In Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black Women in Popular Culture, critic Zeba Blay offers a thoughtful and thought-provoking examination of black women in popular culture. As the subtitle states, the book is a celebration, but it is also more than that, as it considers the complications that come with being a Black woman due to the racism that pervades societal expectations. Additionally, Blay refuses to reduce Black female cultural figures to a single narrative. Instead, she considers the problems that come with our tendency to do this. Consequently, as she writes about figures ranging from Lisa Bonet to Serena Williams to Grace Jones to Michelle Obama, she provides a respectful and stimulating look at these women in relation to issues such as body image, sexuality, colorism, strength, and anger. As she does this, Blay skillfully connects the issues to her experiences as a Black woman and as a critic in a field that is dominated by white males.

All of the topics that Blay tackles are undoubtedly important and relevant to the conversation today, and she does an excellent job of addressing the complexity and contradictions that come with the reception that Black women in popular culture receive. The chapters on how the strong Black woman stereotype can undermine Black women’s vulnerability and how Black girlhood and Black girls’ story need more attention were especially memorable and evocative.

Overall, Carefree Black Girls is a provocative and important look at the women who influence and drive popular culture even as they are criticized and scrutinized for the very actions and attributes that they are known for. I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to getting my own copy when it comes out later this year.

What a black can and cannot be, difficult emotions, hurt, defiance, an exploration some of the facets of the American black female experience.

I rarely read nonfiction, but I always love to read these! What a great and enjoyable set of essays. I think this is one of the better ones to come out. Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay is a must-read/add.

This was such a different read for me as I do not normally read essays but the author does a really good job at delving into the issues that affect women. Take your time and devour this book. You will find sisterhood here. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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
Free of Cares

The titles of the essays alone should let you know the type of ride you're in for, so grab a glass of wine (or two) and buckle in.

I love essays about pop culture, especially when they comment on the way pop culture reflects larger systems in our society. Zeba Blay is excellent at this, interweaving pop culture with the issues that white supremacy and racism and misogyny have eroded in our society. Each essay stands on its own, but they also form a coherent narrative — each essay discusses different Black woman stereotypes, using instances or prominent figures in pop culture (women such as Lizzo, Cardi B, Serena Williams) to dismantle the stereotype and examine the harm these stereotypes do to Black women by reducing and forcing them into certain characteristics. Essays I particularly loved were “She’s A Freak”, where she discusses the contrasting stereotypes of Black women as simultaneously overtly sexual and “easy”, and at the same time having no desire at all; “Man, This Shit is Draining”, talking about the ‘Angry Black Woman’, discussing how Black women have so many legitimate reasons to be angry but they are immediately discredited, ridiculed or portrayed as aggressive when they express even a little of it, using examples of Maxine Waters and Serena Williams at the U.S. Open; “Strong Black Lead”, examining the problematic “strong Black woman” stereotype, how it creates the idea that Black women were in some way made to deal with all the traumatic hardships they have to face, while at the same time denying them the space to feel anything but strong. Every essay explores topics I was familiar with, but I got something out of every one - Blay’s writing and perspective is very nuanced and careful, if not carefree.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to review this ARC.

I'm coming at this book from a weird perspective—I'm a white woman who is largely unfamiliar with a lot of the pop culture and celebrities discussed in this book. I can't remember ever seeing the phrase "carefreeblackgirls" online (though to be fair I probably did and just don't remember). That said, I am so glad I read this book. These essays address so many things that are crucial to society as it exist right now. Blay handles topics like stereotypes, representation, "problematic" celebrities, body image, and sexuality, with so much nuance. She balances what is good and bad about ideas, actions, phrases, people, and media, without ever letting anything be oversimplified. I really respect her commitment to seeing the full story, even when it may not be in her best interests.

I learned a lot from this book, and I think Blay's insights are incredibly valuable. This book is a critique, and maybe a memoir, but also a tribute and celebration.

I do have one extremely small complaint, that I wouldn't mention here if I weren't reviewing an ARC, at it is really just a small phrase said once in the entirety of the book: at one point she says "women-identified people." I find it hard to imagine a scenario in which that phrase is helpful, and cannot be replaced with "people who experience misogyny," "people who are read as women in public," or simply "women." I will allow that there may be a context in which that phrase is helpful, but this was not one of them. It just felt odd and trying too hard. Are there any "women-identified people" who are not women, in the author's mind? I don't believe so, as throughout the rest of the book she discusses transness and transphobia in ways that feel consistent and respectful. But in that case, just say "women," or whatever it is that is really meant by that.

Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay

9781250231567

256 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: October 19, 2021

Nonfiction, Multicultural Interest

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
Free of Cares

The author does a wonderful job delving into different aspects that affect women. From body image issues to sexual assault and racism. She mentions Nicki Manaj, Cardi B, Josephine Baker, Breonna Taylor, Viola Davis, and Kerry Washington. The stories are well written and very engaging. I read the whole book in one sitting. Some of the stories, however, are difficult to read and the author lists a warning in the introduction section. This is an excellent book for anyone to read.

I really enjoyed all the essays in here on the experiences of black women and what constitutes "careFree". Zeba Blay certainly has done her research and is clearly a student of bell hooks, Audre Lourde, and Patricia Hill Collins. My fave essay was on Cardi B. I kept nodding my head in agreement. An excellent addition to any Black Feminist library and would love to see it added to a syllabus in the future.

Zeba Blay is worth celebrating. She offers us compelling and fun essays on Black women, their successes, their beauty, their influence, and their power. We see how the world reacts to them, and how the author has been personally influenced by them. Each section of the book is thoughtful, nuanced, and engaging.

This review will be posted on October 8, 2021 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

What does it mean for Black women and girls at the intersection to be carefree? Can they, when the white supremacy of the US harms them? @zebablay explores these questions in her book, which is unabashedly a love letter to Black girls and women. It's a critical examination of the way their bodies, skin, and personhood are policed, judged, harmed, and killed. In each essay, Blay's voice is strong, defined, and clear on the themes of mental health, body image, misogynoir, and identity. She does this by looking at pop culture - movies, tv shows, and music - and her own life to plot a way for Black girls and women to be free (and, therefore, be the titular carefree black girls). #CarefreeBlackGirls Rating: 😊 / really liked it
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This book is scheduled for publication on October 19, 2021. Thank you @stmartinspress for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that all young girls should read, not just girls of color. Many times we only see girls, and especially girls of color, portrayed in a more negative light. I am happy that this tide is turning and showing young girls of color just how powerful they can be, just how much they can achieve. The essays are from girls that have such a wide variety of roles. Reading about their experiences and how they overcame obstacles to achieve their goals is so inspiring. Please make more collections of essays like this!!!

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

Eight essays on the social, societal, and cultural views of black women’s bodies, sexuality, expressing emotions, beauty, race, color, mental health, and freedom. What I appreciated the most were the author’s sharing of her experience in each topic because it provided an added layer of depth. I thought the essays provided well-balanced mix personal and external context and perspectives.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced copy of this book.
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The author is a pop culture writer and film critic. She immigrated from Ghana as a child. This book is a collection of essays about what it means to be a black woman in today’s world. The book is fascinating. A lot of the current events she’s discusses are the things we have been all witnessing over the last few years and her insights as a black woman are very illuminating. There is so much to consider and to learn from this book.

This book is a series of essays the author wrote when she was in one of the most difficult times in her life. The essays discuss the influence of black women throughout history, film, and music and incorporating how these strong women influence her life; celebrates the wonderfulness of black women; and discusses the impact of stereotyping black women through the ages. Zeba Blay is open and honest in these essays and does hold back. A wonderful book.
#carefreeblackgirls#NetGalley#ZebaBlay

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

This is a manifesto and aria of a carefree black woman. To often mocked, ridiculed and not allowed to live life safely and how they want to. Every collection should have this.

It is a one sitting read that you won't want to put down. It contains historical facts and current day events. Protect Black women at all costs.

Carefree Black Girls is a series of essays about the different ways that Black women navigate the world. For what it is, I think that this book is great. As a Black woman, I feel like I'm very familiar with the judgment and feelings of misunderstanding that we experience. This book shined a light on problems that I've never considered and challenged some of my own opinions. I also learned a lot about pop culture.

My main problem with this book is its marketing. This book is not a celebration of Black women in popular culture (or Black women in general) and it did not make me feel carefree. I'm not saying that it needs to be a book full of sunshine and rainbows but if you have Carefree in the title, that's what I'm looking for.

I also wish that the book didn't go into such detail about the abuse that Black women have experienced. Throughout the book, Blay talks about the unfair ways in which famous Black women are put up on pedestals that they never asked to be on. But yet she sort of does that herself in her own writing. I wonder if Lizzo wants to be used as an example in the essay about Black bodies. Or if she wants terrible tweets about her appearance written in a book. Same with some of the other examples used. I appreciate the rawness in pointing to the specific ways that Black women have been judged. But if you're going to write about the criticism these women have faced, it would be nice to highlight their accomplishments as well—an actual celebration. Instead there are multiple examples of random white people, Black men and Black women trashing Black women.

This book is important and made me think but in the end, it made me feel less carefree than when I began.

Zeba Blay is film and pop culture critic who has contributed to many publications. She should be lauded for breaking into the film critic industry which is 77% white male. Surprising, when the films are not watched by a 77% white male audience. Let's put that aside for now.
The book is advertised as an "exploration and celebration of Black Women's identity and impact on pop culture, as well as enduring stereotypes they face..." It is this but it is also a collection of very personal insights into the effects of those stereotypes on Zeba Blay and her mental health particularly. She expounds intimately on her mental health and also on current events, political and otherwise and their affects.The history of black women stereotypes throughout film, music and pop culture is in itself an informative ,fact-based and enlightening read. Throughout the book, I learned that I was not as aware as I should have been of how it impacted the emotional welfare and development of a black girl or woman. Even believing myself empathetic and sympathetic to their hardships I discovered that my empathy only scratched the surface of their emotions. "Black women , walk through the world with a kind of careful intentionality of one who walks on glass, acutely aware of the confinements of their existence in ways that others do not have to be. "- think about that .As hard as one tries, one cannot always imagine what it is like to live in someone else's body and handle the day to day injustices, fears, and even invisibility. "Even Black death is commodified. And this commodification, this meme-fication, always turns Black death into a theoretical problem. an abstraction, rather than something real and true that reverberates through lives." The problem is the constant specter of white violence and its consequences, the reality of it , the fact that [ Black women} are made to feel crazy, the fact that they must fight to exist as white violence continues to exist and nobody seems to care." Who can feel free under these conditions? Joy, freedom, opportunity, peace should not only be available to a finite group of people. Blay likens these fears to be similar to PTSD, affecting every aspect of a Black woman's life, her choices, Where is the empathy ?
I am glad that I read these essays and will hope that it becomes a popular read in ALL circles. Zeba Blay writes" I'm reaching out for a world where we value not just the representations of Black women but Black Women themselves." A book for all of us to read and digest. A wonderful book for Women's Studies, Film Studies, Black Studies, Book Clubs. There is so much here to discuss from so many perspectives.
I leave you with just one more quote:Professor Barbara Fields, a Black women who is an expert on the Civil War, states " If there was a single event that caused the war, it was the establishment of the United States in independence from Great Britain with slavery still a part of its heritage."

I really couldn't get into this one. It is well-written and socially relevant, but it didn't grab me. I am a septuagenarian, and maybe I am so jaded that I need a lot of razzle-dazzle to get my attention. This seemed like a book that many people would love, and I feel a bit aberrant for not being one of those people. Perhaps part of my problem is that I mistook the book for a novel, and that is, of course, my fault and not the author's. I am giving four stars because I do think it's a good book, just not one that ignites my weary old synapses.

This book didn’t feel particularly carefree and was kind of a downer. Not what I was expecting unfortunately. Well thought out and poignantly written, just perhaps a misleading title.

This book was hit and miss for me. I went in unfamiliar with the author and expecting a carefree exploration of black girls and women in pop culture. What I got was chapter after chapter of dour laments on the woeful existence of black women. From the introduction, where Ms. Blay speaks of her suicidal thoughts and agoraphobia in a Covid landscape to a later chapter where she goes on and on about internet trolls, it was just full on Debbie Downer vibes.

As a black woman, I long to see and read truly carefree creative expressions of who I am. I want to laugh. I want to smile. I want to radiate joy and tackle the heavier things from time to time. One bit of pop culture that seems to be getting that mix right is the Black Lady Sketch show on HBO. The satire has depth, but humor isn't sacrificed to make some woke point.

I hope as the book is edited that the bits and pieces of Ms. Blay's humor can shine through more. We are coming out of such a dark period in this nation. Is it too much to hope that a book aimed at black women can be positive?