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A review by whatjaimereads
White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue ... and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
White Negroes by Lauren Michele Jackson is a scathing cultural criticism of America, and white people’s affinity for appropriation. Jackson covers everything from Christina Aguilera, to Vine, to the Green Rush, in a concise, but thoroughly researched collection of essays.
This was my first time reading an essay collection, but Jackson’s talent is evident - each chapter stands alone, stands out, and is wrapped in a neat bow; and yet there is space left for you to form your own opinions and discussions.
When it comes to anti-racism work, there is always more to be read and learnt, and what this book does so well is to take the themes that you have read elsewhere and overlays them into a current and relatable context. Some key discussions within the collection for me were on the continuation of minstrelsy in the music industry, and the gluttonous consumption of black trauma through viral stardom - how much thought did you give to Sweet Brown in her vulnerable moments when we were fixated upon “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That?”
This book is current, and shows the necessity in the continuation of anti-racist work. I really enjoyed Jackson’s style, and my only issue is that I wish it had been a longer book. I will definitely return to this collection, and will be waiting with bated breath for her second book!
This was my first time reading an essay collection, but Jackson’s talent is evident - each chapter stands alone, stands out, and is wrapped in a neat bow; and yet there is space left for you to form your own opinions and discussions.
When it comes to anti-racism work, there is always more to be read and learnt, and what this book does so well is to take the themes that you have read elsewhere and overlays them into a current and relatable context. Some key discussions within the collection for me were on the continuation of minstrelsy in the music industry, and the gluttonous consumption of black trauma through viral stardom - how much thought did you give to Sweet Brown in her vulnerable moments when we were fixated upon “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That?”
This book is current, and shows the necessity in the continuation of anti-racist work. I really enjoyed Jackson’s style, and my only issue is that I wish it had been a longer book. I will definitely return to this collection, and will be waiting with bated breath for her second book!