Thick: And Other Essays | Tressie McMillan Cottom | From The ELECTORETTE Archive

Описание: In this episode of The Electorette, MacArthur Fellow and award-winning author Tressie McMillan Cottom joins host Jen Taylor-Skinner to discuss her groundbreaking essay collection, "Thick: And Other Essays."

We navigate the nuanced landscape of identity and boundary-setting, offering insights into the importance of self-care and authenticity amidst societal pressures. Our conversation sheds light on the complexities of racial identity within diverse environments, emphasizing the support of Black colleagues in predominantly non-Black spaces. Tressie McMillan Cottom provides valuable advice on maintaining boundaries in the public sphere, drawing inspiration from influential voices like Roxane Gay. The discussion tackles the pressures Black women face to share traumatic experiences and celebrates the strength found in setting personal and professional limits.

In a poignant exploration of societal expectations, we address the impact of beauty standards and election politics on self-perception, particularly for young Black women. Tressie McMillan Cottom shares profound insights into navigating mixed messages about self-worth, using Leslie Jones's comedy as a lens to examine deeper societal issues often masked by humor. We reflect on the necessity of solidarity and mutual support in liberation efforts, critiquing the cultural burdens of code-switching. The episode concludes with a call for greater visibility and acknowledgment of Black women's contributions in intellectual discourse, advocating for allyship and more inclusive representation in media.

Timestamps:
(01:13) Black Women's Personal Essay Revolution
(08:07) Navigating Black Women's Boundary Setting
(23:28) Navigating Beauty Standards and Election Politics
(35:03) Navigating Black Women's Expectations and Safety
(50:13) Black Women's Visibility in Intellectual Work

Chapter 1
01:13 Black Women's Personal Essay Revolution
Collaborating with a Black woman editor, we highlight the importance of representation and personal essays for Black women's narratives.

Chapter 2
08:07 Navigating Black Women's Boundary Setting
Self-reflection, self-care, and authenticity in navigating Black identity, with a focus on relationships, academia, boundaries, and advice from Roxane Gay.

Chapter 3
23:28 Navigating Beauty Standards and Election Politics
School experiences shape cultural norms, societal narratives impact self-perception, and Black women's representation in comedy is complex.

Chapter 4
35:03 Navigating Black Women's Expectations and Safety
Code-switching in Black communities as a protective mechanism and cultural burden, its toll on individuals, and the need for solidarity in liberation efforts.

Chapter 5
50:13 Black Women's Visibility in Intellectual Work
Black voices, especially women, are often overlooked in mainstream intellectual discourse, but allyship and inclusive representation can bring change and fulfillment.

#TressieMcMillanCottom #ThickBook #BlackWomenWriters #Feminism #IdentityPolitics #RepresentationMatters #Electorette #RacialJustice #WomenInMedia #BlackExcellence #92Percent

🗓️ This conversation was originally recorded and published in 2019.

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