Review by Kirkus Book Review
A deeply intimate critique of systematic racist and sexist inequities behind the so-called health-and-wellness industry. "Health has been connected to whiteness for over a century, it's nothing new," writes Wilson, a self-described "regular-degular" dietician. She continues: "Colonialism, white supremacy, and capitalism ensure that people assigned Blackness will never fit within the confines of Health." Written "specifically for Black women," the author's first book makes the case for "putting Black women at the center of the narratives, rather than having our stories filtered through a white lens." Wilson rewrites the narratives surrounding Black women's bodies and maps a collective and individual reclamation of Black joy. After the introduction, the author presents three sections. The first, "Live, Laugh, Love," features chapters such as "It Isn't Diet Culture, It's White Supremacy" and "Too Much, Yet Not Enough: Restriction." The second section, " 'Solutions'/Having a Body Is Hard," digs deeper into the myriad perils of body image and "the impacts of pathologizing people's bodies," and the final third, "A New Story," is dedicated to Black joy. Wilson peppers her arguments with dashes of humor, and her directness, acerbic tone, and honesty about her personal life and struggles with seizures make for compelling reading. Many of the author's arguments and insights are undeniable, and she unpacks them with both originality and candor--e.g., "Health disparities are not solved by teaching people how to cook quinoa and put sliced almond on salads." She recounts her experience at the 2021 Gwyneth Paltrow's In Goop Health summit, which gave "a glimpse of what it would mean to live a life of ease" but made her sick. She also references recent significant moments, such as Mo'Nique's 2021 Instagram live video on respectability. The most-repeated line Wilson tells her clients is to eat more food, in hopes that they will "enjoy it without overthinking it." This fiery polemic and celebration stands out among contemporary books on the subject of Black women's bodies. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
