One of the most special things about Hanif Abdurraqib’s writing is his ability to make art and culture relative to the world around him. His writing style is a manifestation of what one is capable of when consuming art consciously and having the language to make it personable  while also tastefully critical. In this collection of essays, the author discusses multi-facets of blackness and it being palatable, the line between curiosity and fear, and the luxury of looking away. 

Blackness is no monolith, yet it’s clear that there is a specific type that is more tasteful to the masses especially when packaged right or given in doses. More dialogue and effort surrounding diversity/representation is common these days, but showcasing different dimensions of blackness/ the black experience inevitably comes with criticism/pushback when it’s not “the norm”. Media that bespeaks our fullness is evidence that the box meant to contain blackness will never be big enough. Black film has become like a lens to the nearsighted and music like a guide to our own liberation. The impact of our creativity when our range is considered will always be loud; it is not meant to be contained. We must seek to love our selves in totality even when the masses do not.

I never realized how thin the line between curiosity and fear is. Often people hear my name and will ask me to spell it or inquire about its possible meaning. The curiosity can almost feel like a comfort, but then I’m reminded I’m in a black body and that itself can be seen as a weapon to the person who chooses fear over curiosity. The line is thin because the switch between the emotions can vary, therefore uncertainty lingers in its presence. 

Looking away is a luxury. I think about 2020, I think about the current state of Palestine,Congo, and Sudan so it’s easy to point out those who favor/have favored this option. Could this luxury be considered a weapon if by doing so others are harmed in the process? 

It’s true—they can’t kill us until they kill us, but it’s important to remember that if they do because they will and they have because we’ve seen it, who we were still lives among those that loved us. They have succeeded in killing bodies, but will always fail at killing the spirit. Those we mourn are alive, because love refuses to let them die.