There’s nothing like a Black lady and her braids. Philadelphia-based actor, poet, and now writer Jaylene Clark Owens’ new youngsters’s e-book, A Black Girl and Her Braids, facilities that magic.
Published by Penguin Random House and launched on Thursday, the e-book is a love letter to Black women and their braids, celebrating our magnificence, tradition and resilience, primarily based on her poem of the same name.
Following the discharge, Blavity spoke with Owens in regards to the e-book and what’s to come back.
So at the beginning, discuss to me about your journey. I do know that you just’re a working and auditioning actor, and also you even have a background in poetry.
Jaylene Clark Owens: Yes. I’m nonetheless doing these issues. I’ll admit, 2025 was so sluggish when it comes to appearing. I thank God that I do have one other talent as a poet and a author. Listen, poetry carried me final yr, and it’s nonetheless carrying me as a result of this e-book is an adaptation of my authentic poem. I’m nonetheless doing all these issues, however I simply added writer to my identify.
I do know that the unique idea, as you talked about, was derived from a poem that you just wrote and went viral. What made you resolve to show it right into a full youngsters’s e-book?
JCO: A few causes. One, I had really had an thought for a special e-book that was instantly impressed by my goddaughter. And so I had pitched that, attempting to get a literary agent, and nothing wound up occurring with that exact story, however by that, I discovered the one who would then develop into my agent. Her identify is Jania, and we really went to center faculty and highschool collectively. And so as soon as she determined to signify me, she stated perhaps one thing for my preliminary e-book thought would are available in a yr. And then a yr got here, and nothing actually occurred with that.
But then, once I noticed how many individuals have been sharing movies of their little Black women dancing to my poem on-line, I used to be like, ‘Maybe I’ll do a youngsters’s e-book adapting this poem.’ Because clearly, I’m seeing it already resonating with so many Black girls and women. And I nonetheless needed to do one thing for my goddaughter and her sister, who’s my niece. I used to be like, ‘This can be good. This would fulfill all my wishes to create one thing for them.’ And then I additionally needed to talk to all of the little women who I see on-line dancing to the poem.
How did you go about selecting the illustrator?
JCO: I’m studying in actual time about conventional publishing, and plainly, except you’re an illustrator or except you personally know illustrators, your publishing home will ship you folks. And so, I used to be despatched perhaps two or three completely different illustrators. And you take a look at their work, and Brittany Bond’s work actually resonated with me. I liked how she drew braids. That was crucial factor. I used to be like, ‘Whoever is doing this, they’ve to have the ability to draw detailed braids.’ And she may. I used to be like, ‘Alright, I’m gonna go along with her.’ And then I gave her, for each unfold, for every web page, I’d say, ‘Here’s my imaginative and prescient.’ And she actually went above and past, bringing my phrases to life. She’s phenomenal.
The photos within the e-book are eye-catching, they usually’re additionally very highly effective, coinciding with what’s occurring on a company stage, on an academic stage for Black and brown women at school, with references to the Crown Act and past. How concerned have been you within the illustration course of? Was it a collaboration, or did you permit her to take the lead on that?
JCO: Yeah, it’s undoubtedly a collaboration. Literally every web page, the writer and the design staff requested me to undergo and say what I needed on every web page. So for one of many first spreads, when the little lady is in her bed room, I’m like, ‘OK, she’s gonna be in her bed room, however ensure there’s a bonnet on the mattress as a result of that’s a part of our tradition, and I need it to be genuine.’ So, little particulars like that, I’d simply specific them to Brittany, and she or he would implement them. She would take a fundamental idea of what I needed to see on the web page.
I advised her I needed to see our little lady at a protest or one thing, and I needed her to signify the Crown Act, after which Brittany took that and simply went with it. So we went by many iterations, perhaps like 4 or 5 completely different drafts, however every time I gave suggestions, and she or he simply executed so nicely.
Getting again to the e-book, what impressed the preliminary poem? Was it a selected occasion, or was it a collection of issues that we cope with as Black girls on the subject of our hair?
JCO: It was a selected occasion that I believe is supported by simply my historical past of sporting braids, however in July of 2021, I went to go to my greatest pal in LA, and I acquired medium knotless braids, and I liked these braids a lot. I felt so good. I felt so lovely. And it was on that journey that I used to be like, ‘Being a Black lady in her braids can be a particular feeling, and I wanna write about this.’ And so I used to be at my pal’s home, and I recorded the primary few strains of the little tune on my iPhone, after which I stated, ‘When I get residence, I’ll write the poem,’ and that’s what occurred.
The packaging is nice. Opening it was such a pleasure for my daughter. It was like Christmas. It was such an expertise. How did that come about?
JCO: You have a particular PR field. But I admire that as a result of I put that collectively myself. I discovered the corporate. I designed it. I used to be like, ‘Alright, I’ve these photos from Brittany. I’m gonna determine the best way to put them on this field.’ And that’s what I did. So, thanks as a result of I’m pleased with myself with that one.
Were you ever anxious about working into pushback with the advertising and marketing as a result of the e-book is so area of interest?
JCO: It actually was a thought. I used to be serious about all of the issues. In 2026, inside this present state of affairs, I did query whether or not there can be pushback. I believed, ‘Is there going to be pushback as a result of it’s speaking a few Black lady and her braids?’ I believed perhaps folks would query it. I needed to push that to the facet. And the fact is that I’ve been met with nothing however love, actually. I simply concentrate on the enjoyment of this e-book as a result of that’s what it’s. And in case you’re not a Black lady, otherwise you don’t have braids, it may well nonetheless function an academic device. And I hope that it evokes folks to only love who they’re and their hair. But to this point, with all of the press that I’ve been doing, it has simply all been very celebratory. There hasn’t been any pushback. It’s been nice.
You talked about having an idea for a special e-book that your goddaughter impressed, however you ended up arising with this. Outside of your goddaughter, was there a motive you selected to go the youngsters’s e-book route?
JCO: I believe writing for my goddaughter, Armani, was my inspiration. I’ve to verify along with her mother, however I consider one thing occurred when she was speaking about her hair, and I believe she could have needed to alter it. This was when she was youthful. I believe perhaps she needed to have straight hair or one thing like that, simply from seeing stuff within the media and issues. And I used to be like, ‘No, we have to change this mind-set.’ I’m already a poet. I do know that I’ve expertise utilizing my phrases to inspire. So I used to be like, if I can use my expertise to pour into my goddaughter and women like her, then I need to try this. So I believe that was initially my objective, and that’s what motivated me.
And then as soon as I noticed the success of the poem and noticed what number of Black women have been utilizing the poem on-line, I figured a variety of youngsters’s books rhyme, and I’m already a poet. So, I believe the wedding got here naturally.
Eventually, I’d love to put in writing a full-length novel. I’d love to put in writing a novel in verse. I believe that might be tremendous, tremendous cool. But for proper now, as a result of I’ve these younger folks in my life, a variety of my associates have children, and it brings me a lot pleasure to put in writing one thing necessary to them.
Your poem, and now e-book, as you talked about, has been shared by many, together with dozens of celebrities who’ve shared it with their youngsters and their followers. How did it make you’re feeling when it gained such traction?
JCO: It was very shocking. Nothing like that to that extent had occurred with my work earlier than. People have shared my movies, however this was completely different as a result of folks have been utilizing my phrases.
When Kandi Burruss shared my work, that was top-tier. She has written so many songs which can be Grammy Award-winning. And when she shared it, this was the time when her “Legs, Hips, Body” tune went viral. It was very particular.
I all the time inform the story about Tia Mowry. I actually used to put in writing about her and Tamera as my heroes in elementary faculty. Every single time they requested us to put in writing an essay about heroes, I’d write about them. So it’s simply very full circle that now, not solely has Tia used the poem, however her hair firm is likely one of the sponsors for the e-book launch. They’re sponsoring 4 of the stops, they usually’re doing a variety of nice issues for this e-book, and I’m thrilled. I’m over the moon.
What do you suppose is subsequent for the e-book? I see a possible animated collection. What are your hopes for this?
JCO: An animated collection can be completely unbelievable. I like to dream large. I can see a collection. I can see a movie. I may see extra books. I have already got the EP that has a Black lady in her braids, locks, fro, twists, change up, so the content material is there for me to drag from for future books. But within the rapid future, what’s subsequent for it’s going into faculties. I’ve some faculty visits arrange, and I’m seeking to do extra of them and simply be with the youngsters, being among the many youngsters, studying to them, that’s within the rapid future. I can’t wait.
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