“For generations, black children have been brought up to have a critical race consciousness, a framework for dealing with prejudice and discrimination, which helps inoculate them against the spiritual toxins they will almost certainly encounter as they come of age in our society.”

American author

Rachel Simmons is an American author best known for Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, published in 2002. Her work has helped bring attention to the social pressures and hidden forms of conflict that can shape girls' lives. She is associated with writing about aggression, friendship, and the ways girls navigate status and belonging. Her book remains the main work identified with her name, and it is the source of much of her public recognition.