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  • Fearing the Black Body

  • The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia
  • By: Sabrina Strings
  • Narrated by: Allyson Johnson
  • Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (53 ratings)

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Fearing the Black Body cover art

Fearing the Black Body

By: Sabrina Strings
Narrated by: Allyson Johnson
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Summary

How the female body has been racialized for more than 200 years

There is an obesity epidemic in this country, and poor Black women are particularly stigmatized as "diseased" and a burden on the public health-care system. This is only the most recent incarnation of the fear of fat Black women, which Sabrina Strings shows took root more than 200 years ago. 

Strings weaves together an eye-opening historical narrative ranging from the Renaissance to the current moment, analyzing important works of art, newspaper and magazine articles, and scientific literature and medical journals - where fat bodies were once praised - showing that fat phobia, as it relates to Black women, did not originate with medical findings, but with the Enlightenment era belief that fatness was evidence of "savagery" and racial inferiority. 

The author argues that the contemporary ideal of slenderness is, at its very core, racialized and racist. Indeed, it was not until the early 20th century, when racialized attitudes against fatness were already entrenched in the culture, that the medical establishment began its crusade against obesity. An important and original work, Fearing the Black Body argues convincingly that fat phobia isn't about health at all, but rather a means of using the body to validate race, class, and gender prejudice.

©2019 New York University (P)2020 Tantor

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Essential reading

The not surprising but shocking truth behind fatphobia and racism. This should be a mandatory read in schools, for mothers to be, health care workers

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Essential Reading

All people need to read this. Debunks many theories. Thoroughly brilliant. Eye opening, chilling, heartbreaking and empowering.

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Great insights

Great insights and good overall narrative, with an emphasis on the US perspective. The narration was a bit wooden, unfortunately.

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Incredible intersectional cultural critique

Impeccably researched, this book shines a light on what total bs fatphobia and our need to be thin is. It’s always been a scam predicated on racism and misogyny; used as a tool of class control and to punish Black and white women alike. 10/10 recommend.

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Insightful & educational from start to finish

The whole book is so interesting and explains the obsession of “western” society with the aesthetic of the Black body and how Black people have suffered, and continue to suffer, because of this. The book should be on every school curriculum globally but especially in colonies, former colonies and the coloniser countries. Highly recommend.

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Amazing book unfortunately bad narration

An incredible, well written and thoughtful book, only issue was the narration is not good! Its very unemotional and robotic, like A.I. The content its self is great so perhaps got for an old fashioned book

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Eye opening!

Amazing, very much needed read for every human being specially women. Very clear, and inspiring message

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Unpacking the weight of white fear & self hatred

Excellently researched expose on how racism white supremacist patriarchy has used to black dehumanisation based on fear to justify their delusions of superiority

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