The Other Black Girl: A Novel
A Good Morning America, Esquire, and Read with Marie Claire Book Club Pick and a People Best Book of Summer
Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2021 by Time, The Washington Post, Harper’s Bazaar, Entertainment Weekly, Marie Claire, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Parade, Goodreads, Fortune, and BBC
Urgent, propulsive, and sharp as a knife, The Other Black Girl is an electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust.
Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.
It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career.
A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist.
The Other Black Girl: A Novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris is a thought-provoking and poignant exploration of race, identity, and office politics. Set in the publishing industry, the novel follows Nella Rogers, a young, ambitious black woman who has just landed her dream job at Wagner Books. Nella is excited about her new role and eager to prove herself, but she quickly discovers that she is the only black employee in the company. As she navigates the predominantly white world of publishing, Nella finds herself questioning her place in the industry and grappling with the complexities of her racial identity.
Nella's experiences at Wagner Books are both eye-opening and unsettling. She is constantly aware of the microaggressions and subtle forms of racism that are directed at her. She is also forced to confront her own internalized racism and the ways in which she has been conditioned to view herself and other black people. As Nella learns more about the history of the publishing industry and the systemic racism that exists within it, she begins to question the company's values and her own complicity in upholding those values.
The Other Black Girl is a powerful and timely novel that sheds light on the many ways in which race and racism continue to shape our society. Harris's writing is sharp and insightful, and she does an excellent job of capturing the complexities of Nella's experience. The novel is a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding the experiences of black women in the workplace and the challenges they face in achieving success.
Some of the key themes explored in The Other Black Girl include:
- Race and identity: Nella's experiences as the only black employee at Wagner Books force her to confront her own racial identity and the ways in which it has been shaped by her experiences.
- Microaggressions and systemic racism: The novel highlights the many ways in which microaggressions and systemic racism can manifest in the workplace, even in companies that claim to be progressive.
- The importance of representation: Nella's experiences also underscore the importance of representation in the workplace and the need for more black voices in the publishing industry.
- The power of storytelling: The Other Black Girl is a powerful example of how storytelling can be used to raise awareness about social issues and to create change.
The Other Black Girl is a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding the experiences of black women in the workplace and the challenges they face in achieving success. Harris's writing is sharp and insightful, and she does an excellent job of capturing the complexities of Nella's experience.
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