A review by juliajjshields
Girl Gurl Grrrl: On Womanhood and Belonging in the Age of Black Girl Magic by Kenya Hunt
4.0
4.5✨ I really enjoyed this one! I listened via audiobook which was lovely since I got to hear the narrators voice as well as the voices of others who contributed essays. Chapters were super insightful & interesting. Looking at other reviews, I was a bit confused on feedback that it didn’t dive deep enough into topics…especially from people who aren’t the target demographic of Black women. This one was definitely for the girlies lol & did a great job at highlighting our experiences, analyzing different cultural themes. The only issue I had with it hence 4.5 & not 5, was that the transitions were super abrupt between chapters via the audiobook & didn’t feel seamless. Otherwise was overall a wonderful book that I’d recommend to Black women & girls everywhere!! & those who are intrigued by our realities & experiences you
Notes on Woke - such a great essay that really stuck with me. talked about the co-opting of the term woke etc.
Skinfolk!! - chapter/essay on diaspora wars
- “Skinfolk. All united by the legacy of colonialism; all divided by the displacement that the transatlantic slave trade wrought. To focus on our differences rather than learn from them is to fulfill the promise of transatlantic slavery: to divide and conquer. It’s to pit ourselves forever at odds with each other over who is Black enough, free enough, human enough that very same distraction racism presents.”
“No number of degrees or job titles will protect you from the damning sting of a surface judgment” (Make Yourself at Home, But Not Here)
“I started trying to prove my Blackness & in the process felt like I was failing at the very thing that was the most obvious about me” (Ton Hair: Freddie Harrel)
The Lord’s House, A Queen’s Soul - chapter on religion super interesting. Black women’s role in the church vs , Aretha Franklin’s funeral & history of “respect”
“Someone will always take you for the version of you that they want, whatever you’re trying to project or whoever you’re trying to be. The idea of identity is hard enough when we’re trying to work out who we are in this world” (On Queenie: Candice Carty-Williams)
Notes on Woke - such a great essay that really stuck with me. talked about the co-opting of the term woke etc.
Skinfolk!! - chapter/essay on diaspora wars
- “Skinfolk. All united by the legacy of colonialism; all divided by the displacement that the transatlantic slave trade wrought. To focus on our differences rather than learn from them is to fulfill the promise of transatlantic slavery: to divide and conquer. It’s to pit ourselves forever at odds with each other over who is Black enough, free enough, human enough that very same distraction racism presents.”
“No number of degrees or job titles will protect you from the damning sting of a surface judgment” (Make Yourself at Home, But Not Here)
“I started trying to prove my Blackness & in the process felt like I was failing at the very thing that was the most obvious about me” (Ton Hair: Freddie Harrel)
The Lord’s House, A Queen’s Soul - chapter on religion super interesting. Black women’s role in the church vs , Aretha Franklin’s funeral & history of “respect”
“Someone will always take you for the version of you that they want, whatever you’re trying to project or whoever you’re trying to be. The idea of identity is hard enough when we’re trying to work out who we are in this world” (On Queenie: Candice Carty-Williams)