Black Roses

Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Women

By: Harold Green III

Narrated by: Harold Green III

Length: 1 hr and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

The poet and founder of the music collective Flowers for the Living pays tribute to all Black women by focusing on visionaries and leaders who are making history right now, including Ava DuVernay, Janelle Monae, Kamala Harris, Misty Copeland, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Robin Roberts, Roxane Gay, and Simone Biles—with this compilation of celebratory odes.

Black women are exceptional. To honor how Black women use their minds, talent, passion, and power to transform society, Harold Green began writing love letters in verse which he shared on his Instagram account. Balm for our troubled times, his tributes to visionaries and leaders quickly went viral and became a social media sensation. Now, in this remarkable collection, Green brings together many of these popular odes with never-before-seen works.

A timely celebration of contemporary Black figures who are making history and shaping our culture today, Black Roses is divided into five sections—advocates, curators, innovators, luminaries, trailblazers—reflecting the diversity of Black women’s achievements and the depth of their reach. These inspiring changemakers are leaving their mark on the world by creating new beauty in their respective art forms, heading movements, fighting for equality and to change the status quo, and championing new definitions of what’s possible in every meaningful way. Green lifts them up to create meaningful connections between these figures and our own lives and experiences.

Black Roses spotlights and urges listeners to learn more about Allyson Felix, Angelica Ross, Ava DuVernay, Bisa Butler, Bozoma Saint John, Charisma Sweat-Green, Dr. Eve Ewing, Dr. Janice Jackson, Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Eunique Jones-Gibson, Issa Rae, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Matthews, Kamala Harris, Keisha Bottoms, Kimberly Bryant, Kimberly Drew, Lisa Green, Lizzo, Mandilyn Graham, Mellody Hobson, Michelle Alexander, Misty Copeland, Naomi Beckwith, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Rapsody, Raquel Willis, Robin Roberts, Roxane Gay, Shellye Archambeau, Simone Biles, Stacey Abrams, Tabitha Brown, Tamika Mallory, Tarana Burke, Tasha Bell, Tomi Adeyemi, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

The audiobook edition of Black Roses also includes an exclusive interview between Green and his mother about the making of the collection.

©2022 Harold Green, III (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Outstanding

Outstanding work as always Harold captured the essence of the black rose perfectly and I feel Honored and seen

Work Of Art.

I'm Not Really Into Poetry, But I Loved This. As A Black Man, I Struggle With Creativity To Show My Love And Respect Towards Black Women. But This Work Of Art Did The Job For Me.

Poetry written like it was a love letter to all Black women.

Harold’s words were so powerful and perfectly placed throughout each poem. I was smiling, crying and celebrating as if these were written to me. And in a way, they were. Thank you. Excellent work! Highly recommend!

Roses Are Beautiful

Wonderful honor to our beautiful black sistas. Every rose shared and represented embodies my souls life challenges and accomplishments. Thank you my brutha for Black Roses 🌹