Angry Black Girl: Elexus Jionde

Angry Black Girl By Elexus Jionde

Before I begin my review, let me introduce the author. Elexus Jionde is an ATL-based author, unconventional history teacher and a pinup model. With a B.A. in History from Ohio State, she takes her knowledge and research to a whole other level while discussing various topics such as race, class, gender, sexuality and American HIstory. Besides Angry Black Girl Elexus has written two other books including The A-Z Guide to Black Oppression which discusses the tropes and traps black people have fallen into because of and throughout history and Who Said Dat? A book of 500 quotes said by black Intellectuals, Historical Figures, Celebs, and Everyday People.

Eventually, I want to read her other books but, for now, we’ll start with Angry Black Girl. Angry Black Girl came out in 2017 and came into my possession in 2019. However, because of my schedule, I was unable to fully read this book until now. With that being said I have to admit that this book was worth the wait. The book Angry Black girl is a powerful collection of essays about race, gender, and America. The first chapter discusses the reason for the title and her thoughts about being a black woman in America. Though I am a black woman who lives in Canada, I can empathize and understand a lot of the situations that Elexus discusses within her book. Intersectionality is a thing that all black women have no choice but to go through whether they want to admit it or not. Now for those of you who do not know what intersectionality is, Kimberle Crenshaw (a civil rights advocate, critical race theorist and professor at UCLA) defines intersectionality as a metaphor for understanding how inequality and disadvantages compound themselves, creating obstacles that are not understood by those who live a more normal/conventional life.

As black women, we do not get the advantages and privileges that are given to white men, white women and black men. Black women are plagued with carrying stereotypes on their backs everywhere they go such as the jezebel, the mammy or the sassy black friend. However, Lexus also discusses the opposite as well, which is when people are surprised that a black woman can use million dollar words or speak “normally”. As the book continues I began to read faster and faster, taking in more information. I truly learned a lot about white privilege and the many different types, the corruption of the American school systems and what they leave out of textbooks, the connection between Christianity and capitalism and so much more. Besides this, because the book is a series of essays spliced with history lessons and personal anecdotes, you tend to find yourself swept away by the author. Seeing life through her eyes and truly understanding why she is so angry and more importantly why so many black women are so angry. In the past, I have been told “black women need to stop being angry and learn to make things better for themselves”. As much as I want to believe that statement, it’s hard not to be angry when you’re watching little black girls getting suspended or bullied at school because their natural hair isn’t “appropriate”.

It’s hard to not get mad when you hear about a black woman getting shot in her foot by her ex-boyfriend and everyone saying that she probably deserved it. It’s hard not to get mad when the entire world steals your culture, your features, your styles and then laughs right in your face while praising a Kardashian for the same thing. I still remember when kids used to make fun of me because of my lips but, a year late, Kylie Jenner’s lip plump challenge went viral. Those may just be a few examples but those are instances that happen every single day. There are a lot of other things I can say about Elexus and this book. I could empathize with it, praise it, etc… But the truth is, as someone who enjoys reading, I believe that this book, like many others, deserves to be experienced and not spoiled. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn. Whether you’re black, pro-black, an ally, a skeptic, an intellectual, or someone who just wants to know more. As long as you’re 18+ and are willing to listen, I think this book could be a great addition to your collection.

Stay in tune and Get A Clue.