Black and Resilient: 52 Weeks of Anti-Racist Activities for Black Joy and Empowerment (Journal for Healing, Black Self-Love, Anti-Prejudice, and Affirmations for Teens)

by M.J. Fievre

Overview

Self-Acceptance, Anti-Racism, and Affirmations for Teens

#1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Social Activist Biographies

“M.J. Fievre is the best friend, the confidante everyone yearns for.”—Mike, the Poet, author of Dear Woman and The Boyfriend Book

From the bestselling author of Badass Black Girl comes a much-needed space for Black teens and kids to say “I am enough.” In this self-acceptance guidebook for teen boys, be empowered by 52 weeks of Black self-love and anti-racism lessons, affirmations for positive thinking, and prompts for Black Boy Joy.

A Black male handbook for self-care. Black & Resilient includes prompts for teens to reflect and divulge what they're feeling on a deeper level. It comes with mind-strengthening affirmations for teens, stories of truth and power, and practices to teach Black teen boys how to stay empowered despite what life throws at them. This Black confidence book is a catalyst for change and healing to enter the heart and spirit of Black teens everywhere.

Part of the Bold & Black series for Black self-love and antiracism. The Bold & Black series is specifically designed to help Black teens create a safe space to be themselves. The world often forgets that Black boys also need affirmations and words of empowerment to get through the day. Black & Resilient seeks to give Black teens the space to heal, find Black Boy Joy, and become empowered to walk boldly in their everyday lives.

Inside, you’ll find: 

• Instruction for gaining perspective, freedom, and power in the face of macro- and microaggressions
• A safe place to acknowledge how racism affects you and create coping strategies to combat it
• Encouragement for living your best life as a BIPOC person with self-acceptance and confidence

If you liked Black confidence and anti-racism books for boys like This Book is Anti-Racist Journal, Cry Like a Man, or 39 Lessons for Black Boys & Girls, you’ll be empowered by Black & Resilient.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642507461
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	12/02/2021
Series:	Bold and Black
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Born in Port-au-Prince, M.J. Fievre, B.S. Ed, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Barry University. A seasoned K–12 teacher, a creator of safe spaces, and an initiator of difficult conversations, she spent much time building up her students, helping them feel comfortable in their own skin, and affirming their identities. Her close relationships with parents and students led her to look more closely at how we can balance protecting a child’s innocence with preparing them for the realities of life. She has taught creative writing workshops to children and teens at the O Miami Poetry Festival and the Miami Art Museum, as well as in various schools in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), and South Florida. She’s also been a keynote speaker at Tufts University(Massachusetts), Howard University(Washington, DC), the Universityof Miami (Florida), and Michael College (Vermont) and has served as a panelist at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference (AWP).

M.J.’s publishing career began as a teenager in her native Haiti. At nineteen years old, she signed her first book contract with Hachette-Deschamps for the publication of a YA book titled La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, M.J. has released nine YA books in French that are widely read in Europe and the French Antilles, and she is the author of the award-winning Badass Black Girl book series for tweens and teens (in English). One Moore Book published M.J.’s first children’s book, I Am Riding, as part of a special limited series edited by Edwidge Danticat. A middle-grade book, Young Trailblazers, and picture book, Sam Is Afraid of Christmas, are both set to be released by DragonFruit in the fall of 2021.

As the ReadCaribbean program coordinator for the prestigious Miami Book Fair, M.J. directs and produces the children’s cultural show Taptap Krik? Krak! For her podcast, MJ has interviewed many literary legends, including Edwidge Danticat, Alice Randall, and Nikki Giovanni.

Table of Contents

This Is Your Time to Shine 10

Part I His Name Is Trayvon 18

Talking About Racism/Write a Letter to Someone 24

How Racism Affects You/Self-Exploration 35

The Physical Toll of Racism/Let It Out! 40

The Mental Toll of Racism/Writing Emotion 44

Coping Strategies/Write Poetry and Create Art 51

Write in Nature/Meditation 58

Understanding Microaggressions/Your Life in Metaphors 63

Finding Sanctuary/Finding a Safe Space 68

Part II The Art of the Comeback 72

Actions…and How to Respond/Problem Solving 87

The Myth of Reverse Racism/Prompting a Reckoning 95

Part III Living While Black 100

Intersectionality/The Story of Your Life 106

Understanding Systemic Racism/Write a Letter to Yourself 112

Never Argue with an Idiot/Talk It Out 119

Racial Profiling and Police Encounters/Childhood Dreams and Heroes 124

Your Rights During a Police Encounter/Remembering Who You Are 130

How to (Somewhat) Stay Safe During a Police Encounter/Journal with Photographs 136

How to Fight Systemic Racism/Visualization 140

Part IV Creativity and Self-Confidence 146

Self-Esteem and Confidence/Writing for Purpose 154

Clarify Your Values/Powerful 160

Your Best Life/Use Your Imagination 164

How to Encourage Confidence in Others/Reframe Your Perspective 168

Congratulations! 176

About the Author 179

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“We need more books like this—books that speak directly to our Black youth and teach them the critical skills they need to survive being Black in America. In Black and Resilient: 52 Weeks of Anti-Racist Activities for Black Joy and Empowerment, educator M.J. Fievre has built a toolkit for survival that will help Black boys learn crucial lessons, like how to channel their frustrations in a positive direction and how to reflect upon their lives for greater clarity. This book should be in every public library and every school in America. It is an essential part of an education our Black boys need and often don’t get.”
—Geoffrey Philp, author of My Name Is Marcus, a graphic novel for children

“If you have a Black boy in your life who struggles with self-esteem or with fitting in, buy this book! In Black and Resilient M.J. Fievre breaks down the notions that keep our Black boys from reaching their fullest potential and does so with candor and wit. The exercises she has designed will help your child see the hypocrisy and futility of racism and encourage your boys to reach their highest potential without becoming jaded and dissatisfied with their lot in life. She clearly explains the challenges facing Black youth and does so in a way that is not defeatist but encourages them to rise above all the stereotypical nonsense they face on a day-to day basis and emerge triumphant.”
—Just Mike the Poet, author of Dear Woman

“In her latest book, Black and Resilient: 52 Weeks of Anti-Racist Activities for Black Joy and Empowerment, bestselling author M.J. Fievre has written a book that will be appreciated by Black boys everywhere. In the book, she encourages Black boys to learn about racism and gives them the means to build resilience and joy: two qualities that every child needs. By working through them, those boys actually gain the experience of dealing with their own emotions, and with an often hostile world, preparing themselves without the damage of actual confrontation. This is a direct, no-fluff approach to combating racism and building self-esteem. Fievre gives great advice, and the activities she has written for them will help them find solid footing and become strong, loving, capable adults.
—Steven Barnes, author of Lion's Blood and Afrofuturist