Racial Identity & How Your Story Can Help Empower Young Girls
17 year old Amandla Stenberg has teamed up with the CEO of "Stranger Comics", Sebastian Jones, and created a comic book featuring Niobe. The character originally appeared in Jones' novel "The Untamed," and he wanted to create a spin-off of sorts with Niobe as the lead.
The original plan was to write a novel, but Stenberg didn't want take on a project of that scale, so they settled on a comic book. The first issue came on November 4th, and the works for the second issue is already underway, and will be available in February.
“Niobi: She is Life” retails for $3.99. Available at Strangercomics.com. Image courtesy of InStyle
The comic, titled "Niobe: She Is Life," is about a half human, and half elf warrior as she journeys to save the world. The book is described by Stenberg as a "comic book with fantasy," Essence discloses, and aims to entertain and empower young girls and explores issues of identity and race.
[Related: Being and Writing The Voice That Is Unapologetically Black]
"I think it's the first comic book that has a black female writer and a black female illustrator and a black female lead, so it's really exciting," Stenberg told People Magazine. This is quite a big deal for any author, but especially for Stenberg who can identify with the character, as she too is biracial (African-American and Danish). She told InStyle "there was a time when I didn't embrace my racial identity as wholeheartedly as I do now," so she's able to bring the value of personally lived experience. It's great to see that a fellow author saw the value of the perspective of a black girl telling the story of a black girl, Stenberg expresses.
[Related: Issa Rae's Story & The Importance Of YOUR Black Girl Story]
Here's were I turn it to you, you have a story that needs to be shared. There's about a thousand different ways in which you can share it, and your passion will more than likely guide you towards what that way is. It doesn't even have to be through writing, Stella Jean tells her beautiful story through fashion.
[Related: Finding Your Unique Advantage To Tell Your Story]
This is Amandla Stenberg's way of telling her story, through a comic book. And how powerful, as young girls love cartoons. Stenberg is quoted by Essence saying, "We often hear about the hero's journey, but that hero is rarely a girl and certainly not one of colour. I want girls to know that they can be at the centre of a big story—their own lives— and they don't have to be marginalized."
What message do you have for your peers or the next generation? Don't be afraid to tell your story.
Be blessed!