by Janae Johnson (Author)
Janae Johnson's debut poetry collection explores the notion of being tenderheaded, going beyond Black hair to explore the ways we mask pain.
Originally inspired by women's basketball, the book evolves into a poignant coming-of-age narrative centered around Black queer masculinity, emotional healing, and the quest for belonging.
Combining lyrical experiments and personified prose, each poem embraces humor, celebrating moments like an eight-hour hair appointment and the empowering choice to don a ponytail.
Lessons On Being Tenderheaded shows the reader how we suppress both major and minor traumas.
Author Biography
Janae Johnson is an award-winning poet, performer and educator. Her writing celebrates and centers Black queer maculinity, kinship and belonging. She is a former National Poetry Slam Champion, Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion and a founder of two nationally recognized poetry venues: The Root Slam (Oakland, CA) and The House Slam (Boston, MA). Janae's full-length poetry collection Lessons on Being Tenderheaded is forthcoming in Spring 2022 by Write Bloody Publishing. Janae currently resides in Tacoma, WA.