Bad Fat Black Girl audiobook

This is one of those books that came at me in ways that I couldn't have even anticipated. If you're someone that is interested in reading nonfiction that highlights the explicit experience of Black women in America, I would recommend picking this book up.Bad Fat Black Girl is an interesting look into the experience of Black women, Black femmes against the back drop of trap music. I've grown up listening to a lot of trap music so on the surface level there were a lot of references to songs that made me instantaneously connect with the book. On a deeper level, I appreciated that Bowen was able to capture this specific sub-genre of hip-hop and utilize it to illustrate how Black women and femmes are often left out of conversations related to feminism. Bowen leaves no stone unturned. There is dialogue related to being a Black fat woman or femme in a society that often places an emphasis on the unrealistic "slim thick" body crafted by Dr. Miami, there is dialogue about sex work and sex trafficking, conversations related directly to Black queerness, the often volatile relationship that exists between Black women and men, poverty and classism. And while these things do feel universal to Black women and femmes, I truly believe that this was Bowen's love letter to those that grow up in the hood. These are the individuals that are often left out of mainstream conversations even when the intersectionality of race and gender is at the forefront of the conversation. One of the things that stood out to me about this social commentary/memoir is Bowen's emphasis on the fact that people need to refrain from trying to change people from the hood. There is this weird need (even within the Black community) to change people from the hood and make them into the Black people that society deems worthy. This isn't a book that is about a Black woman or Black femme going through self-actualization. There are so many stories that already focus on this that it's a breath of fresh air for Bowen to give us a story in which someone is already comfortable in their Blackness. Honestly, this is one my favorite non-fiction books and one of my favorite books of the year. The rawness of it, the comfortable use of AAVE resonated with me in unimaginable ways. If you haven't had the chance to pick this up, I highly recommend reading it and listening to it on audio.

4.5 stars - I flew through this one. This was a great example of a memoir that combines social and pop culture commentary, and I really enjoyed the authorial voice. Highly recommend!

There are so far nine one star reviews for this book, all by accounts with no photos or other books listed. I know Goodreads won't do anything about it, so I'm adding a a 5 star review to counterbalance what seems to be some kind of personal agenda here. People are jerks. Also, the cover art is delightful.

Wonderful and thought-provoking.If you want to challenge your ideas of what it means to be a feminist, particularly if you are steeped in white feminism that lacks intersectionality, I would recommend reading Bad Fat Black Girl in conjunction with Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall. They tackle similar topics but this book is a memoir heavily laced with feminist theory while Hood Feminism is a book about theory and policy implications, heavily laced with anecdotes. I think they dovetail nicely and really problematize feminisms that are rooted in the privilege of being white and wealthy, vilifying sex work, focusing on the "glass ceiling" of a few rather than on providing protection, justice, and equity to all women. Bad Fat Black Girl also does a great job of discussing fatphobia and anti-fat bias. In this case as it is situated primarily within the Black community, but this is something that extends more broadly as well. It is a book about the experiences of Black girls and women growing up in predominately Black communities, telling stories that are often undervalued and brushed aside. This is a book that might make some readers uncomfortable, but I don't think that's a bad thing. The author unabashedly shares her life and celebrates the love she has for herself and the people in her life. She talks about being queer and polyamorous, having healthy boundaries in a relationship, and why friendship is so important. There's a lot here and it's worth a read. She reads the audiobook herself and I definitely recommend the experience. I received an audio copy of this book for review from Libro.FM. All opinions are my own.

I feel like this is a nice book to have read having read other books in a similar conversation and how these texts tackled similar content from different lenses. The narration was also just enjoyable to spend my day listening too, definitely felt like I was listening to a friend just give me all of their thoughts on a topic. One that I think will benefit from repeated listens and will hopefully get to again sooner rather than later.

I'm planning to reread this as an ebook so that I can highlight passages and annotate until my heart's content. But I definitely, definitely recommend listening to the audiobook first, which is narrated by the author herself. Final impressions: • Before anything else, I must commend the author for doing a brilliant job in narrating. Listening to the audiobook felt like a conversation with a close friend who's not one to mince her words. It was a very compelling and engaging experience. (By the way, the audiobook is available on Scribd, and you can use my referral link to get a free trial.)• Prior to this book, I'd never heard of Trap Feminism. And while this book offers a great introduction into what Trap Feminism entails, it's written very much like a memoir as the author references her personal experiences and knowledge of trap music/culture to navigate the discussion.- Bowen makes a commendable effort in clearly drawing the line between what Trap Feminism is and what it isn't intended to be. - To paraphrase the book, Trap Feminism is an avenue for self-determination, specific to Black women and femmes. While it presents a valuable framework for empowerment and self-liberation, it isn't flaunted as the be-all and end-all ideology that can dismantle systemic unfairness and subjugation. - In line with this, I really appreciated that this book is brimming with a wealth of knowledge, insight, and above all else, self-awareness. • Unapologetically comfortable in its use of AAVE (rightfully so!), Bad Fat Black Girl is a witty, thoughtfully written nonfiction that explicitly highlights the lived experiences of Black women in America. Particularly Black women born and raised in the hood.- Being fat, queer, and Black herself, Bowen dauntlessly delves into the plentiful intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and body politics. - As a former sex worker, Bowen tackles the topic with tongue-in-cheek honesty and self-awareness. - It's worth noting that there's also a frank discussion on how Black people from the hood are pressured into conforming to what is acceptable or palatable to a white supremacist society. (Even though hood and ghetto cultures are continuously exploited for profit and cultural mileage.)• The social commentary was, for lack of a better term, provocative. In a sense that it really challenged me to question my understanding of culture, empowerment, and identity.- As I am neither Black nor American, Bad Fat Black Girl was an eye-opening experience for me. Especially as I reconciled the iron-clad influence of America, including its pop culture, on my country with the anti-Blackness within my own communities.- On a more personal level, reading this book also prompted me to reevaluate my relationship with my body and sense of self.- It also low-key reignited my fascination with the field of Gender and Sexuality!• Bad Fat Black Girl is an excellent book to pick up if you want to challenge your ideas of feminism and/or if you are seeking feminist nonfiction that's intersectional, genuine, and thought-provoking. To sum up my thoughts: Powerful and empowering. A new favorite. Highest of recommendations!🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi

Book 323 of 2021Many thanks to Libro FM and Harper Audio for my ALCThis is such an authentic and raw book where the author bares as much as she can and then some. It's a book about a different type of feminism, one that white feminists and even upper class black feminists turn their noses up against - trap feminism. It's also part memoir because the author infuses so much from her own life into this book. It's also part pop culture commentary, as the author explores females in rap/trap and how their lyrics empowered her and empower us.This book also delves into sex works and rights for sex workers as well as hierarchies within the sex work world, as the author is a former sex worker herself. The audiobook narration, done by the author, was gold. I had a great time listening to this. Financial independence is a huge part of this book, and I love how much the author infused parts of her own life and struggles with money into this book. This was a great read and I highly recommend it.

"People try to erase ratchet Black girls at every turn, but we are not siloed, and our impact is undeniable. In the same way that hip-hop is consumed by diverse audiences all over the world, so are the trends that are set by ghetto ass Black girls. Our style, our language, and our beauty resonate with people across different backgrounds. Just look at all the white influencers who are making millions by appropriating Black culture or flat-out “Blackfishing.” Everyone wants a fat ass and a colorful weave. …. People are obsessed with hood bitches, whether we care to admit it or not."— 94% in 'Bad Fat Black Girl' by Sesali Bowen"Being a real bitch is fundamentally more important than being a bad bitch, a rich bitch, a freak bitch, or even that bitch, because all of those things are dictated to us by a culture that relies on our subjugation.Can you make good judgment calls under pressure? Do you say what you mean and mean what you say? Are you principled when it comes to your people? This is the real spirit of trap feminism. I don’t think this shit is new either. I like to think that Harriet Tubman was a trap feminist." — 95% in 'Bad Fat Black Girl' by Sesali Bowen Sesali Bowen is the realest G! This book fed me. It’s not for everyone, but it’s specifically for the sisters and I respect it. I loved it. I needed it and I’m glad that I got to experience reading it. Enjoying it during BHM was just the extra sauce I needed on my life this month. I know that I’ll be returning to this book again and again and recommending it/reading passages from it to all my friends. Yoo my Telfey came today, I should have got one big enough to stuff this book in. This mixtape that goes with the book is the one. https://open.spotify.com/album/5rQoj0... There’s not enough stars for this book! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

“People try to erase ratchet Black girls at every turn, but we are not siloed, and our impact is undeniable. In the same way that hip-hop is consumed by diverse audiences all over the world, so are the trends that are set by ghetto ass Black girls. Our style, our language, and our beauty resonate with people across different backgrounds. […] People are obsessed with hood bitches, whether we care to admit it or not.”.Just one of many quotable gems in this book full of bangers. Bowen provides a necessary voice as a fat, Black, queer, hood bitch and I’m actually going to need more people to start listening.

Trap feminism says that Black girls who have ever rocked bamboo earrings, dookie braids, Baby Phat, lace fronts, or those who have worked as hoes, scammers, call-center reps, at day cares, in retail, and those who sell waist trainers and mink lashes on Instagram are all worth the same dignity and respect we give Michelle Obama and Beyoncé.I applaud Sesali Bowen for writing the book that’s needed. So often we see the same stories regurgitated, so it is nice to see focus placed here on topics that are often spoke from a narrow male perspective. Representation matters. BAD FAT BLACK GIRL reads like a much-needed conversation with your bestie after you haven’t seen one another in awhile. It is entertaining and REAL and even laugh out loud funny in some instances. I loved the song and book/article references throughout the book. I thought they worked really well as supporting evidence and that they also evoked past memories of good times. There was a part nearly mid way though the book that dragged a bit for me. I think the tone shifted from “ok so boom” juicy storytelling to the classic self-help call to action and general recommendations. Overall, with colorful chapters like: ”Run Me My Money,” “Knuckin’, Buckin’, Ready To Fight”, and “Not Straight” it is safe to say that there is something in this memoir for everyone!Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed! I was left with a better understanding of trap music and it’s feminist undertones. As a black woman with a certain level of privilege, I was given valuable insight and awareness of black women who don’t have the privileges I have. This book left me undoubtedly knowing that there is strength and beauty in the black woman experience - no matter what side of the trap/track you live on.

This book is fantastic. An extremely sharp, funny and profound exploration of why trap music is a political force, threaded through a captivating memoir. It resonated with me personally and politically. Required reading for everyone.

This book is FILLED with church worthy sermons.

I grew up listening to female rappers, I could and still can rap every word on Lil’ Kim’s Hard Core album. That album made me feel like a bad ass, as did Queen Latifa, Salt n’ Pepa, Foxy Brown and Eve to name a very few. These women made their listeners feel powerful and in charge. this generation had Nicki Minaj, Meg Thee Stallio and Cardi B to name a few and then it message is still the same. But we’re do late rappers fall, especially in the genre of trap music. Enter Sesali Bowen and “Trap Feminism” and her examination of fat phobia, sexism and the world of hip hop through her own lens. I loved this book and the authors unique voice and perspective. A great read for anyone who loves hip-hop but sometimes conflicted by it and the world it represents.

My most relatable read yet. The way the book hits on misogynoir, body politics, homophobia and so much more, specifically in the black community is so on point. Sesali can’t miss. Every single essay spoke to me.