Book 71 - Show The World All The Things

Title: What Colour is Your Hoodie? Essays on Black Gay Identity

Author: Jarrett Neal

Genre: personal essays

THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK CHANGED MY GODDAMN LIFE.

Neal's essays are thoughtful and beautifully written. He talks about the struggles around being black, about being gay, and about being both black and gay. He speaks from personal experience, and then links the personal to wider society factors, and throws in some historical context to round the whole thing out wonderfully.

All I could think throughout this entire collection is the beauty of the knowledge. As a white cis female, I have a whole lot to learn about the black gay male's experience. I wish I could have read essays like this back in school - this is how you do essays, with engrossing and relevant subject matter that presents both facts and personal experience, and sheds light on perspectives that differ from the dominant culture.

There's one quote from the novel that, I think, perfectly captures the main theme of this collection, and here it is:

"Self-acceptance is without question the first step in enacting change within an oppressive system."

To be better and influence larger change, we have to first accept ourselves. Thank you for sharing and educating, Jarrett Neal - this world, or at least my world (and all those I thrust this book upon) are better for it.

Rating: 🍤🍤🍤🍤🍤/5