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You Can't Touch My Hair
You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain | Phoebe Robinson
A hilarious and affecting essay collection about race, gender, and pop culture from celebrated stand-up comedian and WNYC podcaster Phoebe Robinson. Phoebe Robinson is a stand-up comic, which means that, often, her everyday experiences become points of comedic fodder. And as a black woman in America, she maintains, sometimes you need to have a sense of humor to deal with the absurdity you are handed on the daily. Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: she's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of "the black friend," as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel ("isnt that . . . white people music?"); she's been called "uppity" for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. the. time. Now, she's ready to take these topics to the pageand shes going to make you laugh as shes doing it. Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is "Queen. Bae. Jesus," to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls, to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president, and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, You Can't Touch My Hair examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humor and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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LapReader
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Exciting Sunday arvo Sustainable Stockton freebies… books and plants! Made the biggest step child come for a walk to get her out of the house. The sun is dangerous for teenagers you‘d think. She was equal parts embarrassed and chuffed. She always talks my ears off on walks. She no longer swings off my arm and is capable of walking in a straight line nowadays. We hand fed some parrots and it was a nice little warm outing on a cold autumn day.

Crazeedi Sounds like a good day!! 6mo
Tamra How fun! 🌞 6mo
41 likes2 comments
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DivineDiana
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This is one that I have been wanting to read.
#bookbinge #haironcover

Eggs Great choice 👌🏼 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 😍 1y
51 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Kenyazero
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I‘ve got my June #Roll100 all prepped! I think I still need to pick up any of my May picks, of course 😝

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2y
18 likes1 comment
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Rachel.Rencher
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Mars keeps trying to learn to read. 🤓

Texreader So cute!!! 2y
SamAnne That is a hilarious photo. 2y
77 likes2 comments
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bookishbitch
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Pickpick

I thought this was very funny and well done. It's a series of essays that range from hilarious and thought provoking to down right serious. It was also quite educational in places. I will definitely read more by her in the future.

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alisiakae
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Pickpick

This was fantastic in audiobook format, narrated by the author herself. Some essays hit better than others, and the last section felt a bit like filler, but overall I really liked and appreciated this read. Now off to watch 2 Dope Queens on HBO.

#nonfiction2022 #marvelous
#bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
73 likes1 stack add1 comment
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alisiakae
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Last full day of school for Mj, before tomorrow‘s 8th grade promotion ceremony. Spending the day trying to finish some of my mostly completed #currentreads. The tagged book on audio, an ebook, and if time permits, the #CampLitsy read! #audiopuzzling

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Singout
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Chipping away at #Nonfiction2022: one third of the way through the year.

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Singout
Pickpick

I read this after doing *lots* of looking for a #Booked2022 publication from a #BlackOwnedPublisher or imprint. It was interesting seeing how hard it is to figure out who has published a book and the logistics of imprints, especially since audiobooks from the library are “published“ by someone other than the print book.
I eventually found Tiny Reparations Press, founded by this author (technically she wrote this before TRP but good enough.) ⬇︎

Singout It was sometimes a challenge: Phoebe Robinson is a successful comedian, best known for “2 Dope Queens“ podcast. and, well, I'm a 51-year-old White middle-class well-educated person used to fairly academic writing about racism. Robinson challenges White supremacy from her own personal experience, but peppers it with pop culture references, and terms like “lady boner“ in the first sentence. A new take that was good for me.
#NonFiction2022 #Loud
3y
11 likes1 comment
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Singout

You see, I‘ve spent my life learning that I am, at all costs, supposed to care more for a white person‘s feelings than my own. That if I hurt them or they decide that I have, that I am to feel guilty. And even when it was so abundantly clear that I was not in the wrong for objecting to someone using the hundreds of years of pain and misery for my people as the backdrop for a love story, I was still being painted with the angry black woman brush.

merelybookish Feels relevant. 🤨 3y
12 likes1 comment
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Singout
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On that day with that White Director, I made the choice to never again be quiet, to never again suck it up. I challenged him. And I will do it again. If that makes me uppity, so be it. At least people know I‘m no longer a vessel that they can use to act out their racist feelings. They will know that I think I‘m worth fighting for. They will know that I have a fire burning inside me. They will know that I‘m alive. #Racism #BlackLivesMatter

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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
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Pickpick

I liked this read. Will definitely keep an eye out for her other books.

92 likes2 stack adds
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rsteve388
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Pickpick

This was a enjoyable listen, but I didn't like that some.of her chapters came.off as kink shaming. But outside of that I thought the book was thought provoking and enjoyable.

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everlocalwest
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Pickpick

A reread for me that I recommended to my book club (we had a great discussion!). I really love the early essays but this book gets weaker as it goes and the ending letters to her niece absolutely feel like filler. Phoebe is hilarious though and her observations are so sharp and she writes of her personal life with a great deal of vulnerability. I'll definitely be picking up her next two books soon.

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kimmypete1
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Pickpick

Phoebe Robinson tackles some tough topics with a sense of humor. Appreciated her voice.

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ke1lbe1l
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Thankful for this audiobook right now. The author and comedian‘s narration brings a bit of levity to an otherwise anxious weekend. Now for my obligatory Election Week plea: if you haven‘t already voted, please, please, please go as soon as you can. And if you mailed it in, check the status of your ballot.

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i_just_need_caffeine
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When you get sucked in to a good book

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Sharpeipup
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This was educational & entertaining! #readblackauthors #24b4monday

34 likes1 stack add
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Liz_M
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"You become a New Yorker when your sidewalk rage is so strong that you feel the need to murder. Instances that trigger sidewalk rage: (see above ⬆️).

Liz_M Apparently, I've been a New Yorker since day one. 🤣 4y
16 likes1 comment
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shanaymayer
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one on audio. She had a lot of powerful things to say but intertwined her important message with the perfect dose of comedy. I learned a lot, I laughed, and I immediately read her second book.

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sarahlandis
Mehso-so

3/5

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thebacklistbook

This was a masterpiece. Hilarious and serious in all the right places. #blackvoices

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NovelGirl82
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SW-T Looks good! 😊 5y
32 likes1 comment
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NovelGirl82
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I have books and separated the keepers in to genres. Now to reorganize shelves... @24in48 #whathaveidone #stayhome24in48 #socialdistancing

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NovelGirl82
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Spring cleaning has hit me & it‘s time for me to cull book shelves, so I‘m audiobooking & going through books! @24in48 #stayhome24in48 #socialdistancing #springcleaning

Sace Hooray for cleaning! I've been doing it all week and I feel so productive! 5y
NovelGirl82 @Sace My work has been as usual, but I‘ve been doing as I can. I‘ve gotten some of my closet cleaned and now some of my office. Much better! 5y
32 likes2 comments
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GypsyKat
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Pickpick

As an audiobook I would give this 4 stars, but if it was print I‘d have to give it 3 stars. The audiobook was very fun and entertaining, which considering the fact that she deals with racism and sexism in a brutally honest way, that‘s quite a feat. It‘s definitely current with all the pop culture references and hashtags, but I feel like that writing style will alienate certain readers. Again though, as a podcast or audiobook its worth a listen.

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GypsyKat
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I‘ve been listening to this audiobook a bit today. Loving it so far.

66 likes1 stack add
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Skygoddess1
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Pickpick

This was a fun read and I found myself relating to quite a lot of what she had to say. After reading this I‘m going to have to explore more of Phoebe Robinson‘s work. #NFNov

rsteve388 6 pts 5y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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arlenefinnigan
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Cinfhen Nicely played ♥️😘 5y
36 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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#RedRoseSeptember From my virtual #TBR and a total #coverCrush #KinkyAfro

TrishB Great pick 😁 devoid of ideas so far! 5y
Cinfhen Ha! I have faith in you @TrishB 💕💕 5y
arlenefinnigan Ha! Great minds 😉 5y
86 likes1 stack add3 comments
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FeastingOnFiction
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Pickpick

Honestly, this should be required reading for everyone. She provides raw, unapologetic truth and insight to many uncomfortable topics with humor; not an easy feat.

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sidherinn
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

These essays combine humour with serious content about sexism and misogyny SO well. I don‘t think I‘ve ever read a book that was so laugh out loud funny and taught me so much all at the same time, often in the same sentence. The author‘s speaking style was quite chatty and podcast-y rather than most ‘serous classic audiobook narrator‘ voices, which I thought I might not like but really got into. Highly recommend!

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sherryvdh
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1) Taurus ♉
2) My oldest turned 6 today!
3) Tagged, the audio version, I just couldn't stay interested even though I love the author in her other endeavours
4) Bringing the aforementioned child out with one of his friends for some birthday fun
5) 💞💞💞
#friyayintro @howjessreads

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Well-ReadNeck
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Mehso-so

Lots of funny here, but super hard truth ... I‘m too old for this book. Too many missed references for me to fully love.

But, on the other hand, I think Phoebe would appreciate a “gray hair, don‘t care” attitude?! 🧓🏼😉

Skeebies05 It had too many pop culture references for me. It was saturated with them. 6y
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

The essays in this were fabulous! They‘re extremely conversational in tone and I kept wondering if there was an author-read audiobook version of this. It gets a little raunchy at times, but she does stand up comedy for a living, so that‘s pretty much expected. I think it would resonate with readers of all races. More than funny or angry or any other signifier, this just struck me as honest.

quanners I listened to the audiobook so I don‘t know how much they differ. If the book has all of her exclamations and L-O-L isms then the audio might be better enjoyed. I was not aware that she was a comedian prior to listening, so I cringed a bit and was annoyed on many occasions, but I really did laugh out loud many times. Listen to the audiobook. 6y
24 likes1 comment
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Pattrishy
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In this era of gift cards, I was pleasantly surprised with this gift! Hoping for a really fun read 😁

4 likes1 stack add
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farre
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Pickpick

This was a fantastic book. Highly recommend!

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shaynarae
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Pickpick

I never give memoirs/personal essays anything other than a 👍 because it‘s not my place to criticize someone else‘s experience. Having said that, the content of the book is great, but I didn‘t find the book to be particularly funny. Phoebe Robinson‘s utilization of teenage-type of language definitely works for a lot of people, but it grated on me after awhile. Sorry, Phoebe, it‘s just not my thing.

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AileenRR
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Mehso-so

Read by the author which kind of works in this case since she‘s a performer. Audiobook had lots of fun ad libs, but I still found myself spacing out at times. I also downloaded the ebook so I could see the pictures.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this collection from Phoebe Robinson, with whom I am completely unfamiliar outside this book. She tackles serious topics, primarily racism and sexism, in a funny, relatable, real way. My only complaint is a tad too many internet-isms for my taste (hashtags in a book are fine to a point but can be too much after a while).

#dogsofLitsy #Bindi

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HardcoverHarlot
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And I‘m back (after writing a paper, doing laundry, gardening, and also walking this stinky boy). Going to get a start on this one tonight for my final #24in48 book and hopefully get to at least 9 hours! #cooperthedog

Bookworm83 ❤️ 6y
RebL Happy #24in48 reading. This is a good book for a readathon. 6y
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ReadingRobyn
Bailedbailed

I can‘t. Maybe I shouldn‘t have even tried it because I don‘t like 2 dope queens.

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ReadingRobyn
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Because I need to read multiple books at once. 🤦🏽‍♀️🙄😝

elyseh Beautiful picture!!! 6y
12 likes1 comment
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SkeletonKey
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Pickpick

I read this super quickly, and enjoyed it a lot.

Thanks, @Alicia !!

Alicia Yay!!!! I love everything about Phoebe Robinson! She‘s amazing! 6y
SkeletonKey @Alicia - Me too! I used to listen to 2 Dope Queens a lot, I need to check in with that again lol. 6y
31 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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GondorGirl
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45 likes1 stack add
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Luvlivelyfe
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Currently reading 🤓🤓

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SkeletonKey
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Revived Turtles yesterday and I can‘t wait to see everyone‘s thoughts. Thanks so much for the extra book, @Alicia !! I can‘t wait to read this one.

I‘m so happy we were all paired up and got to know each other, thanks for all the insights and great reads 😆

@Booksnchill @kamoorephoto

Booksnchill Back at you- I listened to you can‘t touch my hair on audio- I think you‘ll enjoy it! Missing you guys! @Alicia @kamoorephoto 6y
SkeletonKey @Booksnchill - It looks really good! 6y
Alicia Yay!!!! I miss you guys too! ☠️💞📚 6y
SkeletonKey @Alicia 💜💜💜😆 6y
35 likes4 comments
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captainpunchmerica
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#riotgrams Day 3 - Favorite Title! This book is amazing and the title is pretty much the best

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Alicia
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Pickpick

I know I‘m late to the party on this one but this book is AH MAZING. Phoebe Robinson is obviously the best narrator and she speaks to me in such an amazing and real way. As I recommended to my friend, this book is my truth. Thank you for sharing your wonderful self with the world Phoebe! Sorry for squished pic, thanks Libby...