Bad Fat Black Girl

Notes from a Trap Feminist

“Sesali Bowen is poised to give Black feminism the rejuvenation it needs. Her trendsetting writing and commentary reaches across experiences and beyond respectability. I and so many Black girls still figuring out who they are in this world will gain so much from whatever she has to say.”—Charlene A. Carruthers, activist and author of Unapologetic: A Black, Queer and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements

“Sesali perfectly vocalizes the inner dialogue, and daily mantras needed to be a Bad Bitch.”—Gabourey Sidibe, actor, director, and author of This is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare

“A powerful call for a more inclusive and 'real' feminism.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Bowen writes from an authentic space for Black women who are often left out of feminist conversations due to respectability politics, but who are just as deserving of the same voice and liberation.”—Booklist (starred review)

From funny and fearless entertainment journalist Sesali Bowen, Bad Fat Black Girl combines rule-breaking feminist theory, witty and insightful personal memoir, and cutting cultural analysis for an unforgettable, genre-defining debut.

Growing up on the south side of Chicago, Sesali Bowen learned early on how to hustle, stay on her toes, and champion other Black women and femmes as she navigated Blackness, queerness, fatness, friendship, poverty, sex work, and self-love.

Her love of trap music led her to the top of hip-hop journalism, profiling game-changing artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, and Janelle Monae.But despite all the beauty, complexity, and general badassery she saw, Bowen found none of that nuance represented in mainstream feminism. Thus, she coined Trap Feminism, a contemporary framework that interrogates where feminism meets today's hip-hop.

Bad Fat Black Girl offers a new, inclusive feminism for the modern world. Weaving together searing personal essay and cultural commentary, Bowen interrogates sexism, fatphobia, and capitalism all within the context of race and hip-hop. In the process, she continues a Black feminist legacy of unmatched sheer determination and creative resilience.

Bad bitches: this one’s for you.

I enjoyed this

Sometimes you listen to or watch something and you're like, "I could be friends with that person/character". I wasn't quite at that level, but I know and grew up with people like Sesali so it felt familiar, like I already knew her. I hadn't heard the term of "trap feminist" before but it fit the bill once defined. I was very entertained and captivated by this.

Memories

As the story went on I could totally relate to what was being said.

Worth every cent and second

I didn’t expect to read a book that touched so close to home while meticulously articulating so much of my own life and experiences!!!!!

Empowering

Loved that the author orated, made it relatable and felt like I was talking to one of my homegirls!

So relatable

This is a great guide for young black females that has nobody to talk with. The story was great from beginning to ending.