A review by bookish_by_elle
Girl Gurl Grrrl: On Womanhood and Belonging in the Age of Black Girl Magic by Kenya Hunt
3.0
I love us. We are beautiful, powerful queens. Masters of slays. Leaders of movements. Makers of culture and changers of games
Girl Gurl GRRRL is about the black woman. This collection isn’t unique or breathtaking, but it is thought-provoking. In this collection of essays, Kenya Hunt speaks of being a black American woman living in the United Kingdom. This book does not speak to the experience of all black women, as no one book can, or should. The author definitely does not hide her privilege but draws very specifically from her personal experiences. She, along with a few featured authors, speak of finding and harnessing their voices. They speak of the opportunities that they have had the privilege of experiencing, as well as the realization of the things that their privilege does not protect them from. This book is equally a telling of the social issues affecting black women daily, as it is a celebration of their lives: their tenacity, their grace, their sense of responsibility to their community. We are beautiful, powerful queens
While I appreciated the content of this book, it is not one that I particularly enjoyed reading. It could simply be that I do not know much about England (where the author currently resides), or the fashion industry (author is a fashion director). Still at times, I feel like there were instances when the essays dragged on for longer than necessary and I really did not appreciate that the author referred to Caribbean nationals as “Caribbeans” (It was only one time but this is absolutely the hill I choose to die on). Regardless, I think that this collection is relevant, timely and worth the read.
Girl Gurl GRRRL is about the black woman. This collection isn’t unique or breathtaking, but it is thought-provoking. In this collection of essays, Kenya Hunt speaks of being a black American woman living in the United Kingdom. This book does not speak to the experience of all black women, as no one book can, or should. The author definitely does not hide her privilege but draws very specifically from her personal experiences. She, along with a few featured authors, speak of finding and harnessing their voices. They speak of the opportunities that they have had the privilege of experiencing, as well as the realization of the things that their privilege does not protect them from. This book is equally a telling of the social issues affecting black women daily, as it is a celebration of their lives: their tenacity, their grace, their sense of responsibility to their community. We are beautiful, powerful queens
While I appreciated the content of this book, it is not one that I particularly enjoyed reading. It could simply be that I do not know much about England (where the author currently resides), or the fashion industry (author is a fashion director). Still at times, I feel like there were instances when the essays dragged on for longer than necessary and I really did not appreciate that the author referred to Caribbean nationals as “Caribbeans” (It was only one time but this is absolutely the hill I choose to die on). Regardless, I think that this collection is relevant, timely and worth the read.