Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today—Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it’s like to be young and Black in America. A selection of the Schomburg Center’s Black Liberation Reading List.
Black is…sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in … is…sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson.
Black is…three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds.
Black is…Nic Stone’s high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of.
Black is…two girls kissing in Justina Ireland’s story set in Maryland.
Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough.
Contributors:
Justina Ireland
Varian Johnson
Rita Williams-Garcia
Dhonielle Clayton
Kekla Magoon
Leah Henderson
Tochi Onyebuchi
Jason Reynolds
Nic Stone
Liara Tamani
Renée Watson
Tracey Baptiste
Coe Booth
Brandy Colbert
Jay Coles
Ibi Zoboi
Lamar Giles
more
This is a compilation of stories written by young people about the African diaspora experience of living in America as a person of color. Each story gives a different perspective of that experience and provides a unique insight into the minds and lives of young and new adults who grapple with complex issues of race, gender identity, and loss of innocence. I loved many of the unpredictable story lines that were as varied as each writer.
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America is a young adult short-story anthology edited by Ibi Zoboi. In the introduction, Zoboi expresses her vision for this collection. She writes, “What are the cultural threads that connect Black people all over the world to Africa? How have we tried to maintain certain traditions as part of our identity? And as teenagers, do we even care? These are the questions I had in mind when inviting sixteen other Black authors to write about teens examining, rebelling against, embracing, or simply existing within their own idea of Blackness.”
This collection showcases the diversity within diversity. It shows teens as camp counselors, geeks, bonding over music, craving good food after an afternoon of swimming, using art as a form of self-expression, and considering colleges. It also shows teens processing grief, sexuality, manipulation versus love, blended families, mental health issues, rape culture, and knowing who you are beneath the code-switching. It offers the talent of 16 different writers who each bring something unique to this anthology. Set all over the United States and with a variety of demographics and identities, these stories present an eclectic picture of teens who are screaming, “This is my story. This is my truth.”
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America will no doubt succeed in Zoboi’s goal of encouraging Black teens “to be their free, uninhibited selves without the constraints of being Black, too Black, or not Black enough. They will simply be enough just as they are.” Check it out.
This was a great collection of some impressionable stories!
A collection of stories focusing on the lives of Black teenagers. Some were eye opening, others were seemingly ordinary. I appreciated the diversity among them. And I’m happy to report that I’ve been introduced to many great authors. Originally, I read this book for Ibi Zoboi’s story. I loved how unique it was, but I have to say, that poor main character is confused. Somehow, she got Ross and Rachel’s awesomeness completely mixed up. Still an incredible story and book.
BLACK ENOUGH edited by Ibi Zoboi is a collection of contemporary (plus one magical realism) stories all centering on black teens. I love anthologies because they introduce me to new authors (like Renée Watson whose touching half-sisters-at-camp story immediately made me buy more from her even before I’d finished this book) and lets me see different sides of authors I already enjoy (like Dhonielle Clayton’s story about a girl dealing with grief over losing a loved one). And while I’ve only ever read one anthology where I loved every single story, when more than half are hits for me, it’s a win. My two favorite stories in this anthology, apart from Renée’s, were Samson and the Delilahs by Tochi Onyebuchi (about a Nigerian immigrant and the girl who introduces him to heavy metal–so cute!) and Black. Nerd. Problems. by Lamar Giles (about a group of mall employees and a nerdy-but-not-really guy trying to work up the nerve to talk to the girl of his dreams–funny and cute).
I loved it! if there was a number 2 I would totally read it