First Prize: Anjeneé Cannon USA 

Lessons from the Front Porch by Anjeneé Cannon USA

 

Her grandmother has been a guiding light for this writer, who traces the Black female experience in the United States through the stories her grandmother has shared. Anjeneé discusses the lessons she has learned about self-improvement, female empowerment, and relationships between Black females and Black men. She also discusses the impacts of gentrification and displacement of Black people in their neighborhoods, and racial politics. She offers a critical view on how the Strong Black Woman has evolved from the traumatic history of Black womanhood in the United States. 

What the Judges said about Anjeneé's writing: 

A delicate, simple but powerful narrative; beautifully written with illustrative language and tenderly curated images.  Stunning!

 

Superb writer with the ability to use metaphors to connect with culture and traditions of a Black household.

 

The story is filled with loss, love and optimism grounded on the strength of what it means to be a woman bathed in melanin.

 

The writer provided lessons learned from her grandmother and how she incorporates into her daily life, living unapologetically.

 

Second Prize: Melissa Penyeyi Ghana

Unfaded Melanin by Melissa Penyayi Ghana

 

“Someone once said they cannot wait for the day the world embraces the idea of a strong, Black woman. I told myself then that if it is a strong woman we still talk about in order to identify ourselves as empowered then count me out. I refuse to be labelled as strong, to qualify as empowered or independent. Nor do I want my colour to be associated with just strength, because strength doesn’t mean empowered and no Black girl needs a label.” These are Melissa’s words as she unpacks the idea of strength in the face of tradition, culture, misogyny, disadvantage, and patriarchy. 

What the Judges said about Melissa's writing: 

Excellent and captivating introductory paragraph with the ability to draw the reader!

 

Inspiring story of what it means to live an impactful life with actualizing your dreams that once felt far away.

 

The writer has a way with words that makes it difficult not to finish the story, especially when she brought in real life examples from her community of young women being married off.

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Third Prize: Money Mathibela South Africa

A World Where Black Girls Can Thrive by Money Mathibela South Africa

 

South Africa has a sordid history of racism and violence. Money gives us a glimpse of the aftermath of apartheid. She paints a picture that illustrates the stark difference between Black and white; and male and female in the liberated country. Even after they won their freedom, the road to true equality and justice in South Africa is long and winding. Her story reminds us that freedom is subjective and so is power and self-belief. When the odds are stacked against the Black female, she does what she knows best, takes care of those around her and gives them inspiration through her selflessness.

What the Judges said about Money's writing:

Beautiful written story of the daughter of the land with confidence and enthusiasm for the future.

 

She provides her us with her stories from her time in school and nuances of why she was an overachiever; wanting to prove to everyone that she is capable.

 

She has laid down concrete steps of what it means to be a future successful Black woman, and to her that means immigrating to Canada. She has given concrete explanations of why this is the path she wants to follow.