Shakirah Bourne

I'll be posting my review for this book in September as a part of GeekDis a collaborative event I am hosting in September for the disabled community to discuss disability representation in pop culture.

You can learn more about GeekDis and how to take join in the discussion here!

For more of my reviews please visit my blog!… (mere)

From Amazon description:

This book is for everyone. Because we can all be allies.

As an ally, you use your power—no matter how big or small—to support others. You learn, and try, and mess up, and try harder. In this collection of true stories, 17 critically acclaimed and bestselling YA authors get real about being an ally, needing an ally, and showing up for friends and strangers.

From raw stories of racism and invisible disability to powerful moments of passing the mic, these authors share their truths. They invite you to think about your own experiences and choices and how to be a better ally.

There are no easy answers, but this book helps you ask better questions. Self-reflection prompts, resources, journaling ideas, and further reading suggestions help you find out what you can do. Because we’re all in this together. And we all need allies.… (mere)

This is great collection of essays for anyone who wants to be a better ally or thinking about becomng one.

The first one, Dana's Absolutely Perfect Fail-Safe No Mistakes Guaranteed Way To Be An Ally by Dana Alison Levy was the most educational and uncomfortable one for me. The author tells you what to do and what not to do if you want to be an ally. I had committed I wanted to show someone empathy for her problem and I did it the wrong way! It really backfired, the recipient played a practical joke on me that was mean. I would have wanted a simple verbal response pointing out my mistake. But she enlisted two people in the joke and I had to go to restroom to sob. We never talked together again. It was too painful. I made a big mistake and she ratchetted it up. I could avoided the mistake and if I saw her doing that to another person, I would have summoned the guts to call her out.

Another essay stood out to me, Dismantling Judgment by Lizzie Huxley-Jones told her invisible illness and many of the same experiences that I have had and felt like I had found a friend.

Another essay, Lupe,was another favorite. I loved the story about her mother and her mother's childhood playmate. They maintained a strong friendsip and helped each other through out their lives until Lupe's tragic death.

I received a finished copy of this book as a part of the Vine Program.… (mere)