The Colored Girl Beautiful

The Colored Girl Beautiful (1916) is an etiquette book by Emma Azalia Hackley. Published toward the end of her life, The Colored Girl Beautiful draws from decades of experience as an activist and educator to provide a template for young African American girls looking to lead independent and productive lives. The work was compiled from a series of talks given by the author at boarding schools for African American girls around the country. “The beautiful part about the colored race in America, is the future. As a mixed race we are undeveloped. We may become whatever we WILL to become.” Musing on subjects as diverse as race, history, religion, beauty, and romance, Emma Azalia Hackley offers her vision of a brighter future for young African American women. Her words are assuring, powerful, kind, and honest. Her goal is to foster confidence and strength, in order that her readers might succeed in a world which all too often threatens their continued existence. With such lessons, she hopes to grow leaders who will one day change the world. This edition of Emma Azalia Hackley’s The Colored Girl Beautiful is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.