Scan barcode
bookofcinz's review against another edition
3.0
This book is for the little girl who deserves a story in which a girl like her isn’t concerned with being whipped or singing hymns or taking the moral high ground, because she is actually free.
In Shayla Lawson's collection she addresses a lot issues black women face in their daily interaction. If you read Thick by Cottom you will definitely enjoy this collection. I loved seeing how Lawson's mind works and I was blown away by how she was able to put into words some things that happen to me on a daily basis. Being told to smile, microaggression, misogyny, outright racism, colourism to even buying twitter followers... Lawson addresses it all in the realest way.
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I look forward to reading more from her.
In Shayla Lawson's collection she addresses a lot issues black women face in their daily interaction. If you read Thick by Cottom you will definitely enjoy this collection. I loved seeing how Lawson's mind works and I was blown away by how she was able to put into words some things that happen to me on a daily basis. Being told to smile, microaggression, misogyny, outright racism, colourism to even buying twitter followers... Lawson addresses it all in the realest way.
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I look forward to reading more from her.
glendareads39's review
5.0
Raw, insightful and descriptive. Spotlighting on how Black Women changed Culture and the World
tumblehawk's review
5.0
Loved this essay collection from onetime Portlander Shayla Lawson. Lawson’s poetry was published in the same issue of Portland Review as an essay of mine and I saw her read some of the poems, which were stylized after the shapes of masks she encountered in Italy, at the issue’s release reading. Sometime afterwards I saw her read again (at Unchaste maybe?), this time from her poetry project “I Think I’m Ready To Meet Frank Ocean.” That reading included keyboard and singing and was just awesome. I feel like you can see both elements of her poetry in the genetics of these essays, which weave between between formal analyses of the topics at hand and playful, poppy, jazzy riffs. This whole book is a celebration of Black womanhood and Black girlhood, and it looks at the way Black women are pigeonholed and heaped with preconceptions and expectations, and the work and the energy and the triumph that goes into announcing themselves as who they are individually. At times I wanted a little more personal history, but I’m just nosy. Tho, still, there is an essay in here that includes the story of a single date that is just, wow. And the titular-ish essay, “Diana Ross is Major,” is so fucking good. I will be listening to way more Diana Ross now.
mrstiabee's review
5.0
In terms of nonfiction essays about black womanhood and pop culture, it doesn’t get much better than this. The author’s poetry background brings some play on words and some lyricism.
emily__bee's review
4.0
Stellar group of essays.
Favorite two: Black Girl Hipster and “Black Lives Matter” Yard Signs Matter
Favorite two: Black Girl Hipster and “Black Lives Matter” Yard Signs Matter
madisonmila's review
5.0
Thank you for the ARC Goodreads Giveaway! I really enjoyed Shayla’s collection of essays and poems. They were really honest and powerful. An excellent read!
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Shayla Lawson converse a wide variety of issues of equality. I found this thought-provoking and useful because it returned some issues to the forefront of my mind for continued consideration. I liked that she also includes poems in this work, though occasionally these breaks didn't work well for the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Racism, and Sexism
bailey_the_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Beautiful, lyrical, funny, and heartbreaking. The introductory essay on American Girl dolls as socialization into white supremacy was amazing and it keeps getting better and more powerful from there.