In Our Shoes

On Being a Young Black Woman in Not-So "Post-Racial" America

By: Brianna Holt

Narrated by: Brianna Holt

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Part memoir, part cultural critique, In Our Shoes uses pop culture and author Brianna Holt’s own lived experience to dissect the stereotypes and preconceived notions that young Black women must overcome in America today.

In this fresh exploration of cultural appropriation, wokeness, tone policing, and more, Holt carefully dismantles myths about Black womanhood, allowing readers to assess their biases while examining the roles Black millennial women are forced to take on simply to survive.

Through nine thoughtful chapters—such as “Leave the Box Braids for the Black Girls” and “Why Are You So Dark?”—laced with searing commentary, personal anecdotes from Brianna’s own life, and interviews conducted with “everyday” Black women and experts across different fields, In Our Shoes reveals the complexities of existence for Black women and creates a thought-provoking book that helps readers to learn, empathize, reflect, and, most importantly, act.

A history, a work of criticism, a piece of reporting, and a call to action, In Our Shoes is a timely exploration of race and womanhood that will entertain, inspire, and inform in equal measures.

©2023 Brianna Holt (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Holt offers particularly potent critiques of unconscious bias in the workplace and the many flaws inherent in white feminism. A commendable, colloquial perspective on a continually fraught topic.” —Kirkus

"Part memoir and part cultural critique, Holt’s collection of essays about Black millennial womanhood continues a very important conversation around how Black women and femmes can unlearn the harmful ideologies projected onto them by our white supremacist society, while also reclaiming our existence and empathizing with that of others who look like us." —Refinery29

“In Our Shoes is a collection of essays that shine a light on the issues Black millennial women face every day. Author Brianna Holt brilliantly tackles everything from code-switching and tone policing to the dangers of medical misinformation." —The Root

A modern day Green Book for white people

This book was well written and methodically laid out. It gives every opportunity for someone who is not a Black woman to understand how and why Black women are who they are. It’s provides the fundamental’s to help improve and break away from the cognitive dissonance that comes with calling yourself an ally when you don’t even fit the bill. Read this book if you want to do better at being a good person and find understanding when it comes to learning how to hold space for your friend, family-in-law, co-worker, neighbor, teacher, student or partner that happens to be a Black women.