About Us
“I mean, you know how Black girls are.”
*she smiles dangerously* “No, I don’t. How are we?”
Cue the toos: “Too this. Too that. Too .”
But Black women are far more complex than the stereotypes make us out to be.
We are not a monolith. We’re classy, bougie and ratchet. We speak Amharic, have Korean moms, date women, have natural hair, go to law school, have British accents, grow our own tomatoes, were assigned male at birth, watch anime, run for office, make bomb ass cheese plates and are experts in our fields.
This is a site where we get to be how Black girls are: magical, messy, vulnerable, glorious individuals. Where we can be experts, make jokes, and tell stories in our own voices, and without anyone demanding that we shrink ourselves to make them comfortable. We write for an audience of other smart, funny, resilient Black women, and welcome any other visitors who know our worth.
The idea that became How Black Girls Are grew out of the pandemic of 2020. I realized that while we quarantined at home, we had the opportunity to live the bulk of our Black ass lives without outsiders’ voices creeping into our heads. As I doom-scrolled my social media feed for the one-millionth time, I saw post after post by smart Black women who do remarkable work for other people. I decided that we should have a place where we can get some shine for ourselves. Because yes – we want to shatter stereotypes about what Black women are like. But most of all, we want to share our ideas and get recognition for them, in a forum of our own creation.
Tierra
Meet our roster of brilliant Black women.
Ashanti
Bio under construction
Charise
Bio under construction
Jasmine
Jasmine is a Colorado transplant from the DMV. As a mom of two girls (5 and 15), she keeps herself semi-sane with the help of coffee, politics, weed, and astrology (Libra/Libra/Capricorn big three).
Powerful AF
Bio under construction
Tierra
Tierra is a malcontent with a heart of gold. She is a former high school teacher, soon to be a medical student, and mom to four of Bebe’s baddest kids. One of them beat cancer; two have Down syndrome; one is adopted; one is dead. She curses a lot. She loves history, politics and food, and reads a newspaper every day. Tierra lives and works in Washington, D.C.
Looking for a freelance copy writer or editor? How fortuitous, because Tierra does exactly that! Her going rate is $50/hour. Send an email to howblackgirlsare@gmail.com with project details to get the ball rolling.
*ZZ* Makes Art
*ZZ* lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area as a full time Art Maker, part time Educator; with a fire in their belly for Art that tells a story, engages your soul and inspires creative collaboration among all.
*ZZ* was classically trained as a Painter & Printmaker at the Corcoran College of Art + Design, earning a BFA then later the Curry School at UVA for graduate work in Social Foundations of Education.
Most days you can find *ZZ* dancing her way through the world with a grin and dirty hands; be it from paint, ink or food. Let her make something that feeds you!
Is there a topic you want to see more of, or a perspective you want represented? Tell us!