Carefree Black Girls

A Powerful and Celebratory Portrait of Influential Black Women in American Culture

In 2013, film and culture critic Zeba Blay coined the viral term #carefreeblackgirls on Twitter, carving out a space of celebration and freedom for Black women online. In Carefree Black Girls, Blay expands on this idea, delving into the work and lasting achievements of influential Black women in American culture—writers, artists, actresses, dancers, hip-hop stars—whose contributions often come in the face of bigotry, misogyny, and stereotypes.

From Josephine Baker to Aunt Viv to Cardi B, Blay celebrates the strength and fortitude of these Black women while examining the stereotypes and rigid identities that have clung to them. With luminous and sharp writing, Blay seeks a path forward to a culture and society where Black women and their art are appreciated and celebrated.

Named one of Kirkus Review's Best Books About Being Black in America, Carefree Black Girls is an empowering and thought-provoking read that will engage all readers, especially fans of Mikki Kendall's Hood Feminism.