Amena Brown is a writer, spoken word poet, and performing artist, whose work interweaves keep-it-real storytelling, rhyme, and humor. Amena’s new book of comedic essays, Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl released in June 2026, under Tiny Reparations Books.  

A proud graduate of Spelman College and the author of five spoken word albums and three non-fiction books, Amena’s poetry was featured in the New York Times’ bestselling book Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal. Amena’s essay “Period Playlist” was featured in Hungry Hearts: Essays on Courage, Desire and Belonging, alongside essays by Ashley C. Ford, Bozoma Saint John, and Sue Monk Kidd. She was also a 2022 The Watering Hole Poetry Fellow.

As a storyteller, Amena was featured on a seven-city tour with The Moth Mainstage, sharing the story “The Secret Behind My Grandmother’s Famous Cake Recipe.” Her story was featured on The Moth Radio Hour on NPR and Amena also guest hosted The Moth Podcast “Blindsided” episode which featured her stage story “What Happens When Your Grandma Takes a Liking to Your Husband.” Amena has been commissioned to write poetry for clients such as P&G and SkillsUSA. She has also been a featured keynote speaker and event emcee for clients such as Salesforce, Bank of America, Essence Festival, and American Marketing Association.

In 2021, Amena was featured in Olay’s Face Anything campaign alongside Jennifer Hudson and Busy Phillips. She was also the poetic partner for PATTERN Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross’ natural hair care brand, composing poetry to coincide with various launches from the brand.

Amena has cultivated conversation as the former podcast host of How to Fix a Broken Record, Hello Sunshine’s podcast: Hungry Hearts, and Seneca Women Award-Winning HER with Amena Brown. She has also served as the co-executive producer and co-host of the Wake Up and Create podcast, in partnership with WABE/NPR and CreativeMornings Atlanta and also served as an executive producer of the Montgomery & Company podcast, created and hosted by WNBA two-time champion and co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, Renee Montgomery.

From performing at events such as The Moth Mainstage, MAKERS Conference and Creativity World Forum to emceeing events such as Pantene’s My Black is Beautiful Tour and Essence Festival, Amena takes arenas, theaters, and performance venues and turns them into living rooms, where performance becomes conversation and builds community. Amena has had the honor of sharing stage with many great artists, authors, and thinkers such as Sonia Sanchez, Pearl Cleage, Mindy Kaling, Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Michelle Buteau, Michael J. Fox, and many others. 

Amena lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband DJ Opdiggy.

Amena is represented by Celeste Debro of TAP Management.