As a young girl my mother introduced me to the world of books through my local library in Joliet, IL. Looking back it seems that the spirits of the past who lived in the library and media centers called my name. As a young adult, I give a lot of credit to Sam Houston State University Theater Department and Dean Miller as well as Dr. James Ward, Dean of the Communication Department of Texas Southern University.

In 1993, Tj Baker graduated college with honors in her major area of study and was the first Black student to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from Texas Southern University. One of Tj's proudest accomplishments was continuing to earn good grades while managing an epilepsy related disability that affected her ability to process thoughts and write. Tj never quit. Her hard work and perserverance paid off and will continue to provide dividends for the rest of her life.

In 1995, Tj self-published her first book “The Slumber Party for Black Girls Who Love Poetry Too.” In 2001, her second book was published. It was a short novel called “The Teachings of Miss Ellie Ruth,” about a young black girl coming of age during World War II. “The Teachings of Miss Ellie Ruth” is currently available through all online book retailers. I've been an educator for 10 years. I want to leave the classroom and transition to being a motivational speaker, but still being closely tied to education. I’ve already started. I was recently honored as the first Black author to speak at a Fort Bend Independent School in Houston, Texas. 220 students heard me speak. After the presentation the students hugged and thanked me. After that, I immediately knew what I wanted to do next in my career. A lover of children, Tj co-wrote a book with her young son, “Home Is Where You Catch Fallen Leaves.” Tj's current projects include several children’s books that she hopes to publish soon.

Tj Baker.com
Tj Baker.com features a collection of my poetry, photos and information about my book. You can also read one of my favorite poems "Today We Whistle!" dedicated to President George W. Bush.

Women Of Color Of Words
This is an alphabetical listing of resources which contain critical as well as biographical information about the writers featured in this site. Please consult the individual writers' pages for the titles which mention that playwright specifically. Books marked with the Amazon.com logo or book jacket are available for sale; just click on the link to go to their page at the Amazon.com site.

Black Female Writers
Black female writers of the BAM including works by Adrienne Kennedy, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez

Women Writers of the Harlem Renaissance
During the Harlem Renaissance, the genre of African American art and literature flourished and was celebrated like no other time in the history of America. As black Americans struggled to find an identity and a voice following their heavy migration to the north, they faced many obstacles and were forced to overcome deeply held racial stereotypes that were well rooted in the consciousness of white America. The contributions of the black artists of Harlem and elsewhere during this fruitful time helped create a feeling of cultural pride and a much needed identity to many displaced and alienated black Americans.