The MRC is excited to present a reading by poet and author, Shayla Lawson, from her recent book, This is Major.

THIS IS MAJOR: on Diana Ross, Dark Girls and Being Dope (Harper Perennial), is an insightful and riveting debut essay collection on the richness and resilience of black girl culture. In this collection, Shayla introduces her fierce and humorous new voice to the world as she shares a unique mix of personal stories, pop culture observations, and insights into politics and history. 

Shayla Lawson is the author of THIS IS MAJOR: NOTES ON DIANA ROSS, DARK GIRLS & BEING DOPE (Harper Perennial, 2020) and three poetry collections: I THINK I'M READY TO SEE FRANK OCEAN,  A SPEED EDUCATION IN HUMAN BEING  and PANTONE. She has written for ESPN, Salon, Guernica, Vulture and THE CUT.  A MacDowell and Yaddo Artist Colony Fellow, Shayla Lawson writes poems with Chet’la Sebree (pronounced Shayla, no relation). She is a 2020 National Book Critics Circle Finalist.