I read voraciously for years, searching for a girl like me but more than me.
-- Jesmyn Ward (Magic Mirrors)

Importance: Ward's statement is representative of many readers' experiences, searching for oneself in literature but seeking to amplify and improve upon the realities of one's actual life. Literature as a mirror is a common theme in this anthology, though not every author believes that it is possible to find the total truth reflected in literature.

There was nothing for me, nothing to tell me who I was, nothing to tell me what was possible, no place in print where I could glimpse the slightest reflection.
-- Barbara Smith (Go Tell It)

Importance: This quote is another example of black women's search to be 'reflected' in the literature and media they consume. Without representation, young black girls cannot fathom possibilities beyond the horizon, or imagine ways in which they as individuals can push the boundaries of what is expected of them.

Jadine sets forth...
-- Tayari Jones (Her Own Best Thing)