Author Reading: Tamara Winfrey-Harris

Join local author, Tamara Winfrey-Harris, at Indy Reads on July 19th at 5:30 to celebrate the release of her new book, A Black Woman’s Guide to Getting Free! There will be a reading, discussion, and signing to follow.

A Black Woman’s Guide to Getting Free

In A Black Woman’s Guide to Getting Free, Winfrey-Harris harnesses her unique alchemy–bold writing and astute cultural analysis with Black women unapologetically centered, leveraging sister wit, feminist principles and yogic philosophy to illuminate a path to Black femme liberation.

The book unfolds over two parts. The first explores the meaning of liberation and guides readers in creating a sustaining practice to nurture their well-being along a freedom journey. In part two, the author introduces readers to her six pillars of living free as a Black woman:

● Spot the distortions

● Know your truth

● Celebrate the real you

● Understand the cost of liberation

● Practice freedom

● See free Black women everywhere

The book’s narrative is woven around quick lists, tips, and stories from Black women that amplify steps in the liberation process.

Reviews

“…a love letter, from writer to reader, that demands we love our authentic selves first and fiercely until the power of that love extends to our mothers, sisters, and daughters.”

– Deesha Philyaw, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, 2020 finalist, The National Book Award

“…a brilliant exploration of self-liberation, tapping into ancient wisdom that underscores the profound truth: regardless of external influences or societal conditioning, we are already whole and complete. This work serves as a roadmap, extending a beautiful invitation to all Black women to examine, unlearn, and rediscover the undeniable truth and beauty of who we really are.”

– Nikki Myers, founder Y12SR: The Yoga of 12-Step Recovery

“…a guide for the sister who longs to be free, who longs for her daughters, her mother, her aunts, her play cousins, her classmates who are Black women to also be free—to be free together. Grab this book and your best friends and work through it together. Then share it with younger women and older women. Freedom is for every age and we come to it in different ways. Tamara has done the impossible—she has given us a guide to freedom no matter who we are or where we are in life.”

– Suzanne Walsh, president of Bennett College

Tamara Winfrey-Harris is a writer, speaker and dedicated champion for all women and girls. She serves as president of Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, a special interest fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation that convenes, invests and advocates so all who identify as women or girls in Central Indiana have an equitable opportunity to reach their full potential no matter their place, race or identity.

As a writer, Tamara specializes in the ever-evolving space where current events, politics and pop culture intersect with race and gender. She says, “I tell the stories of Black women and girls to deliver the truth to all those folks who got us twisted—tangled up in racist and sexist lies. My sisters are better than alright. We are amazing.”

Tamara is the author of the award-winning The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2015); Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters On Stepping Into Your Power (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2021); and A Black Woman’s Guide to Getting Free (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2024).

Her commentary, articles and essays have been published in media outlets, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Ms. Magazine, NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” and books, including The Lemonade Reader: Beyonce, Black Feminism and Spirituality (Routledge, 2019); The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery (Wayne State University Press, 2018); and Black in the Middle: An Anthology of the Black Midwest (Black Belt Publishing, 2020).

Tamara has been invited to speak on issues of gender, race and social justice at conferences and campuses across the country. She served as the inaugural Liberator-in-Residence for Bennett College, a women’s HBCU in Greensboro, NC.

Tamara is co-founder of Black Women’s Writing Society, a monthly virtual space for Black femme creatives in Indianapolis. She is also a registered yoga teacher and reiki master, who focuses her work on the healing and well-being of her sisters.

A native of Gary, IN, Tamara is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. and the Circle City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She graduated with a BA degree from the Greenlee School of Journalism at Iowa State University.

This event is Pay-What-You-Can. Here’s what your suggested donation can do for the Indy Reads community:

FREE – This ticket is for attendees that would like to attend this event and are unable to purchase a ticket. Indy Reads values our community and facilitators. We are proud to provide programming to all. Thank you for being a part of our community!

$10 – This donation covers the cost of one attendee to this event. Indy Reads strives to bring the very best programming to Fountain Square and all Hoosiers. Thank you for helping us to keep our quality programs accessible for all!

$20 – This donation covers the cost of two attendees to this event. If you are attending as an individual, your ticket at this level makes it possible for another who cannot afford a ticket to attend. It is only through the generosity of our community that we are able to support programs that enrich the lives of all Hoosiers. Thank you for your support!

Other – “Pay-What-You-Can” really does mean pay what you can. Indy Reads appreciates that every one of our community members is able to support our vision of 100% literacy for all in different ways. Whether you can pay $5 or $50, we are so excited to see you – and thank you for your support!