Loved this chronicle of how Black and transgender representation in TV has grown and changed over time. Gave me plenty of media recommendations.

When asked if I see myself on TV or film, I can confidently say, "Absolutely." Of course, no one character is exactly like me, but I see white cis women all over the place. Trans folks do not have this luxury. Tre'vell Anderson also noticed this omission. They work and write in hopes of increasing representation. "We See Each Other" is a book about trans visibility. It's also part memoir. Tre'vell incorporates original writing, personal experiences and recaps of various articles they published in multiple print and online publications.
The writing style is personable in places and dry in others. I found myself skimming multiple chapters, though.
I appreciated the photos that made the people in this book come alive for me. And the recommended viewing lists at the end of each chapter gave me insight into additional resources that will expand my understanding of trans visibility.
While this book isn't one of my favorites, it's an important resource that invites conversation and thoughtful media viewing.

Anderson’s book combines a fascinating look at the history of Black queer media with their personal experience, both as a trans, non-binary, Black person and as a journalist. I learned just as much from those personal experiences included as any description of a particular piece of media, although I learned plenty about the media, too. Likewise, Anderson’s blend of lived experience, empirical and historical facts, and critical eye make this book an investing read. Their writing is sharp, evocative, and thought provoking. I heartily recommend this book.

This is an excellent look at queer media and particularly Black queer media, going all the way back to the beginning of moving pictures. There was so much in here I never knew about in general and it's going to be especially perfect for Black trans and genderqueer people to read and learn from. It's also a nuanced look at history, with both a critical and an understanding eye.

Aside from simply talking about the titles in history that paved the way to the representation and stories we see today, there is commentary on how media is created and consumed for activism. It is also somewhat of an autobiography: "I wrote this book to document my journey of coming into myself alongside the trans and trans-related images on-screen that factored into it, because I wanted to show people like me what our history of visibility looks like when one of us is telling the story." This is literally an "Own Voices" book. This is a hand extended to other Black trans people--an act of seeing each other, exactly as the title says.

I think the most important part of the book was the section on possibility models. It's about "seeing yourself" on the screen and how it's more likely piecemeal glimpses of possibility that transform oneself than actually truly "seeing yourself" on the screen. These actors and characters are "models of possibilities" and inspire the imagination about what and who you can be. It's noted that in trying to prevent a complication of people's understanding of transness, certain avenues of visibility are left out and so too are those possibilities. Stories and experiences get sanitized and made more palatable for mass consumption, and for historically marginalized identities, possibility models get watered down and tend to end up representing only a fraction of one's identity. This book delves deeper into that and it's a conversation we all desperately need to have as we fight for the need to have representation.

If you're a history buff--especially a queer/Black history buff--or are looking to understand the community and history more, this is definitely a book to be reading.

This was an absolutely amazing book. The critique and analysis of trans representation in media was spot on and full of call outs. Harmful behavior and representation was called out, with a personal flare. It is clear the author has been covering these topics for years and added their own personal experiences and feelings in. Love this book, it is so important.

fascinating look at the history of trans rep & specifically black trans rep that goes as far back to ~1900. really enjoyed the little viewing lists at the end of each chapter & the way the personal essay style felt informal & genuine. dizzying to have it put into context just how much things have changed over the past 10-15 years