L. Hechanova

YES. Get this book.

Revisado: 05-18-21

This is a perfect book. Do not be fooled by its fun, casual tone. If you aren’t a Black person in America (and I am not), this book will cheerily turn your mind inside out with regards to racism as it skips down the street and eats the world’s most delicious donut.

It does this by being equally horrifying and hilarious.

Now you’re thinking, “How is this a funny book about racism??” THAT IS THE RUFFINS’ GENIUS.

There are many very excellent books about racism out there, and everyone should read them all. This one, however, is the only one I’ve come across that focuses solely on curating a selection of many of the racist things, big or small, that have happened to one person and just staying there. Not trying to explain it, tidy it up, or squeeze a moral out of it. Just story after racist story.

The breadth, variety, and depressing mundanity of these incidents is disappointing and (hopefully!) unsurprising. Getting to know Lacey as the chapters progress and learning that ALL of these things happened to her, on top of knowing that she is one of millions of Black people who live in this country and that all of them (fight me if you don’t think it’s all Black people) have experienced similar things or worse is revelatory.

Ok, well, how could a compilation like this be enjoyable? Expert storytelling. These women are funny as hell. I just listened to over five hours of stories about racist idiocy in two sittings because it was a HOOT. And that’s why this book is genius: 1.) it’s a rare compilation of one person’s experiences with racism 2.) it provides a clear-eyed, straightforward look at how easily it shows up in people’s daily lives and 3.) it makes it very funny.

Lastly, a suggestion: buy BOTH the audiobook and the not-audiobook! They’re both great in different ways.

In the audio version, you get to hear the Ruffin sisters in their own voices AND you will get to hear Amber Ruffin sing many, many things. Among them: a parody of the song “Reflection” from Disney’s animated Mulan, which she sings to wake her dad up from naps.

In the not-audiobook, you’ll get to see photos of a bunch of things they reference! I’m actually about to buy it right after I submit this review in order to see just that.

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A Complete and Necessary Perspective Shift

Revisado: 09-15-20

The fact that this book is such an easy, unassuming read disguises its power. Disability is a valuable, often-ignored lens through which we can better understand each other and the ways we shape our environments. Hendren is a curious narrator and patient guide for the unfamiliar. The way she gently unveils each layer of this expansive approach to the built world, moving from personal objects to rooms to cities to time(!) is masterful. This is a lovely and important work.

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