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Black, Listed
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
10 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 15 to read
Who is a roadman really? What's wrong with calling someone a 'lighty'? Why do people think black guys are cool? These are just some of the questions being wrestled with in Black, Listed, an exploration of 21st century black identity told through a list of insults, insights and everything in-between. Taking a panoramic look at global black history, interrogating both contemporary and historical culture, Black, Listed investigates the ways in which black communities (and individuals) have been represented, oppressed, mimicked, celebrated, and othered. Part historical study, part autobiographical musing, part pop culture vivisection, it's a comprehensive attempt to make sense of blackness from the vantage point of the hilarious and insightful psyche of Jeffrey Boakye. Along the way, it explores a far reaching range of social and cultural contexts, including but not limited to, sport, art, entertainment, politics, literature, history, music, theatre, cinema, education and criminal justice, sometimes at the same time.
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squirrelbrain
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Pickpick

A book that‘s ‘just‘ a list of definitions of terms, some positive but many derogatory, used to refer to Black people doesn‘t sound that interesting but the author is insightful, warm and witty, drawing from his own experiences.

At one point, near the end, the author claims that his own book is ‘terrifying‘ and it is, because I have so much still to learn, but this book is a great insight into Black British culture.

#booked2021 #antiracismbook

Emilymdxn I loved this book! 4y
Cinfhen Sounds really interesting 4y
eraderneely This is sitting half-finished on my kindle! There aren‘t enough books like this from British authors. I need to get around to finishing this. 4y
squirrelbrain Yes, it was interesting to see a British perspective @eraderneely; most of the anti-racism books I‘ve read have a US POV (which is no less valid of course). 4y
TrishB Had this on my kindle for ages! Will get to one day.... 4y
69 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Emilymdxn
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Happy Martin Luther King day littens! We don‘t celebrate it in the UK but I can get behind any day that honours someone so one-in-a-century and his legacy of resistance.

Tagging a book related to Black communities in Britain. Slightly odd format of a book but bear with me - a list of every name the word could think of that describes Black British people and a short essay inspired by each one. Taught me so much about Black British identity as...

Emilymdxn ... well as making me laugh and horrifying me at times. #integrateyourshelf @ChasingOm 4y
ChasingOm Sounds fascinating!! 4y
Apostcardlife Walking with the Wind by John Lewis (memoir) 💗 4y
62 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Emilymdxn
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Pickpick

I was surprised when I found that this book was going to be all definitions, I had no idea how to read a 400 page book of definitions, then once I started reading I was astonished by how essential it felt. Jeffrey Boakye is so insightful, witty, thoughtful, compassionate, and straight up clever. One of the best books I‘ve ever read about blackness in the UK covering SO much in history, pop culture, sociology, memoir, music, everything.

Emilymdxn #nfn2020 @Clwojick +20 points, #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks one more book on the list down! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 4y
Clwojick 🎉🎉 Youre crushing it this month!! 4y
62 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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Emilymdxn
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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TIL about Ozwald Boateng from the tagged book. That‘s him top left - the first black tailor on Savile Row! I don‘t think I‘ve ever said “wow!” About a menswear designer before, the way he combines this incredible tailoring with a bright colours and fabrics, I basically drooled as I scrolled through his website. It‘s a travesty I‘d never heard of him before! Look at these suits!

#nfn2020 @Clwojick

TrishB Those coats are amazing. 4y
Anna40 Not into fashion at all but this is beautiful. Thanks for sharing 4y
rabbitprincess Ooh that red coat is magnificent! 4y
Clwojick Stunning coats! 4y
64 likes4 comments
review
rockpools
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Pickpick

Jeffrey Boakye takes a list of terms used to describe Black people, official, derogatory, personal, stereotypes, endearments etc, and breaks them down in the context of Black British culture. He has a really informal writing style, and can be very funny, while still packing a punch. I‘m left with plenty to think about - it‘s helped me understand why certain seemingly innocuous terms could cause offense - and given me an even longer reading list.

rockpools I‘m going to use this for #NonFiction2020 #SomethingAboutEducation - although it‘s not specifically *about* education, Boakye is a teacher and many of his examples come from that experience. @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4y
squirrelbrain Great review - I just got this on Kindle the other day.... 4y
rockpools @squirrelbrain It‘s very readable! 4y
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TrishB @squirrelbrain me too 👍🏻 4y
TrishB Looking forward to reading it. 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa That sounds perfect for that prompt! I‘m stacking the book too! 4y
64 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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rockpools
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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I was doing so well. I‘d reached day 3 of my reduced ‘currently reading‘ heap & hadn‘t been tempted by anything new. Then I got talking to @wicdiv and this was #99ponkindle (Also: The Windrush Betrayal) -so I‘m reading this now!

It‘s a look at the terminology around race in Britain, and the fact that it‘s all... complicated, at least. If not actually problematic.

It‘s also surprisingly funny, a little uncomfortable, and well-worth reading.

jenniferw88 Have just got The Windrush Betrayal with an Audible credit! 4y
charl08 I sae the Windrush deal, but not this one. Thanks! 4y
wicdiv I'm going to get to this later today but I'm so glad you think it's a good read so far. 4y
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Emilymdxn I just bought both of these and am going to try to get to them this week! 4y
eraderneely Crap. Now I‘ve bought another book! 4y
rockpools @eraderneely Splurt laugh! That was me yesterday. That‘s it for July now - no more! 4y
rockpools @Emilymdxn 👍🏻 They both look good. I won‘t get to WB this week, but I‘m finding this one incredibly readable. And a little heartbreaking at times. 4y
rockpools @wicdiv 😊👍🏻 Very glad you let me know about this one! 4y
rockpools @charl08 Always happy to help you buy books - yeah. Sorry. 4y
rockpools @jenniferw88 Oh interesting - let me know how the audio goes. 4y
TrishB I got this as well, but read yet of course! 4y
rockpools @TrishB You‘ll rattle through this one in no time! It‘s a great mix of keeping it light, while lobbing a decent amount of content at you. The TBR might suffer though 😬 4y
TrishB That should of course say not read yet! 4y
squirrelbrain Oh, I had this on my list as one to read - off to buy it now.... 4y
61 likes2 stack adds14 comments
review
Verity
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Pickpick

Fascinating, enlightening and more than a little bit uncomfortable to read as a white woman. This takes a look at the words surrounding the black British experience, using academic research and the author's personal experiences to analyse and explain. It has a light tone which the author explains at the end is to keep it from becoming bleak and depressing. I found it a very worthwhile read and learnt a lot and had to have a think about even more.

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klarusu
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Love this bookmark - my friend brought it back from the top of the Shanghai Tower for me last year. Black, Listed is a really thought-challenging book that isn‘t challenging to read but does make you take the measure of the language you have been accustomed to hearing throughout your life.

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klarusu
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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Today is sponsored by the book pile & all the tissues available to humanity. ‘Tis the season 🤧

A really thought-provoking book that sits at the boundary of identity, language and race. I‘d say recommended reading for anyone interested in challenging themselves to be better at recognising the multiple implications of the words and labels we use today. It‘s written well with real humour on occasion, without detracting from the seriousness.

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Verity
Black, Listed | Jeffrey Boakye
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October is black history month here in the UK and I‘m trying to add a few things into my reading list accordingly.

20 likes3 stack adds