Narrative of Change

Rashanna James-Frison embodies the authentic leadership reshaping our understanding of literary activism. A 19-year-old criminal justice major at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on a full scholarship, she is building an ecosystem in which young Black voices thrive. Her approach to community engagement reads like a master class in purpose-driven entrepreneurship, grounded in the vulnerability of lived experience.

Rashanna’s origin story defies the traditional publishing playbook. After losing both parents to violent crimes and navigating foster care, trauma and adoption, she underwent a profound personal transformation, turning her journals into a book that would shape Essex County, New Jersey’s educational landscape. “My journals carried my truths, my struggles and my victories,” Rashanna explains.

“I knew it was a book when I realized my poetry could give someone else permission to keep going, to heal, and to believe in themselves, regardless of the obstacles they face.” At just 17, she crafted an intuitive title strategy. “The name ‘Black Unicorn’ came easily. When creating the book, I wanted something that would catch the reader’s attention,” she says. “To me, it reflects strength and embraces uniqueness.”

One poem, she adds, captures the book’s impact: “‘Healing’ should be remembered. At a recent elementary school Q&A, a student told me it helped her deal with the loss of a family member.”

Beyond Books

Literary success became a launchpad for Books on the Ground, a grassroots, precision-targeted distribution model. “My mission is to give away 1,000 copies of my book to eighth-grade girls across Essex County,” Rashanna explains. “They’re transitioning into high school, and I want them to have something that reflects them before the world tells them who they are. When I was in eighth grade, I wish I’d had a book that gave me hope.” 

Rashanna’s road map to success includes experiential programming and peer mentorship: creative literacy programs so young people can express themselves, vision-board workshops, and mentorship that pairs eighth-graders with younger students. “I’d spend my first dollar developing a creative writing program called ‘The Story Lab’ — a space to experiment with words, create stories, enhance writing skills, and show how the stories of Black girls can unlock their voices.”

Purpose into Strategy

Rashanna gives back in other ways, representing Newark youth in her role as a commissioner on the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board
since 2024.

“As one of Newark’s youngest politicians, having earned my associate’s degree at 18 and currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, I chose criminal justice because of my parents’ experiences — to understand the justice system and to support others in my community,” Rashanna says. “My priorities include an increase of police officers walking in the community, having more public forums to discuss safety, and partnering with grassroots organizations. My mission is to serve and protect my community, reduce violent crime, and help deliver the justice my parents never received.” 

Rashanna has strengthened her skills that fuel advocacy and outreach: listening, relationship-building,
creativity and an understanding that leadership “is not about age; it’s about being
able and willing to do the
hard work.”

As she continues building her personal brand through academic achievement, Rashanna remains focused on the North Star metric that guides her work — ensuring young Black girls see themselves as protagonists in their own stories. Through Books on the Ground, she’s disrupting traditional publishing and democratizing who gets to be an author, who deserves to be heard, and how communities leverage storytelling for systemic change.

Rashanna James-Frison turns the Black Unicorn from metaphor into movement through an innovative blend of literary activism, community organizing and authentic brand-building, rewriting the narrative for social impact. Her story is a reminder that there is real hope for our youth. When communities create space for young people to tell their stories, they discover agency, build confidence and model possibilities for one another. With supportive adults, peer networks and consistent opportunities to be heard, the path forward becomes less about obstacles and more about the futures they are already beginning to write. 

Rashanna, bottom left, meets with students during a book event at HBCU Heritage Hall in Newark, New Jersey, facilitated by The Gem Project, Inc. Pictured are interns from The Gem Project, Inc., along with the organization’s CEO, Ms. Amanda, standing next to Rashanna.