Most of us know thee Clarkisha Kent from social media.
Through the years and in 280 characters, the Nigerian-American cultural critic and author’s Twitter fingers have fiercely and unabashedly referred to as out racism, colorism, fatphobia and principally anybody who refuses to be on the appropriate facet of historical past. Even higher? She does it with unmatched sharp humor that may actually eviscerate anybody that tries it. (Who can ever overlook the iconic Groupon Peen?)
However in her new memoir, “Fats Off, Fats On: A Huge Bitch Manifesto,” Kent exhibits us a distinct facet. Sure, she weaves in her much-loved wit on each web page. However she tempers it as a result of her little-known origin story of coming from immigrant dad and mom and rising up within the South in a household of dysfunction and abuse isn’t essentially what jokes are made from. As an alternative, with every chapter, we see how the intersections of race, class, faith, sexuality, gender and popular culture — for higher or worse — have formed the Clarkisha we see now.
At its core, “Fats Off, Fats On” asks arduous questions on how ladies like her ought to navigate and battle again towards a world — and a household — hell-bent on not loving, respecting and seeing them. Fortunate for us, Kent reminds us that it’s greater than potential to interrupt the cycle of disgrace, silence and internalized fatphobia and, most significantly, thrive.
Why was “Fats Off, Fats On” the memoir you wished to jot down now?
Truthfully, I wished to jot down a Black Western first — and I nonetheless will one among lately. [Laughs] However, shout out to my agent Claire Draper from Vent Company, they wished me to dip my toe into publishing first by writing a memoir. As a Black girl and creator, it made sense to go this route as a result of it might give me a leg up within the trade and get my identify out as an creator. Sure, I’m younger, however I’ve positively skilled so much in my life, and it made sense to place it down on paper. Now, am I involved about placing all my enterprise on the market? Completely. [Laughs]
However that’s the power of “Fats Off, Fats On.” You weren’t afraid to point out us what you are promoting and be trustworthy about it — even when that fact is ugly and contradictory to who you are actually.
I went into the writing course of understanding it was necessary to inform the reality, as a result of folks be mendacity of their memoirs, pretending that they all the time had excellent radical politics. We don’t come out of the womb ‘woke,’ proper? And fuck Republicans for attempting to Columbus that phrase. [Laughs] Our environments form a few of our earliest worldviews. I grew up non secular and was very conservative. I knew I needed to put these elements of myself on show and present you that a number of variations of myself existed earlier than I received to the Clarkisha I’m now. I wanted to point out the evolution of my politics and the way it was a protracted, lengthy journey.
As Black folks, many people are raised with a cultural strain to “not put our enterprise within the streets.” Had been you fearful about being this open about your loved ones, particularly across the abuse?
Positively, being Nigerian-American, that strain is much more intense. [Laughs] I got here from a secretive, tight-lipped group, however I noticed that this silence by no means advantages the group or protects the harmed folks. It’s all the time about defending the worst of us, just like the pedophile uncle, the predatory pastor or the abusive dad and mom.
I wished to flip that when penning this ebook. Relating to my household, you don’t should be protected as a result of you’re a shitty human being, so I’m going to spill all of the beans. And doing so raises consciousness and reminds of us struggling in silence that the sort of mistreatment isn’t uncommon. That is about breaking that cycle of silence and disgrace. You aren’t alone, and navigating by means of it and creating your personal path is feasible.
These days, we’ve seen a disturbing uptick in how fatphobia has been weaponized towards Black ladies on-line. How do you navigate your security and sanity on social media?
First, NONE of those males would speak to me like that to my face. They solely get braveness once they get on the web. However whether or not they’re speaking about me, Lizzo, or whoever, the fatphobia and colorism they spew fall beneath the umbrella of white supremacy. And white folks aren’t the one ones doing that work. You will be the identical complexion as me and nonetheless be white supremacy’s foot soldier.
My security is available in understanding that. That is about them and the methods that make them really feel insufficient in their very own lives. That’s what you are promoting, not mine. Sure, it will probably harm, however nothing you possibly can say will cease me personally or cease my bag and romantic choices. That desirability half actually will get folks mad. Males will nonetheless chase me — the muscle heads and the thin ones too. Lizzo remains to be being cherished on by her man. Fats Black ladies should not depressing, remoted and dying alone like these podcasters and trolls hold telling y’all. Actuality paints a distinct image, and we are able to’t ever overlook that.
Being a queer Black creator, that is such an fascinating and tumultuous time, on condition that books just like yours are being banned throughout the nation. Are you involved?
There may be all the time a slight fear. I’m not gonna lie. Changing into an creator has been a life objective for me, interval. So lastly, seeing it come to fruition amid nice turmoil is all the time very irritating. However right here’s what we all know: Whether or not it’s the Black group, queer group, the disabled group and any overlap between these teams, they’ve all the time attacked us. Overt or covert. So we are able to’t cease working, dwelling and telling our fact as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has determined he needs to be on some bullshit. I – we – should hold pushing by means of and proceed combating and profitable the nice battle. That, and you may attempt to erase me, however I’m nonetheless gonna be Black and homosexual… sooooooo…. what now? [Laughs]
What’s the largest factor you realized about your self writing “Fats Off, Fats On”?
That I exploit humor as a coping mechanism, which has stopped my private progress. Pay attention, it’s cool to be humorous. I like being humorous, cracking jokes and making folks snort. That’s necessary as a result of life is shitty. However my use of humor was standing in the best way of my therapeutic and the trail to performing some much-needed self-reflection. Writing the ebook let me know that I have to discover ways to steadiness that out as a result of if I’m doing an excessive amount of, that may solely harm me in the long run.
Lastly, whereas this ebook attracts on previous trauma, you finish it with a lot optimism and the promise of “honoring” your physique in no matter measurement it’s. What does that promise entail?
Honoring my physique is about understanding that my physique homes all the pieces that makes me, me. And understanding that after my physique is gone, it’s gone, and nothing might be tethering me to this earth. So earlier than that occurs, I need to maintain it. A part of which means not internalizing all of the hate from the surface world, which may actually minimize your mortality in half and destroy your physique. That meant throwing my scale out and never permitting myself to be tied to some arbitrary quantity. By doing that, I needed to restore my relationship with meals and have a look at my historical past of disordered consuming. Meals is meant to be this superior factor. So why are we stigmatizing it and denying ourselves this superior factor that sustains our our bodies?
Additionally, revisiting my angle about train, which isn’t speculated to be about reducing weight. It’s about stress launch, meditation and changing into in tune with your self, which will be religious. On this iteration, train strengthens your physique, prolongs your mortality and retains your thoughts sharp. This earth can crush on you, and also you need to make sure that your physique is robust sufficient to resist that.
This interview has been edited for readability and size.