Dear Black Girls

This one is for all the girls with an apostrophe in their names.

This is for all the girls who are labeled “too loud” and “too emotional.”

This is for all the girls who are constantly asked, “Oh, what did you do with your hair? That’s new.”

This is for my Black girls.

Despite gold medals, WNBA championships, and a list of accolades, A’ja Wilson knows how it feels to be swept under the rug-to not be heard, to not feel seen, to not be taken seriously. As a fourth grader going to a primarily white school in South Carolina, A’ja was told she’d have to stay outside for a classmate’s birthday party. “Huh?” she asked. Because the birthday girl’s father didn’t like Black people.

Wilson tells stories like this, about how even when life tried to hold her down, it didn’t stop her. She shares her contribution to “The Talk,” and how to keep fighting, all while igniting strength, passion, and joy. Dear Black Girls is a necessary and meaningful exploration of what it means to be a Black woman in America today-and a rallying cry to lift up women and girls everywhere.

Author Biography

A’ja Wilson is a professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces. The two-time MVP is the face of the WNBA and the Aces, one of the industry’s hottest franchises. She and the USA Women’s National Team won gold at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, Tokyo Olympics, and 2018 FIBA World Cup. Off the court, A’ja has built the A’ja Wilson Foundation, which serves as a resource for children who struggle with dyslexia and empowers them to reach their full potential. A’ja currently resides in Las Vegas. Dear Black Girls is her first book.