"To build a world that works for everyone, we must first make the radical decision to love every facet of ourselves. . . . 'The body is not an apology' is the mantra we should all embrace."--Kimberlé Crenshaw, legal scholar and founder and Executive Director, African American Policy ForumHumans are a varied and divergent bunch with all manner of beliefs, morals, and bodies. Systems of oppression thrive off our inability to make peace with difference and injure the relationship we have with our own bodies.
The Body Is Not an Apology offers radical self-love as the balm to heal the wounds inflicted by these violent systems. World-renowned activist and poet Sonya Renee Taylor invites us to reconnect with the radical origins of our minds and bodies and celebrate our collective, enduring strength. As we awaken to our own indoctrinated body shame, we feel inspired to awaken others and to interrupt the systems that perpetuate body shame and oppression against all bodies. When we act from this truth on a global scale, we usher in the transformative opportunity of radical self-love, which is the opportunity for a more just, equitable, and compassionate world--for us all.This second edition includes stories from Taylor's travels around the world combating body terrorism and shines a light on the path toward liberation guided by love. In a brand new final chapter, she offers specific tools, actions, and resources for confronting racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia. And she provides a case study showing how radical self-love not only dismantles shame and self-loathing in us but has the power to dismantle entire systems of injustice. Together with the accompanying workbook,
Your Body Is Not an Apology, Taylor brings the practice of radical self-love to life.
In her groundbreaking book, "The Body Is Not an Apology, Second Edition: The Power of Radical Self-Love," renowned poet and activist Sonya Renee Taylor delivers a transformative message of self-love and acceptance, urging readers to embrace their bodies and identities, irrespective of societal norms and expectations.
Drawing from her personal experiences of living in a marginalized body, Taylor challenges the dominant narratives that perpetuate shame, diet culture, and body policing. She eloquently dismantles the harmful myths and stereotypes associated with race, gender, size, and ability, while offering a refreshing perspective on what it means to be truly free and liberated.
Taylor's writing is both deeply personal and profoundly insightful, as she delves into the intersections of identity, power, and social justice. She explores the ways in which our bodies become sites of oppression, and how we can reclaim our bodies as sources of strength, resilience, and joy.
With a blend of storytelling, poetry, and practical exercises, Taylor guides readers on a journey of self-discovery and healing. She encourages us to cultivate radical self-love, to challenge societal beauty standards, and to dismantle the internalized beliefs that hold us back from living authentic and fulfilling lives.
"The Body Is Not an Apology, Second Edition" is a powerful and thought-provoking book that has the potential to transform the way we think about our bodies and our place in the world. It is a must-read for anyone seeking self-acceptance, liberation, and a deeper connection with their own embodied experience.
