This was a heavier read than I expected, based on the title and description. While the book does celebrate Black women in pop culture, the framework of patriarchy and white supremacy looms large (which is fair). Be sure to read the content warnings in the front of the book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review

In 2013, the book’s author, Zeba Blay, was the first person to use the hashtag carefreeblackgirls. Its meaning was to show a different portrait of Black women than what we’re used to seeing in pop culture - it aimed to show them being joyous, free, individualistic. This collection of essays is about how we, as a society, try to define and stereotype Black women and how those portrayals impact them. It’s also about how Black women fight against it, about their power to rally against the constraints put upon them and their freedom to define themselves.

Carefree Black Girls is an important and eye-opening book, extremely relevant to today’s world and everyone who consumes any type of media. The essays, while focused on pop culture and celebrities, are also incredibly personal, with Blay openly writing about her own experiences and struggles. There are eight essays in total, ranging in themes from colorism, racism, police brutality and memefication of Black women to fatphobia and mental health. The themes are heavy and complex, but Blay’s writing style makes the essays easy to understand and learn from. The popularity of the women she discusses (to name a few: Lizzo, Cardi B, Viola Davis) helps to illustrate the points she makes.

Carefree Black Girls is an amazing collection, not only an educational read but also the kind of celebration of Black women and girls that we so rarely see in popular media.

Perhaps I’m not the only one to feel a sense of horrifying dread and uncertainty whenever I see the words “claiming your identity.” It’s like a spool of thread that unravels with each self-reflecting question and guides you to various conclusions you might not have thought too deeply about otherwise. Maybe the visible traits are your starting point. Your Blackness and being a plus-sized woman are your bold claims. Or maybe your personality takes centre stage, dancing to your own beat yet cautious of the type of attention garnered. Regardless, there’s always layers to consider. Zeba Blay’s Carefree Black Girls is a collection of essays that guide the reader through the exploration and celebration of Black female identity. From the stereotypes to the historical roots that enshrouds us, Black women still have a transformative and dominant influence on popular culture.

Each essay is distinct in its theme, but Zeba Blay intricately braids them together into cohesive sections. Her discussions range from the Black body and its back-and-forth between fetishization and desexualization, to the ways in which Black girlhood leads to children being constantly aware of their differences among their white peers. Blay uses her knowledge as a senior culture writer and her own experience with depression to add a deeper level of context and understanding to her words. She sees celebrities like Lizzo and Cardi B as Black women who are successful but still face a sense of constraint in being Black women, one for her body size and the other for not behaving like a celebrity should. This is a sad truth but one I agree with, nonetheless. A Black woman walks a tightrope between scorn and praise, yet even the appraisal seems to be in relation to how closely she mimics more “polite and favourable” people. Her white counterparts are often the basis of whether she’s deemed acceptable.

Blay tactfully works through her understanding of Black female identity alongside her readers. The genuine representation that’s difficult to find and even harder to commemorate are the Black actresses like Viola Davis and Lupita Nyong’o for being darker than other actresses who’ve had less experience acting. She explores her feelings on Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Tatianna Hall and all other Black women’s deaths and how they echo into the distress the Black community has sadly grown accustomed to witnessing brutality and injustice.

Blay invites the reader to gather ‘round the table and remove all pretences of following the expectations and biases that plague their steps. I personally love how she speaks to readers as if we’re long-time friends. She fosters an atmosphere between herself and us that allows important discussions of Black female identity to be natural, allowing room for suggestion and improvement as well as different ideas to interact. Blay provides a temporary balm from that weight; sharing all our thoughts and opinions of the Black female identity among other Black women. She artfully serves a sense of realization and perhaps the reawakening of how exhausted Black women are with needing to always have a backup plan, of needing to be cautious and wary of our words and how we present ourselves. We’re exhausted of wanting representation without tokenism or a clichéd mockery for others to solidify their uninformed assumptions. Collectively, we establish a space to air out grievances, biases and stereotypes that we’ve been accustomed to hiding within us. With this idea, we’re acknowledging them and their toll on us.

Interestingly enough, Blay opens up about her vulnerabilities in a way that Black women are often told not to in favour of appearing calm and collected. She speaks of past traumas, her opinions and everyday experiences in a way that you don’t acknowledge at first. But the more you read, the more your own vulnerabilities are brought to the forefront of your mind and how close to home her words are. Sometimes you don’t want to cross that territory and she knows this! The need to get away from something because of how similar it is to your own scenario. Yet, including the touchy subjects, she speaks of transformation, fluidity and how there’s always time—time for yourself, time to be happy, time to heal. That’s something that we often forget: these things take time.

I want to point out that she doesn’t provide only lighthearted insight into some grand epiphany of understanding Black female identity. She’s honest, brutally so. Blay provides the nitty gritty details, the process of healing and how a positive disposition takes work and reflection. But she, along with the reader, goes through the complicated mess of working through the negativity, including trauma, fatigue and injustices we’ve faced. As a result, we’re invited to step outside our own thoughts and reveal them to someone who understands you, even a little bit. I appreciate that, the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. To see who you are at your core is a healing process that’s neither easy or done immediately. We need to address the thoughts and feelings we've neglected. At the same time, she doesn’t end each essay with bleak words or a sense of helplessness, she offers well-thought out messages of care and recognition. You don’t realize how important that kindness is until you smile a bit at the warmth that eases the experience of self-reflection.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book to the point of commenting and relating to a lot of what Zeba Blay has written. My investment was solidified by the raw emotions, sincerity and the respectful yet critical commentary that she analyzes everyday scenarios with. Carefree Black Girls felt as if Blay was accompanying my own journey through painstaking honesty and heartwarming encouragement in understanding the complexity and inner workings of my identity as a Black woman.

Intersectionality will always be a constant discussion in regards to Black women and their experiences with injustice and our identity. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the only aspect to focus on. We deserve happiness and comfort in our own skin. We’re both carefree and deeply caring, almost one and the same. Carefree Black Girls provides this dualism of being able to voice the struggles of Black women while holding onto those positive moments and wanting to move beyond what is expected of us.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Uncorrected Digital Galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like many non-Black individuals, I have spent some time in recent years trying to read books that would further my multicultural education. This book looked like a promising candidate, and the title and subtitle suggested that it might be light and fun as well. Not to say that it was not fun, but parts were definitely not as light as I sort of expected—and I quickly learned how little I understand of the Black experience.

To be fair, I was fully aware of how little I knew about rap culture, and a significant portion of the “girls” represented here were part of the rap world. While I recognized many of the names, I was unable to really understand the references. I appreciated the essays that spoke about movie and television actresses more, because I had at least experienced their work.

I related most to talk about body image—as a half-Asian woman, my experience has obviously been different from the author’s, but as a woman, I could empathize, especially when the theme was weight.

I think what I appreciated reading the most was the references to white supremacy. I had always imagined white supremacy as something like the KKK. Before reading this book, I didn’t totally get my friend’s protest sign that read “white supremacy is terrorism”. Because I imagined it as something big and obvious, and not insidious, like the microaggressions that people of color regularly experience in everyday life.

How did I feel about this book? It was hard to read. Sometimes it was as though I were reading another language. But it’s a language I need to learn in order to understand. And some of the topics were certainly difficult. But we all need to be aware of both current and historic injustice in order to not only empathize but to fight future injustice. Care Free Girls gave me a lot to think about. I don’t really feel qualified to critique it, but I hope people read it!

I absolutely loved this collection of essays. She dropped so many gems throughout the book and I felt myself nodding my head or saying "amen" while reading. Zeba did an amazing job and I would've happily read more of her essays if she had more. It was absolutely brilliant!

Black women have the power to define and redefine who they are, always and forever. The thing I love about definitions is that they are not static things, they constantly shift, change, and take on new meaning.

Care Free Black Girls was an exploration of black women in popular culture, their achievements, their depictions, their nuances, the bigotry, misogyny, and stereotypes these women faced, the images we see in popular culture and how they inadvertently shape our views and sometimes even our perceptions of ourselves. Some of the women discussed in the book are Cardi B, Lizzo, Breonna Taylor, Nicki Minaj, Josephine Baker, Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, and more. She talks about issues like fat phobia, racism, mental health, colorism, the importance of understanding black art, sexuality and also what freedom means for black women. What a care free black girl actually IS and if it's truly possible.

The book is divided into the following essays: Bodies, She’s a Freak, Man, This Shit is Draining, Extra Black, #Cardibissoproblematic, Girlhood, Strong Black Lead, and Free of Cares. The essays were powerful and thought provoking and left me with many gems to ponder.

Even if you don't normally read essays or non-fiction, I think this one is worth giving a shot. I enjoyed it much more than I would have ever expected to. I felt SEEN. She voiced things I've thought about in depth but didn't quite know how to word.

What does it mean to be a care free Black girl? How does one achieve a care free life? Is it even possible? This book explores these questions and more through pop culture and the author's life experience.

This book is a series of essays celebrating and dissecting Black media, the role it plays in the world and how it impacts Black women and femmes. Blay has been writing about pop culture for years, and she certainly knows what she's talking about. Her essays explore some of the history of Black pop culture as well as the personal impact it has made on herself and others. While it explores this in a collective sense, there is also so much that's personal to Blay. She's incredibly open and honest about her experiences, so that element did make it seem a bit like a memoir (which I really enjoyed). Blay has a lot of passion for these subjects, and there's so much heart in each of these essays.

I'm grateful to have read this book. I love reading from different perspectives, and this book certainly offered a lot of insight into a culture I'm not necessarily a part of, but I certainly appreciate.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an educational and eye-opening read! So glad I grabbed this one! The author does a wonderful job highlighting black women's issues in today's culture in such an honest way.

This book of essays gave me a lot to think about. Blay tells her own stories and adds in those of pop culture and famous Black women, all to show how society treats them and expects them to behave. She used examples that were both interesting and relevant to demonstrate her points. Some of the essays had moments or chunks that were difficult to read, as I felt her frustration, anger, and other emotions.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the arc of this book. I am trying to read more nonfiction and I'm glad I picked this one! The essay format made it easy to take a break and think about what I learned. And yes, there was a lot of food for thought in this book, so many things I have had the privilege of not thinking about before. Thank you Zeba Blay for opening my eyes to a more critical way of looking at what the media feeds us, and exposing some of my own biases.

When I first got this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't familiar with Zeba Blay and the fact that she coined the term #carefreeblackgirls on twitter. I actually wasn't even quite sure what that hashtag term entailed. But Ms Blay shows us what it means and so much more while letting us in on her life.

Carefree Black Girls is a collection of essays that includes very personal parts of the author along with pop culture icons that do good and bad for the black community. Especially women. While I may not be the target audience, I believe this collection of essays is important for me to learn and educate myself more. To help this world become a better place and to understand what society and the "stars" have done to change and enforce certain aspects. Some good. Some bad.

I feel like this is a book that you don't read all in one sitting. It's one where you read each essay when you want to and when you need to; to better understand our society as a whole.
This isn't a book I can rate, but rather lead you to. Since it has familiar people that you will recognize, it will be more relatable to you, no matter the color of your skin. Just be willing to open your eyes and be prepared to listen. Add it to your TBR for a different non-fiction reading experience.
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It took me awhile to get into this book to be honest. I guess it's because I realize now more than ever there are many different ways to be a "Black Girl" and many different definitions of what it means to be "Carefree", based on your age, values, environment and mentality. This well written book provided a great opportunity for me let go o any judgments and see things from a different perspective. Carefree Black Girls is timely and brings a lot of insight into the popular topic of mental health.

Very poignant essays relevant to the current times and events globally. As a middle aged African American woman, I found Blay’s personal narratives and observations to be similar to my own. This would be a great book for young women to read if for no other reason but to know they aren’t alone and that their feelings are valid.

Very well-written and poignant analysis of how it feels to navigate this country and this world as a black woman through pop culture, social life, and more with a sprinkle of current critiques on famous black female figures in the social media zeitgeist.. Due to the title, I was hoping to read more essays of a true celebration of being a black woman while living in a world that denigrates us rather than focus on struggling and surviving. But as a part memoir of the author and for those looking for a critical reflection of black female life, this would be right up your alley.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book. And special thanks to the author for writing it. It certainly needs to be out there!

This book is a look and a celebration of black women’s identity and impact on pop culture by HuffPost critic, Zeba Blay.

Blay was the first person to give us the #carefreeblackgirls, in 2013 on Twitter.

This is a series of essays that took me longer than normal to read. This isn’t my story and I wanted to really absorb what she was saying.

Blay takes us on a journey to meet black women who were significant throughout history. Each in a different way. Starting with Josephine Baker, Michelle Obama, and Cardi B and Lizzo!

She shares her own story and experiences as well as those women she writes about.

I think what I was left with in the end was a celebration of women who defy stereotypes. Women who stand up and stand out. Black women get things done. They are strong because they have had no other choice.

What a beautiful look at the women who changed history really.

NetGalley/ October 19th, 2021 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Absolute must have in one's library collection! Real. Straight to the point. The discussion of how we paint a demographic in this world is a vital perspective in need of searching.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

Nonfiction is a genre way outside my comfort zone. Essays I am familiar with but pop culture...uh not so much. But the synopsis sounded interesting and I wanted to read what the author had to say.

I’ve never reviewed a collection of essays before so bear with me while I try to compile my thoughts into something organized and coherent.

"Carefree Black Girls" is comprised of an introduction and 8 essays:

--Body: The historical perception and misuse of Black women’s bodies and its negative, harmful impact.
--She’s A Freak: The regulation of Black women’s bodies and their sexuality. The backlash over any agency exerted that goes against those regulations.
Man, This Shit Is Draining: Black women don’t have the freedom to express their anger with repercussions compared to others who do the same or worse.
--Extra Black: Colorism and its correlation to beauty, desirability, and marketability of lighter skin tones versus darker skin tones, such as in Hollywood castings.
--#Cardibissoproblematic: The author’s feelings about Cardi B, her fame, her place in pop culture, her words and actions, and her feud with Nicki Minaj.
--Girlhood: The images of Black women that left an impression on the author growing up versus what she knows now of the realities those images represented. The author’s feelings of recognition towards Mel B and how Mel B navigated spaces not meant for people like her.
--Strong Black Lead: Black women and mental health as well as the author’s struggles with her own mental health. (CW: anxiety, depression, suicide)
--Free of Cares: What does it mean for Black women to be carefree? and the concept of freedom.

These were very well-written essays with enviable poise, details, structure, clarity, and sureness that I wish I’d had even a speck of whenever I had to write essays in school. Each essay focused on an idea that was heavily reinforced by a ton of source material - interviews, books, essays, artwork, movies, songs lyrics, tweets, Instagram stories, speeches, and so much more. Even when I didn’t know what the author was referencing - like with some Twitter happenings or much of the Cardi B essay - I could still more or less grasp the point she was trying to make. She makes a lot of compelling arguments and states the sad but real truths that tend to be ignored, glossed over or outright dismissed.

"Carefree Black Girls" is raw and thought-provoking. It discussed truths about the struggles and hardships Black women are still subjected. I liked how the author wove in her own experiences - as hard as some of those still are to talk about - to illustrate her points. Not always as the 100% proof but as personal examples and perspective of how she came to certain conclusions.

The book is very engaging. I felt various emotions while reading it. For me, there were several moments of retrospection and introspection. Parts of others I saw myself in. But there also were a few parts I wasn’t too sure about or disagreed with to varying degrees.

"Carefree Black Girls" had a solid structure, was vividly detailed and analyzed, and had a strong voice. Ever topic was relevant and important to the past, present, and future of our world and who we are as people. Overall, a good read.

I am not interested in the topic of this book. The first sections are addressing the sexuality of black women. I do understand and agree it’s a problem society needs to address and discuss it’s not a discussion I can get involved in. I appreciate the authors honesty and her bravery to put her thoughts publicly on paper. .

Ms. Blay haș a unique way with words and reading them is like seeing through her eyes and encountering the visceral reaction that should hit you. She is angry. I am angry with her and feel that many of these essays have happened a million times to a million women, and unjustly so. It certainly makes me more aware of life in this world as a Black female through her perceptions and feelings. She is a brave soul for putting her essays out there for us to see and hopefully learn from.

I received an ARC for my honest review. It is good for people to expand their views and see life through the eyes of other people.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

A good collection of well written essays covering a variety of topics.