Write On, Black Girl!

By Nikita Haynie

Last year I published the first book in my book series. While the journey has been a blessing, it has also caused me to experience impostor syndrome to no end. I am obsessing over if my writing is good enough to be shared with the world and at times spiraling into months or weeks of writer’s block. I’ll be honest; I was experiencing writer’s block recently and the passing of Toni Morrison hit me like a ton of bricks. I rejoice knowing she lived a well-lived life and fulfilled her purpose in leaving behind an iconic catalog of work; however, I mourn for the black female literary world losing a writing legend.

Toni Morrison, a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winning author,  is the blueprint of what black women authors and writers aspire to become. Ms. Morrison gave life to black expression and experiences in her writing. Her legacy is a reminder to myself and millions of black women writing everywhere, “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it” (Morrison 2003). In this pursuit of being a black female writer I must remember the wisdom of our beloved legend. Ms. Morrison wrote for black women without trepidation or assimilation to white literary standards. The literary world is dominated by whiteness, but Ms. Morrison keeps us rooted in embracing the beauty of being a black woman and writing from a lens of pride and authenticity.

“Being a black woman writer is not a shallow place but a rich place to write from. It doesn’t limit my imagination; it expands it. It’s richer than being a white male writer because I know more and I’ve experienced more” (Morrison 2003).

Simply put: My writing and your writing matters. So what am I going to do about my plaguing writer’s block and self-defeating doubts? I’m going to remember these words, “If you wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down” (Morrison). 

It’s only been a few days, and I feel a fire re-igniting in my soul. I must not give up, and I will reach my goal. I don’t know where my journey of writing will take me, but I am receptive to all the possibilities and most importantly I will be writing for black women and our experiences. In order to pay homage to the late Toni Morrison and black women and girls writing everywhere I wrote a poem:

Write On Black Girl!

Although you don’t see yourself now, if you keep writing one day you will. 

Don’t write for yourself, write for the generations after you. 

Write for the little black girl who desperately wants a character that reflects her soul. 

Write for the little black girls whose stories have gone untold.

Standards? They don’t exist because when black girls write they are limitless. 

There is power in your voice, they know this too.

Write on black girl never let them silence you. 

Our stories our complex and multifaceted, grace and grit. 

All black girls matter, all stories will fit. 

Write,

Write on, 

Write now, 

There is power in your voice, they know this too.

Write on black girl,

Never 

Let

Them 

Silence 

You. 

Write on! 

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Nikita Haynie is a Contributing Writer for the Pedestal Project, LLC. Nikita is a writer, author, and educator. She is a creative that writes content intersecting faith, black womanhood, and culture. Proud optimist. Follow her on Instagram: @thenikitahaynie. Check her out at NikitaHaynie.com