Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Pop Culture

(Paperback)

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An Empowering and Celebratory Portrait of Black Women--from Josephine Baker to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air's Aunt Viv to Cardi B. 'Searing and timely' Tarana Burke, founder of the MeToo movement, and author of You Are Your Best Thing 'Carefree Black Girls is the testimony I've been waiting to witness.' Robert Jones, Jr., author of The Prophets; creator of Son of Baldwin 'Standout... one you'll struggle to put down.' Bad Form INCLUDES A FOREWORD WITH CLARA AMFO In 2013, film and culture critic Zeba Blay was one of the first people to coin the viral term #carefreeblackgirls on Twitter. As she says, it was "a way to carve out a space of celebration and freedom for Black women online." In this collection of essays, Blay expands on this initial idea by delving into the work and lasting achievements of influential Black women in Pop Culture - writers, artists, actresses, dancers, hip-hop stars - whose contributions often come in the face of bigotry, misogyny, and stereotypes. Blay celebrates the strength and fortitude of these Black women, while also examining the many stereotypes and rigid identities that have clung to them. In writing that is both luminous and sharp, expansive and intimate, Carefree Black Girls seeks a path forward to a culture and society in which Black women and their art are appreciated and celebrated.

Reviews

Blay is a talent, mixing an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture, past and present, with incisive commentary on race and gender. * Janet Mock, author of Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty *
Blay's welcome voice is candid, vulnerable and necessary. Her observations about the impact Black women have had and continue to have on pop culture are searing and timely and will have a lasting impact on how much the world sees and understands us. * Tarana Burke, founder of the MeToo movement, and author of You Are Your Best Thing *
Alongside perceptive ruminations on everything from colourism to Cardi B, Blay writes with refreshing candour on topics that will resonate with Black women, the world over. Her passion and incredible knowledge on all things race, gender and pop culture-related make this book a standout and one you'll struggle to put down. * Morgan Cormack, Bad Form *
Blay's idea of Black womanhood is an inclusive one, where liberation is not just possible, but doable because it has the space for all Black womencisgender, transgender, rich, poor, old, young, local, globalmagnifying the potential for unity (and success) against the forces which mean them harm. Each essay carries with it truths that feel ancestral. Carefree Black Girls is the testimony I've been waiting to witness. * Robert Jones, Jr., author of The Prophets; creator of Son of Baldwin *
"Blay's personal experiences with astute cultural analysis to explore how joy has become one of the most useful weapons in a Black woman's arsenal. * Bitch Media *

Author Bio

Zeba Blay (Author) ZEBA BLAY is a film and culture critic who has contributed to publications including The New York Times, The Village Voice, ESSENCE, Shadow and Act, Film Quarterly, and Indiewire. Formerly Senior Culture Writer at HuffPost, Blay has spent her nearly decade-long career writing about pop culture at the intersection of race, gender, and identity. Born in Accra, Ghana, she is based in the New York City area. Clara Amfo (Introducer) CLARA AMFO is a dynamic and bold broadcaster best known for her 10am - 1pm BBC Radio 1 show, home of the world-famous Live Lounge. Clara has interviewed some of the world's most prolific artists including Solange, Lizzo, Alicia Keys and Jay Z. In September 2021, Clara took over from Annie Mac as host of Radio 1's flagship new show, Future Sounds. Clara is also host to her own successful podcast, This City, which launched in 2020 and has seen two incredibly popular series. A respected face on our screens, Clara has hosted ITV2's BRIT Awards coverage, was on the hosting team at the 2021 EE BAFTA Awards, is on the judging panel for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and was a fan favourite whilst competing in the 2020 season of 'Strictly Come Dancing'. In 2020, Clara was honoured by Mattel, being named as a Barbie Role Model and presented with her own Barbie doll in her likeness. With live music being one of her many passions, Clara is part of the core presenting team on BBC2 and BBC4 for their coverage of Glastonbury and Radio 1's Big Weekend.