We continue to enjoy the stories of black women who are achieving great heights in media, education, and literature, despite all the odds against them. “So … well-read black girl. “What does that even mean?” I thought as I scanned the Glory Edim’s Well Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories and Discovering Ourselves cover. It was an anthology featuring powerful, inspiring, and uplifting essays written by black women writers. The title made me wonder if I was a well-read black woman too. I began to turn pages and the answer was clear. It started out as an inside joke for Edim about her being someone who read a lot and always had a book beside her in bed. Edim wore a Tshirt with the words printed on it. This sparked conversations about favorite authors and books among others. The T-shirt was the catalyst for a national bookclub, a Brooklyn literary festival, and a sisterhood of women of color around the globe. Edim created a space in which “Black women could be heard” and “a call for action for Black women to define their own narratives on the terms they choose.” The book’s core dives into important discussions about representation in the literary community. This book featured 21 acclaimed Black women writers and authors: Jesmyn Ward. Veronica Chambers. Tayari Jones. Barbara Smith. Rebecca Walker. Marita Golden. Renee Watson. Gabourey Sidibe. Dhonnielle Clayton. Stephanie Powell Watts. Nicole Dennis-Benn. N.K. Jemison. Morgan Jerkins. Zini Clemmons. Lynn Nottage. Bsrat Mezghebe. Mahogany L. Browne. Jamia Wilson. Carla Bruce-Eddings. Jacqueline Woodson. Kaitlyn Greenridge. Each one recalled the first time they saw themselves in literature. It sounds simple, right? It wasn’t. It was intricate, complex, and intimate. These stories were more than just finding a character you can identify with. It was much more. It was more. It was about learning how literature shaped, challenged, and challenged their lives and beliefs. Reading highlights the interplay of narrative and self-image to produce compelling explorations into identity. Edim says that reading allows us to see ourselves. Edim writes, “Reading allows us to witness ourselves.” Dhionelle Clayton and Nic Stone are also on the panel. Angie Thomas is also on it. Ebony Lumumba is the moderator. You can read all the staff picks that were updated daily leading up to the fair.