“All the things you wish for are yours.” This is just one of the messages Spelman College student Aiyana Thompson is ingraining in others with her uplifting brand. The Chicago native is a writer, photographer, artists, and now a self-published author. As an art history major, this Class of 2023 creative has found beautiful ways to not only encourage other women, but empower them.
Black Girl You Are is a beautiful affirmation book Thompson created that every Black girl should read. The contents are there to remind girls of their worth, their potential, and the support they have in this world. With calming tans and feminine pinks, she made sure to make a book this is just as beautiful as it makes Black girls feel. Spread across the pages are perhaps forgotten, or even never-realized messages. One page reads, “You are worthy of love. You are worthy of luxury. You are worthy of respect. You are worthy of peace.” On the Instagram page for her book, she has even used the brand to tell Black girls to vote!
In a highlight by Spelman, Thompson shared her inspiration for beginning this project. “The ‘self-help’ genre has been my favorite as of late and I believe that’s why I ended up writing the book, other than the fact that God literally dropped it in my spirit,” she said. “The death of Breonna Taylor was also a big push for me. This project was written out of both, my admiration of Black women, and my exhaustion as a Black woman.”
If you would like to see more Black Girl You Are products, she has created other works of art as well. On her website, the same colorful images of Black women can be found on products like phone cases for iPhones and Samsungs, posters, notebooks, and even creative magazines.
When it comes to her next moves, this creative has shared that she has plenty projects under her belt, and she’s looking for more! These projects include magazines, books, short films, and more. She is also the CEO and Founder of The Concrete Rose Society. Since moving to Atlanta for Spelman, Aiyana Thompson continues to reside there and plans to leave her mark.
