I Won't Shut Up

April 17, 2023
In her impassioned debut, Henny, vice president of a Black Christian collective, motivates readers to “talk back to injustice” in a culture where Black women are criticized for everything from their hairstyles to “taking up more space than white people... think you should.” The author recounts her childhood in a small, predominantly white Missouri town where she was lauded for academic achievements, but nevertheless faced racism from classmates. As an adult, she attended a largely white church where it became clear that even when racism is acknowledged, it’s often done in a way that serves the majority: despite “passionate declarations against racism that could elicit hearty ‘amens’ ”, insidious marginalization in church culture went undiscussed. She explains that using one’s voice can take different forms, from calling out racism in everyday life to advocating for change on Capitol Hill. And while readers might meet pushback, they shouldn’t let others’ feelings silence them, though Henny acknowledges that having to leave once-welcoming spaces (such as a church) due to racism or microaggressions can still feel like a loss. Throughout, Henny is candid about her own path to self-acceptance—“I wasn’t always as outspoken about my loudness, my Blackness, or my womanness”—and her discussions of how racism can manifest in overt and subtle ways, from the church pew to the classroom, are smart and perceptive. Readers will be empowered.