Black Girl You Are Atlas

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what is the person made up of?

east coast hip-hop and island tradition

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where does the person go on the weekends?

their friend's house, their friend's friend's house or at the church house

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what is on the wall?

family pictures

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what is on the coffee table?

an open Bible

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what does the media come for?

bloodshed, blood wasted never for blood restored, celebrated or regenerated

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what games is the person from?

Double Dutch, hide-n-seek, hopscotch and Pac-Man

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what food is the person from?

curry goat, rice and peans and beef patties

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what is in the person's blood?

reggae

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where does rain fall more than the sun shine?

the Pacific Northwest

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where does the person walk under?

waterfalls

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where does the person drive?

up windy roads to Mt. Hood

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where does the person escape to?

the beaches on the Oregon coast

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what does music take away?

the blues

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what music performers is the person from?

Bob Marley, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin and James Brown

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what records is the person from?

Jackson 5

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what music tapes is the person from?

New Edition

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what does the person do over and over?

rewind tapes

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, why does the person rewind tapes over and over?

so they can write down the lyrics and memorize them

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, who is your family?

the whole neighborhood

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what do ladies do?

sit on their porch looking out for you

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, how do the ladies look out for the person?

shooin' the boys away and callin' their momma to tell her what they did before they can get home and lie about it

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what do people ask their friend?

"Is that your hair?"

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where did the person get their hair?

they bought it

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what is passed down to children like a family heirloom?

divorce

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what do single mothers pray for?

that their babies don't have the same struggles as they do

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, when is the sun gonna shine?

after the rain

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, where are their people destined to make it to?

the promised land

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what are their souls like?

perseverin'

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Where I'm From, what are their hands like?

hardworkin'

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what did she name her?

Renee

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what does Renee mean?

rebirth, to bring new life

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, why might she have named her Renee?

because Renee came last

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what was Renee born just before?

the death of Renee's mom's marriage

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what is bestowed upon Renee?

hand-me-downs

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, who was Roy named after?

his father

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, who was Cherlyl named by?

their grandmother

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what does Trisa share with their mom?

her middle name Elizabeth

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, who was Dyan named after?

Dyan Cannon because their father liked the spelling DYAN

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what kind of name is Renee?

an abracadabra name that is not tied to a special tale or a family history

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what does the name Renee carry the strength of ?

Grandma Roberta who dies before Renee got to say goodbye

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, how are grandmothers like flowers?

they die too soon

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what were the sorrows of Renee's ancestors?

they were sold and traded, hanged and drowned

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Resurrection, what seeded generations?

the ancestor's tears, sweat and blood

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, how did aunties give warnings?

by look or clearing throat or sitting forward just enough to get the point across

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what is smuggles hand to hand on Sunday mornings?

Werther's Original or peppermint candy

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what swirls around at family gatherings?

gossip for too young ears

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what type of advice was given?

advice that is asked for and advice given anyway

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what do brown hands do?

braid and twist thick tresses

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what is giiirrl?

song, confirmation, chastisement and prayer

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what is holding home?

cornbread, honey butter and a crockpot

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section a Black Girl Gives Thanks, what do the tales passed down tell?

the story that they survived and how they survived

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Sisterhood Haiku I, what helped them survive?

the knowing women

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section How Sisters Love, what does black ice do in Portland?

slides cars into tree trunks

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section How Sisters Love, why was snow new?

because she was only three when they left Paterson and she didn't know snow.

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section How Sisters Love, what did her sister tell her when she was maybe six and her sister was something like eleven?

"Hold on to the back of my coat, tight, don't let go, walk in my footsteps."

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section How Sisters Love, what did her sister do for her as she pushed her feet to the ground?

she made a path for her

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Altars, what does every girl growing into woman need?

a porch or stoop or backyard-swing or altar

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Altars, what does every girl growing into woman need to learn how to do?

to be in harmony with the music of her breath

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Altars, why does every girl growing into woman need a crockpot and teapot?

to learn how to slow down and wait

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, what is the definition of atlas that is used to define the Black girl?

one who bears a heavy burden

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what is a Black girl?

Atlas

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, how do Black girls carry the weight of the hood on their shoulders?

like a too-heavy backpack

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what to Black girls do to Black boys on the the playground?

they big-sister them

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, where do Black girls big-sister Black boys?

on the playground, in the classroom, in the back row of the choir

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what do Black girls know will happen when they tell their friend, "He ain't the one for you?"

she won't listen but she will be there to listen and wipe away tears when love fails her

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what does the presence of a Black girl in a room a reminder of?

where she comes from and a demand of what she is owed

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what are Black girls proof of?

their ancestors' sweet breath

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what did Black girls fight for?

their rights, their peace of mind, for today and tomorrow

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what are Black girls in famine?

nourishment

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what did no one expect the Black girl to do?

to be the fulfillment of prophecy

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Atlas, what does the Black girl hold up?

the world

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, how does that girl walk?

like she got somewhere to go or she tryin' to leave

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, how do that girl's eyes look?

empty like they were once full of tears, but she can't cry no more

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, what is that girl good at?

pretendin'

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, what innocent moments did that girl used to have?

playin' Simon says on school playgrounds, sitting on the porch swing at Big Momma's house, saving watermelon seeds to plant them later

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, what did that girl realize as she got older?

people break promises, she's growin' up to be just like her mother, even though she don't want to be

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, what does that girl want to do?

get away out of the city and start over with a new reputation an erased past

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section That Girl, where does that girl want to move to?

a place where the watermelon is seedless so there will be no disappointment from fruitless harvests

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Sisterhood Haiku II, what do wise women know?

nothing can heal without love and there is no growth without care

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, what do mommas and aunties ask?

have you eaten

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, what do old men say as you walk by?

alright now

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, what does your grandma do so no one eats your leftover food?

puts your initials on the takeout container

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, what light is left on?

the light above the stove

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, why is the light above the stove left on?

in case you wake up in the middle of the night and need to find your way

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, what does the glance from a friend across the room mean?

they know exactly what you're thinking

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Love Shows Up, what do leaves promise?

that they will be back in the spring

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Church of Press & Curl, what does Ms. Tiny's kitchen become on Saturdays?

the House of Miracles

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Church of Press & Curl, what does a dollop of Blue Magic hair grease do?

oils and anoints the scalp

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Church of Press & Curl, what does Ms. Tiny do to hair?

baptizes it and washes its sin down the drain of her basin

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Church of Press & Curl, what do people do to her Shirley Temple curls?

boys say its pretty, Black girls pull it to see if its real, white girls what to touch it, and grown-ups make her promise to never cut it

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Church of Press & Curl, what happens to hair when the rain comes?

the curls backslide and Africa proves stronger than any metal comb, silk scarf or sponge roller

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Church of Press & Curl, what happens when sinner hair won't obey assimilation, convert or obey?

it's born again, made anew and free

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Scalp, what should you plow through naps like?

cotton fields

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Scalp, what is every handful of gathered and pulled cotton?

a testimony

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Scalp, what should you sculpt your scalp into?

a holy crown

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Turning Seven, where is her seventh birthday spent?

on an Amtrak train somewhere between Oregon and New Jersey

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Turning Seven, who is with her on her seventh birthday?

Mom and Aunt Mary

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Turning Seven, what does an old man give her on her seventh birthday?

seven single-dollar bills, one for each year

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Turning Seven, what does she do to her unlit candle?

blows it anyway

In the book Black Girl You Are Atlas, in the section Turning Seven, what does one of the attendants bring her on her seventh birthday?

a coloring book, a warm brownie with two scoops of vanilla ice cream