Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D (You So Black)!
Read on to learn more about her, her book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D
Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. is a musical, lyrical and theatrical alchemist, sprinkling magic like hot sauce. She is best known for her appearance on the 2019 Trumpet Awards on Bounce TV, and the now viral recitation of “You So Black,” which has garnered 11 million views and counting. She has gone on to perform with the likes of Jill Scott, MC Lyte, and Jazmine Sullivan, and appears on famed pianist Robert Glasper’s newest album. Theresa is from the south suburbs of Chicago but calls Atlanta home. She holds a degree in commercial music from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.
Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook * Tiktok * YouTube
About the Book: You So Black
Based on Theresa Wilson’s (a.k.a. Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.’s) beautiful, viral spoken word poem of the same name, You So Black is a picture book celebration of the richness, the nuance, and the joy of Blackness.
Black is everywhere, and in everything, and in everyone—in the night sky and the fertile soil below. It’s in familial connections and invention, in hands lifted in praise and voices lifted in protest, and in hearts wide open and filled with love. Black is good.
Accompanied by powerful yet tender illustrations by award-winning illustrator London Ladd, Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. has adapted her poem, full of gorgeous lyricism and imagery, to show readers the love, joy, resilience, and universality in the beauty of Blackness.
~Author Chat~
What gave you the inspiration to write You So Black?
You So Black was inspired from a desire to gift my people with a love for themselves, to disarm ideas meant to demean and empower our culture, contributions, and experiences.
Which came first, the title or the book?
I think I knew the title was going to be You So Black. The phrase was the catalyst for the writing.
What part of You So Black are you most proud of, and why?
I am most proud of the impact my words have had amongst the youth. It is amazing to hear young people learning my words and loving themselves more because of something I have written.
Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
The most important thing I have learned since I first began writing is to enjoy the process. If you, as the writer and the reader, genuinely enjoy the work being produced then you’re probably moving in the right direction.
What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I am a huge fan of Afro-futurism, and I loved Octavia Butler’s Dawn.
What’s up next for you?
Next, I have another book written, and appearances scheduled across the country. I am always creating and preparing for new opportunities.
What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from You So Black?
After finishing You So Black I would like the reader to remember that they are valuable and their lives bring light to the world.
What would you say is your superpower?
My superpower is my ability to shift energy by giving love where it’s needed. I come from a long line of people who know how to serve, heal, educate and uplift with phenomenal compassion. I have inherited these abilities and use them daily to change lives.
Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
I am a supporter of The Sandwich Ministry in Chicago, which is a grass roots program run by M’Reld Green. The Sandwich Ministry provides free lunch to children in food deserts, along with other staple amenities.
What advice do you have for new writers?
To my new writers – Be willing to share your work. Be willing to accept and manage criticism. Be willing to edit.
Is there anything that you would like to add?
I would like to thank London Ladd for his stunning art work and Denene Millner for her vision. I am grateful to have their support in bringing You So Black into the hands of young readers.
Title: You So Black
Author: Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.
ISBN-13: 9781665900348
ISBN-10: 1665900342
On-sale date: Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Denene Millner Books
Ages: 4-8, Grades P-3
~ Giveaway Details ~
Three (3) winners will receive a copy of You So Black (Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D) ~US Only, No P.O Boxes
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
nice
The cover is a work of art and this book will resonate with many readers.