I watch WNBA games every chance I get. I’m a fan of the New York Liberty, but I’m also a fan of A’ja Wilson, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces. She’s tall and talented, beautiful and outspoken, and a force to be reckoned with, on and off the court. Last year I picked up a copy of her book, Dear Black Girls: How To Be True To You. I can tell you, if I wasn’t already one of her fans, this book would have turned me into one.

Dear Black Girls is filled with stories from Wilson’s life. The one that hit me the hardest, is the story of how she was told she would have to sleep outside at a friend’s party, because the friend’s father didn’t like Black people. This happened when Wilson was in the fourth grade. I thought, wow… I didn’t experience that level of racism until I was much older, but it still hit hard. There are also light-hearted stories, such as the time when Wilson actually hated basketball, to an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction, to choosing the right college. Each chapter is actually a letter to us, the readers, and there is always a lesson at the end.

My biggest take away from Dear Black Girls is I don’t need to apologize for who I am. None of us do. People may call you loud simply because you’re speaking up for yourself. People may call you arrogant because you know what you’re capable of and proud of who you are. You don’t need to apologize for any of that. If you’re looking for some honesty and inspiration, Dear Black Girls is a great read.