A timely read

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Being a minority myself, Opeyen and Raphael Sofoluke's book hit home in many different ways. Divided into nine chapters, the authors explore with the readers tools that can guide them to create, support, and celebrate one's own identity and brand at a time when it is twice as hard for them to do so. This is a timely read at a time when America as a country is still reckoning with racism and stereotypes about numerous ethnicities on media and television continue to shape one's perception of others. One of the points, for example, that the authors make is about the constant judgement of one's appearance. Indeed, as a society overall, we are still coping with such salient issues. One provocative example that the authors mentioned was that of something that we would consider as innocuous as hair. But, they mention that an experience that civil rights activist Angela Davis encountered where she was not remembered for her milestone actions but her hair.

The authors, therefore, in the book explore pivotal issues to unveil the microaggressions, challenges, and often invisible difficulties that they face as they try to find success in a world that is still accepting them. This book is part-memoir, part-self help, but drives the point that such books are needed to be read because they allow for oft uncomfortable conversations!

Thank you Bookish First and Penguing Random House for my advanced reading copy.