Black Girl You Are AtlasA thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award winning author and poet Rene Watson. In this semi autobiographical collection of poems, Rene Watson writesabout her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender. Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls

Then inspiration strikes: It's too late for a Sweet Sixteen

who realized their own vision of success when they bought their house on the Court in the 1960s

they would have the same opportunities later in life

Poetry knows when to lean forward and when to pull back

one that will cost them all their lives

her dad brings her to a protest to speak out against police violence against Black people

in depression and life expectancy

Now Vivian has scored a once-in-a-lifetime offer from a talent manager

After almost--but not quite--dying

brotherhood

While serving in Manheim

But as she stares at the lifeless stranger