Why Chris wants to read this book...
"Minus the obvious reasons (mainly that I also grow hair on my head that is shouting Blackness), I want to read and discuss this book because I am truly interested in old prejudices and fresh absurdities (author's words, not mine). I want to gain better perspective from students and adults in this current society about perception versus reality when it comes to friendships (and stranger-ships) in the world (but mostly Bay Area)."
About the book
You Can't Touch My Hair: and Other Things I Still Have to Explain
by Phoebe Robinson
Being a black woman in America means contending with old prejudices and fresh absurdities every day. Comedian Phoebe Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: she's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of "the black friend," as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel ("isn’t that . . . white people music?"); she's been called "uppity" for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. the. time. Now, she's ready to take these topics to the page—and she’s going to make you laugh as she’s doing it.
Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is "Queen. Bae. Jesus," to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls, to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president, and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, You Can't Touch My Hair examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humor and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise.
Applicable categories for the Urban Read Harder Challenge:
Funny ha-ha
Fight for your right
Make Beyonce proud
For fans of
- The 2 Dope Queens podcast
- Humor + social commentary
- The Hate U Give
- Books by feminists like Luvvie Ajayi, Roxane Gay, and Lindy West
About the reader
Christopher Williams, Admissions Associate and Outreach CoordinatorThis is the first nomination from Christopher Williams, Admissions Associate and Outreach Coordinator