A very compelling and well-written memoir, Token Black Girl is Danielle Prescod's story of being Black, both growing up in a majorly white town and school, as well as in the fashion industry in NYC. The stories that she shares are all interesting and well-written and are very well curated. They share really important lessons and outlooks about the world that I'm glad I read. Highly recommend this book for anyone who needs some eye-opening content about what it means to be Black in specifically the fashion industry and more generally in a very white-centric world.

Really great book! Intriguing and thought provoking. Thanks for the advanced copy. Truly enjoyed this read.

A beautiful book about coming of age and fighting for racial equality. Beautiful written too.Well done Danielle!!

Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod was a great read! I was really impressed by how Ms. Prescod described her childhood and explained growing up black in an elite (white) private school. The pressure she felt to fit in, to conform to a standard that was not her own, to essentially change, code switch, and manipulate herself to feel accepted by her age-range peers just because she was the only black girl in a sea of white girls was extraordinary to read. And then her college and professional life was really telling. I will be honest, I started reviewing my own childhood and adulthood and thinking if I ever made expectations of friends to either conform or adopt a certain way of being just because of who I expected them to be. This book has definitely made me more aware of those who are living black in white society (because let's be honest, it is a thing within itself in the middle/upper middle/elite world...) and the pains they go through just to be "accepted" when they shouldn't have to be. This is definitely something that everyone needs to read in order to understand the black experience in the world of white superiority (whether or not they *believe* in white superiority...)

This was an experience far out of my own comfort zone--I'm a white woman and know nothing about the fashion world--and I am so glad I got to read this ARC.
The author describes her affluent upbringing and how difficult it was for her to fit into the white private schools she attended, and then her career in the fashion world and how hard it was to fit into that white world. She describes the results on her psyche, her body image, her resulting eating disorder, and it is wrenching to read. She honestly points out the racism she has had to fight against constantly, even when she didn't really feel confident saying what it was, and confesses all the terrible results of trying to please everyone, be perfect, be accepted. I hope this book starts conversations about racism and body image.

In this memoir, Danielle describes how growing up in a wealthy, predominantly white community made her struggle with her blackness and thereby, try to do anything to assimilate. This included avoiding swimming lessons so as to not ruin her straightened hair, consuming the same media as her friends, and in doing so, not black media, and taking the role of the Token Black Girl when required.

Later in life, she began working in the fashion industry and found a new way to assimilate by developing an eating disorder and becoming as small as possible. During this time, she embraces the ruthlessness the industry had used on her, but she also stops having as much patience with her racist colleagues, rightfully calling out the toxic workplaces she was in.

Overall, it was an incredibly well-written journey through her experiences and growth but I wish she would've gone more in depth about the role class and wealth played in her life since at times she came across a bit tone-deaf.

Incredible book! The writing is highly engaging and interesting. The author did an incredible job at making her story relatable for all readers, yet highlighting the extra barriers she faced due to her race. This is a book that will stay with me and has broadened my understanding of the world.

Really interesting to read and find out about what it’s like to be a black girl in a white community. I think it’s the type of book that lots of people need to read, one that should be compulsory reading, perhaps. As someone of white heritage I can’t discuss the accuracy or relate to Danielle’s feelings, but it did give me a lot of insight
, and for that I am great full.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for this Review Copy of Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod.

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) for Token Black Girl. The best way to sum up my feelings on Danielle Prescod’s memoir is with that meme that’s a screenshot of an old Facebook report option for hiding images: “I’m in this photo and I don’t like it.”

As a mixed girl growing up in a glaringly white part of NYC, I definitely know and connect with the feeling of being everyone’s “token black girl,” which is exactly why I picked up this book. I was not expecting so much of Prescod’s memoir to focus on her struggle with body image and eating disorders, something I have also dealt with from a very young age and am unfortunately still battling as I approach 30. It was difficult to read her story at times, but very real. Danielle is incredibly honest, perhaps to a fault, and I appreciate that. There were moments where she came off a bit cold but ya know what, who hasn’t? It all contributed to how forthcoming she was with her journey. Her critiques of the fashion world were really nuanced, which I so appreciate it and want to hear more of.

Overall, Token Black Girl is a wonderful book for women of color coming of age in the 80s/90s/2000s, as well as anyone interested in the fashion/magazine publishing world. Even when i found TBG difficult to read, it was only because I saw so much of myself in every page. I look forward to following more of Danielle Prescod’s career!

I followed Danielle for years and really enjoyed hearing her story. She is witty, honest and so candid. I highly recommend this book.

Token Black Girl touches on so many points I think a lot of Black girls will relate to. There’s also a uniqueness to Danielle’s point of view that a lot of us won’t relate to, and that’s ok. This is the story of her experience and opinions.

I always love a chance to hear first person accounts of the behind the scenes of careers in media/entertainment/beauty, so I particularly liked the parts about her experience in the fashion industry.

✊🏿BOOK REVIEW✊🏿

Danielle Prescod examines her life as a black woman growing up in a white world from life as a teen through to being a fashion magazine employee and editor. Policing of black women’s bodies, hair, moods and temperament feature heavily in this book that takes a deep dive into the fashion industry, the influence of media. If you were around in the 90s to 00s era you will relate to much portrayed about the media messaging to our generation.

I personally loved the author’s ability to examine deeply internalised Racism, and the effects on her mental health and relationships with others, some of which was very relatable as a POC, others which have made me a better ally to the black community. She points out the faults of white supremacy and it’s prevalence in our daily lives and workplaces while vulnerably and gracefully admitting her mistakes along the way. Fashion lovers in particular will love this one for others it may feel repetitive.

(strong TW for eating disorders).

This is my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more by them! This is such a uniquely written story that you will find yourself thinking about long after you finish it. Highly recommend!!

While it’s a good book about race in the States, it isn’t as good a read for people who aren’t from the US.

CW: racism, disordered eating, bulimia, anorexia, depression, self-hatred, suspension, sexism, fatmisia, burnout, colonialism, cultural appropriation, sexual abuse (mentioned), prescription drug misuse, suicidal ideation, homomisia (mentioned), cyber bullying, gaslighting

I would like to thank NetGalley and Little A for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I very much enjoyed reading Danielle Prescod’s memoir. Despite never really knowing her before I read this title, Token Black Girl really is an honest and thought-provocting memoir.

Prescod brings up very insightful observations about the inherent racism and sexism within the fashion/beauty industry. Consequently, her writing poignantly illustrates her inner turmoil towards perfectionism in order to be accepted by her peers. The blatant racism, sexism, and fatmisia can be hard to read at times, but Token Black Girl brings a spotlight on these issues within the fashion industry and how we can address them.

That being said, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who’s interested in learning more about the intersectionality of race and size within the fashion industry or want a memoir about being a woman of color in America during the 21st century.

A provocative and timely memoir. Danielle's experiences growing up in the US and then working in the fashion industry are fascinating and enraging. The casual, and overt, racism that she and other people of colour have to face every single day is unbelievable. I'm so grateful that she has the strength to write about this so that I can read her words and imagine walking in her shoes a bit. Although, I can't walk in those heels she described!! She takes us behind-the-scenes of the fashion industry and it was fascinating! I know nothing about fashion or US pop culture so I had to google a bit but it was enlightening. That aspect of women's lives was also something to ponder. The gender inequity in standards of beauty, not to mention systemic sexism, are almost as sickening as the horrors of personal and systemic racism. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved this book and appreciated and am a grateful for its raw account. I have followed Danielle for many years on social media and appreciated her takes on fashion and pop culture without ever fully appreciating everything going on under the surface. What looked like a completely glamorous life contained a lot of trauma that I’m so glad to see her healing from, even though so many of those triggers are still around. This book has the power to reach so many people who have either been in that same pain or who have caused that pain to others, and for that reason I think it should be required reading for young people growing up.

i have followed this author on social media for quite some time, so i was elated to read this memoir. i think it’s fair to speak to this book in two parts as a white female reader: part 1, the trauma of danielle growing up as the token black girl, and part 2, the fashion industries incessant need to constantly drive white supremacy and racism.

my brain did this because there was so much to unpack in all the lives this author has lived and all the burdens she has shouldered. in the earlier part of the book, just wrapping my mind around her experience being black but not black enough was so eye opening, i found the imposter syndrome to be relatable although obviously not in the same way as the author. the core memories that she shared were setting the stage for the latter part of the book.

in the “second act” or the authors experience with the fashion industry (i actually work for one of the brands she wrote a story with) it was so incredibly cringeworthy to hear about the experiences she has had. from the experience with the miracle suit founders husband at dinner (o m f g!!!) to the way she was let go for asking for a flight upgrade (she paid for it herself????) it was all both shocking and not in a way only racism can be.

danielle wrote this book in a way that truly shared both vulnerability in personal experience and the industry gossip we all crave in an eloquent way that only a true storyteller can. i look forward to reading her next piece!

Token Black Girl is such a interesting, thought provoking read on racism, discovering your identity, trying to fit in all with slices of her story added in.
I loved reading this book and the important lessons inside of it. It was quite a read and one everyone needs to read.

After following Danielle Prescod on Instagram for a couple years, I was really interested to read this memoir and get to know more about her story. There is a lot I really enjoyed about this book and a lot of things that will stick with me. I appreciate the self-awareness that Danielle has, clearly coming from time spent in therapy and doing work to dig deep into her past and why she is the person that she is. Danielle gives a really interesting perspective of being the only black girl in a sea of whiteness for most of her life and how that affected her, not only at the time, but how that experience has shaped the way she sees herself in the world today.

She gives an, at times, painfully honest recount of her struggle with eating disorders, racism experienced while working in fashion and media, and toxic beauty standards set for and perpetuated by women, and sometimes even herself.

There are points of the story that seemed to go off on a tangent and left me temporarily confused, but it always circled back back to the point. I really appreciated all the pop culture references that reminded me of things I enjoyed in my childhood, even the problematic ones. Hello, Sweet Valley High! These references helped me connect with the author, especially as a millennial woman who grew up in the same era.

All in all, Danielle's story is an important one to be told and I'm glad she's telling it!