Lesley-Ann Brown

Blackgirl on Mars by Lesley-Ann Brown is a memoir that can just as easily be considered a collection of linked essays, the link, of course, being Brown's life experiences.

I love Brown's voice in this book, personal while always making sure to paint a wonderful picture of what she is talking about. She points out the many situations where race plays an unnecessary role while still trying to understand why a person acts or thinks as they do. Not so much as an excuse for them but to help the reader better grasp where our own weaknesses may be coming from. And she never hesitates to admit when she should have, or believes she should have, done something different or more.

Unfortunately, many of the situations she encountered aren't unique or uncommon, which makes telling them as often as necessary important. I saw someone comment on another book that they don't need to read about the same type of encounters in every book, they get it. First, no they don't get it. Second, if they (or any of us who experience the unwarranted privileges that come from how we look) are exasperated reading about it periodically, imagine living it. Not just the things that happen frequently but, because they happen frequently, the constant state of preparedness that is necessary just to get through every day. So read it again, and again, and do whatever you can to make the world better.

What makes this an exceptional book isn't just the value in what is being expressed, but just how enjoyable of a book this is. I really didn't want the book to end. I usually say that about fiction books because I'm enjoying the characters and the story. Here, I like and enjoy reading Brown's story, her opinions, and just hearing (to the extent you "hear" it) her voice.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (more)