Date

1-14-2026

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Chair

Jennifer Spiegel Bell

Keywords

Fantasy, Fiction, Black Women, Creative Writing, Young Adult Literature, Magic

Disciplines

Creative Writing

Abstract

This thesis began with an inquiry into the state of representation of Black women authors within the fantasy fiction genre. The artist statement delves into the development of a fantasy story with a Black young woman protagonist written by a Black woman. The story serves as a vehicle for the author to continue the authorial legacy begun by Black women authors decades before. The critical research paper operates as a literature review of five books within the fantasy fiction genre, written by Black women. It discusses the themes of: the connection between race and the narrative, race and the magic system, and common personality traits seen among the protagonists. Finally, an example of Black women characters being written by a Black woman author can be seen in the creative manuscript, The Sharpness of Grass.

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