Black Skinhead

In Black Skinhead, Brandi Collins-Dexter brilliantly weaves through a multitude of touch points–social, cultural, and political–to investigate the Black Skinhead, defined as “a disillusioned political outlier who is underrepresented in mainstream media discourse.” Not only is this an exploration of the mindsets of Black voters who firmly vote from the Right, or independently, or not at all, but Collins-Dexter offers powerful commentary and interviews on topics such as media bias and misinformation on violence against Black lives, the impact of government policy on sex work, and populism from the lens of being a WWE fan enraptured by a moving promo by 1980’s star wrestler The American Dream.

This is exquisitely written–probably the best writing I’ve read this year. Collins-Dexter enters this subject matter with a mix of tenderness, open curiosity, and most importantly, a well-rounded approach to conveying the messages of those she may not entirely agree with. I learned so much that I had no clue about, like the community-focussed methodology of Black voters that is not necessarily devoted to the Democratic Party, the existence of drill music, and the extra cost and labour Black sex workers take on to ensure success, amongst much else. My favourite moments included a delve into the historically political lean of Playboy Magazine, a brief yet chilling dip into the subject of epigenetics (an essay I related deeply to), a reflection on what it means to be gothic, and an excellent essay connecting her analysis of the ending of Marvel’s Black Panther with the hardships of Black business owners in the Bay Area and the growing extreme wealth gap in the Black community. Through all this, she incorporates the personal, letting us in on family memories and hardships that had me tearing up from beginning to end.

I cannot say anymore that won’t just be a list of praise–it is simply stunning. At no point did it lull or lose my attention. Even if you think nonfiction isn’t for you, I implore you to give this a try–it is the apex of nonfiction.

Tracing potentially tectonic shifts in American political behavior, Dexter-Collins shows an impressive range and insight as an author. The title references Black people who strongly reject a status quo that doesn’t serve them and the expected alignment with Democratic party politics. Though often found on the margins, they reveal a broader disillusionment that bodes ill for the establishment. To illuminate the underlying roots of this alienation, the book blends ideological and cultural analysis with intimate personal narrative. The journey starts with the author’s moving tribute to the father she lost in 2020 to treatable disease and systematic failures in the healthcare system. That’s followed by case studies including how Kanye West, a former Obama admirer, became a libertarian social conservative. It’s a fascinating synthesis.

🌟BLACK SKINHEAD: Reflections on Blackness and Our Political Future🌟 by Brandi Collins-Dexter ~published September 20, 2022

Thanks so much to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for the gifted advance review copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved this series of essays on American politics, being black in America, the black voting block, and the ever-intriguing Kanye West.

As I have said before, I am a white woman reviewing a book about the black experience. I relate my feelings to you through a lens of whiteness, cognizant of the fact that I will never be able to experience this book, or the things in this book, in the same way that a member of the black community will experience them. Nevertheless, I hope that by adding my voice to the discussion, it will encourage others to continue to read diverse books about experiences different from their own.

There is an old expression that to “assume” makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” And that’s kind of what Collins-Dexter is saying here (albeit in a much more eloquent fashion). If the political establishment continues to assume that all black Americans will vote Democrat, it may end up feeling like an ass (given the donkey logo, it was bound to happen). She makes a great point and I (generally) think she’s right.

Speaking of asses, Collins-Dexter admirably tries to defend/reframe/add nuance to some of past presidential candidate Kanye West’s more ridiculous comments, and she sometimes succeeds! Note: I worship West’s musical ability, but when he speaks, he tends to insert his foot into his mouth at an alarming rate, saying things like slavery was a choice or interrupting Taylor Swift at the Grammys. Collins-Dexter seems to be particularly inspired by music, and the title of the book even comes from a Kanye West song.

Collin’s-Dexter shares a lot of personal feelings in this book, and those were my favorite parts. The essays on her emotions before a big speech, her feelings about how we can get away from the constant narrative of black trauma and suffering, thoughts on her own interracial marriage, and coming to terms with the death of her father were all powerful and poignant. I was surprised and disheartened when Collin’s-Dexter discussed feeling unsafe on Northwestern University’s campus at night due to her race. Northwestern is a private school located on the “north shore” of Chicago and not a place I associate with being racist, so it’s definitely food for thought for me.

Engaging and of the moment!