Representation

This month is LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK and as last year saw one of the worst years for LGBTQ+ rights in Europe, it felt right to dedicate a post a day on my social media account to highlight an LGBTQ+ person from 28 European countries. Representation matters and the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community can help dispel negative connotations towards us. It helps people come out. It contributes to our positive mental health. You can follow my Instagram or Facebook account for these posts and other writer/cat related posts.
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This month is also Black History Month in the USA. I could have combined the two but I decided to use this space to celebrate Black History Month. I feel incredibly lucky to have had such excellent teachers growing up. People say a lot of things about growing up in NYC but one thing that is often neglected is how dedicated and diverse in teachers the schools were from the 80’s onwards. As such, a world of African-American writers opened up from an early age. Below are three of my favourite books by African –American writers.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin is a collection of his published essays from various magazines and journals. This was my first introduction into how Baldwin saw issues of race and art. If you have never read Baldwin then this is a great introduction to his thought process and the effectiveness of his direct language. I would also recommend Giovanni’s Room if you wanted to combine LGBTQ+ History Month and Black History Month.

Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor is an allegorical novel based on Dante’s Inferno. The title of the book refers to the prestigious development that is the creation of the Nedeed family. Behind the middle class homes are secrets that play out in the lives of the characters. Each lane seems to represent a level of Hell and the ultimate Hell is reserved for one of the most disturbing secrets hidden by the Nedeed family. This book haunted me for years and well worth a read.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. This book is as fascinating as the author’s own life. Zora Neale Hurston was an anthropologist, filmmaker and author whose research into hoodoo, African and Caribbean folklore is still highly regarded today. The central character of the book is Janie, who is the product of rape by a white man, her mother was also a product of rape by white man. Her mother abandons her and she lives with her grandmother who is determined that Janie not suffer the same fate as she and Janie’s mother. Janie is married off into a loveless marriage that she escapes from, only to end up in a abusive yet prosperous marriage. What happens after the death of her second husband is her own emancipation. There are so many layers to this book but although the subject matter is difficult to swallow, it is the resilience of Janie that carries this novel towards a hopeful place. 

Watch this space for my next Black History Month post.