Hi friend,
I now have a ko-fi page! This is where anyone who’d like to make a one-time payment in support of my work, without committing to a monthly patreon donation, can do so. Please feel free to share it.
Also: It’s been 140 days of genocide in Palestine. Fatties for Palestine is making protest shirts more inclusive.
Also also: Linda Tirado is dying, and I hate it. We’re losing someone important.
Now, to this week’s letter:
As we pursue body liberation and fat liberation, it’s essential to keep listening to the voices that have been leading the way for decades — Black voices.
Black people have done foundational work in so many areas, from modern music to computers to civil rights to fat activism. Those of us who are non-Black activists and learners must ensure that we continue to lift up, center and support Black people in their work and lives.
Literature is one of the beautiful ways that we can do that. When we read works by Black authors we gain benefits such as insights into their experience, normal representation of the Black experience, and get to see inside of their creative minds and let their voice and stories be heard.
But Black voices are more than just learning tools for white people. Black voices need to be not only heard, but celebrated — every day, not just on Black History Month.
Here are 44 books by Black authors, ranging from anti-racist education to memoirs to fat studies to children’s books. Some of these books are fat-positive, some speak frankly about conflicting and difficult feelings about bodies, and others deal with other aspects of life and liberation.
Warmly,
Lindley
P.S. Share this week’s letter or save to read later here. Want to support this work? Buy me a coffee or join the Patreon.
The Conversation
Here’s what’s being discussed this week in the world of body acceptance and fat liberation:
» Allyship opportunity! Help Shilo get her wheels (help out)
» Event: Mindfulness for Body Compassion Workshop, starts March 19 (online)
» Living While Fat: Development and Validation of the Fat Microaggressions Scale (read)
» Vita has assembled a primer of Free Palestine Resources which brings a lot of useful things together in a single post. (view)
» Palestinians in Gaza are making one request of civilians in the West: share their stories. (read)
» I’m a headliner! (That’s me in the top stock photo, all of which are from Body Liberation Stock) (see)
» What to Say at the Doctor’s Office – Updated Printable Cards (get)
» Things to Stop Saying and Doing in Front of Higher-Weight Patients (read)
» A Diet Culture Free Home (listen)
Unicorn chaser: Maru plays sledding (watch)
Quick Resources: Food Psych Episodes for Diet Recovery
» Food Psych Podcast Episode #116: Self-Care and Diet Recovery with Jenna Hollenstein
» Food Psych Podcast Episode #162: Self-Esteem and Diet Recovery with Victoria Welsby
Food Psych Podcast Episode #38: Yoga for Eating Disorder Recovery with Sarhjoy Marsh
Hi there! I'm Lindley. I create artwork that celebrates the unique beauty of bodies that fall outside conventional "beauty" standards at Body Liberation Photography. I'm also the creator of Body Liberation Stock and the Body Love Shop, a curated central resource for body-friendly artwork and products. Find all my work here at bodyliberationphotos.com.