---
title: "3 Shay Youngblood Quotes - Famous Writer"
description: "American writer... | Sharon Ellen Youngblood was an American playwright, author of short stories and novels, artist, and educator. Her works explored th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b019/author-shay-youngblood-74995.jpg"
---

![Portrait of Shay Youngblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b019/author-shay-youngblood-74995.jpg)

# Shay Youngblood

(1959–2024)   Writer

 **3** quotes in **11** categories

Rate this collection:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

Shay Youngblood was a writer.

## Quick Facts About Shay Youngblood

Born January 1, 1959

Died June 11, 2024

Profession Writer

## About Shay Youngblood

American writer... \| Sharon Ellen Youngblood was an American playwright, author of short stories and novels, artist, and educator. Her works explored themes of identity, community, and resilience, giving voice to generations of African-American women.

##  Quotes by Shay Youngblood

> [“There was power in the pen, I knew this for certain...It was there all the time, just waiting for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-for-certain-it-was-there-all/)

[Shay Youngblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/)

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/shay-youngblood-74995_inspirational_there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-f_754383.jpg)

> [“I was a woman and did not yet think of myself as a writer. I was a mapmaker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/i-was-a-woman-and-did-not-yet-think-of-myself-as-a-writer-i-was-a/)

[Shay Youngblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/)

[Traveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traveling/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/shay-youngblood-74995_traveling_i-was-a-woman-and-did-not-yet-think-of-m_1971086.jpg)

> [“Before I left home I cut my hair close to my scalp so I could be a free woman with free thoughts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/before-i-left-home-i-cut-my-hair-close-to-my-scalp-so-i-could-be-a/)

[Shay Youngblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/)

[Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/shay-youngblood-74995_around-the-world_before-i-left-home-i-cut-my-hair-close-t_2558155.jpg)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/#itemlist",
            "name": "Shay Youngblood Quotes",
            "numberOfItems": 3,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“There was power in the pen, I knew this for certain...It was there all the time, just waiting for me.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Shay Youngblood"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-for-certain-it-was-there-all/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/shay-youngblood-74995_inspirational_there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-f_754383.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/shay-youngblood-74995_inspirational_there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-f_754383.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/shay-youngblood-74995_inspirational_there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-f_754383.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“There was power in the pen, I knew this for certain...It was there all the time, just waiting for me.” — Shay Youngblood",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“I was a woman and did not yet think of myself as a writer. I was a mapmaker.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Shay Youngblood"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/i-was-a-woman-and-did-not-yet-think-of-myself-as-a-writer-i-was-a/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/shay-youngblood-74995_traveling_i-was-a-woman-and-did-not-yet-think-of-m_1971086.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/shay-youngblood-74995_traveling_i-was-a-woman-and-did-not-yet-think-of-m_1971086.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/shay-youngblood-74995_traveling_i-was-a-woman-and-did-not-yet-think-of-m_1971086.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I was a woman and did not yet think of myself as a writer. I was a mapmaker.” — Shay Youngblood",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“Before I left home I cut my hair close to my scalp so I could be a free woman with free thoughts, open to all possibilities. I was making a map of the world. In ancient times maps were made to help people find food, water, and the way back home. I needed a map to help me find love and language and since one didn't exist, I'd have to invent one, following the trails and signs left by other travelers. I didn't know what I wanted to be, but I knew I wanted to be the kind of woman who was bold, took chances, and had adventures. I wanted to travel around the world. It was my little-girl dream.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Shay Youngblood"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/before-i-left-home-i-cut-my-hair-close-to-my-scalp-so-i-could-be-a/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/shay-youngblood-74995_around-the-world_before-i-left-home-i-cut-my-hair-close-t_2558155.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/shay-youngblood-74995_around-the-world_before-i-left-home-i-cut-my-hair-close-t_2558155.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1e/shay-youngblood-74995_around-the-world_before-i-left-home-i-cut-my-hair-close-t_2558155.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Before I left home I cut my hair close to my scalp so I could be a free woman with free thoughts, open to…” — Shay Youngblood",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "Person",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/#person",
            "name": "Shay Youngblood",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/",
            "image": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b019/author-shay-youngblood-74995.jpg",
            "description": "American writer... | Sharon Ellen Youngblood was an American playwright, author of short stories and novels, artist, and educator. Her works explored themes of identity, community, and resilience, giving voice to generations of African-American women."
        },
        {
            "@type": "ProfilePage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/",
            "name": "Shay Youngblood",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/#person"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/shay-youngblood-74995_inspirational_there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-f_754383.jpg"
            },
            "description": "American writer... | Sharon Ellen Youngblood was an American playwright, author of short stories and novels, artist, and educator. Her works explored th...",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Authors",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/authors/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Shay Youngblood",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-youngblood/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```