Culture critic, Zeba Blay was the first person to tweet #carefreeblackgirl back in 2013. Carefree Black Girls is a book of her essays about Black women’s impact on pop culture and “what it means to be a Black woman and truly be ‘carefree.’” She describes this book as “an offering” and not “a history, an explainer, a guide, or a map to Blackness”. It is a is a celebration of Black women and our full and complex humanity.

Blay looks at how Black women, from Josephine Baker to Breonna Taylor, have been represented in pop culture; how affirming it feels to see yourself represented in media; and how representation alone will not liberate us. Like Blay, “I'm reaching out for a world where we value not just the representations of Black women but Black women themselves.”

Essay topics include bodies and weight, sexuality, girlhood and mental health. CW: Suicide, transphobia, disordered eating.

This is a book I can see myself returning to, to see if and how we have progressed as a society.

I’m thankful to Zeba Blay, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an uncorrected digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

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!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciated the vulnerability in each essay. I really hope some of the chapters are integrated into Women’s Gender & Sexuality courses offered at various universities.

This is a beautiful collection of essays that explore the images and depictions of black women and girls throughout our culture. This book tackles subjects like racism, colorism, fat phobia, mental health, sexuality, and what it truly means to be a carefree black girl or if this is even possible. The author also includes her own personal thoughts and experiences and how they relate to these subjects. This book is not groundbreaking; these subjects have been explored before. But it is extremely honest. I saw a lot of my own experiences reflected in Blay’s. I’m sure that I won’t be the only one. This was moving, timely, and poignant. I loved it from the beginning to the end.