Slay In Your Lane

This book is brilliant and so timely - but don’t listen to me, I’m just some random white girl. Listen to Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené and all the amazing black women interviewed for this book about growing up as a black girl in Britain today. Incredibly well researched, covering topics from education to dating, this really is a bible. I’m honoured to have been able to read it and be thoroughly educated on issues I don’t know enough about. It should be a handbook in every high school classroom. 

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

A much needed book for young women of colour, it's great to know that this book now exists and will be helping build the confidence and careers so many women.

I was so ready to learn how to “Slay in your lane”, but this took me by surprise. It reads more like a Sociology thesis. 

“You’re black and you’re female, you have to try twice as hard as anyone else”

I guess the saying about not judging a book by its cover couldn’t be any more accurate for SIYL. Coated in bubblegum pink and scarlet red, with those beautiful and accomplished young black females plastered on the cover, I expected something more light-hearted and “fun”. Instead, the decisions I thought I (as a young black female) had made about my career path, interests & just about everything else, was challenged. I started to identify nuances in upbringing, socialisation, conversations...to do with race, gender, and class. 

“We are tattooed with our otherness...hypervisible in predominantly white spaces”

I feel like I can see clearer now, and drop a line from SIYL in just about every policy conversation abou protected characteristics, differential attainment, access rights and issues for minority groups, etc. 

I think SIYL achieved its goal of showing this black female that “there is no limit to the roles [I] can carve for [myself] in the world”. Thank you Yomi and Elizabeth

Another timely book that shouldn't be needed but is necessary. I thought it was brilliantly put together and endlessly fascinating. .

I know what you're thinking. 'Girl, you are white? This book isn't for you' - and you would be correct. But, here's the thing. Black women do not need to read this to be educated. They are already living these experiences, and facing these struggles on the daily. Black women should (and will) read this for the affirmation and validation it will provide their experiences, for the sense of inclusive solidarity it provides, and for the practical advice shared throughout by an array of successful, inspirational black women.

White people on the other hand, should read this to be educated. In the same way I'd urge every male who questions the prevalence of sexism in our society to read Laura Bates' 'Everyday Sexism', I would encourage all white people who still question the scale of racism to read 'Slay In Your Lane'. Even though this is not written for us, we can still learn from it, and anyone who considers themselves an intersectional feminist needs to be aware of the specific challenges black women face throughout all facets of life, and the extent to which sexism and racism will always be interlinked.

I expected this book to be a collection of essays by a variety of different women, much like how The Good Immigrant is laid out. In actuality, it's written purely by Adegoke and Uviebinené themselves, and they weave the real life experiences of several dynamic black women into their discussion in the form of quotes and interview excerpts. It's packed full of practical advice from real women, sometimes even providing real resources that can be accessed, such as websites to visit and support groups available. 

This book looks at several areas of modern life and discusses how black women can excel in education, get ahead in business and navigate the complex dating scene. It also delves into the honestly depressing lack of representation (and misrepresentation) they still face in all aspects of the media, the apparent oxymoron in identifying as both Black and British, and the sheer frustration in the lack of suitable beauty products and clothing, despite such a huge market calling for it. Further still, this book looks at the unique stigma that black women in particular face when it comes to seeking help for physical and mental health concerns and just generally documents how institutional racism still plagues the majority of public bodies.

What I feel was especially admirable about this book, was the fact that at no point do the authors appear to be straight forward complaining about the oppression they face - although they would have absolutely every right to. They are careful not to victimise their readers, and instead seek to provide constructive advice, and to inspire. Of course they are annoyed, and angered, and rightly so, but this book feels like them saying 'Look, the odds are stacked against you, the system is rigged, but here's why you can do it anyway' This book is a proud celebration of black excellence. 

My hope is that the strength, unity and support that young black women will feel in reading this will be priceless in itself, and I'm very happy this book got published.