

Guns orLives?

Survival Talk

Are You a Leader?

Social Activism

Reflective Activity #32

Epilogue

Poem-A Sistah’s Gift

Acknowledgements

Quotes from Inspirational Women

Appendices

PREFACE

Dear Sistah Girl,

You may assume that we’re from different worlds

When you see the Dr. before my name

But actually, we are so much the same

To my parents, Isaac and Marcy

I was born a little black girl in Jamaica, Queens

Where streets were riddled with alcoholics and drug fiends

I went to my classes and did my work

Attending NYC public schools in my hood

Just as any good little black girl should

To pursue college, worked several part-time jobs

Even filing for loans and scholarships

To make up for the financial hardships

I missed many neighborhood parties

Studying long hours to prepare for the test

So that I could do my absolute best

Becoming a single mother added to the struggle

Having the need to seek public assistance

Wasn’t a negative, but a sign of resilience

I sought ways to feed my baby

Buying