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meet the blogger
Hi! Kedu ka i mere! I’m Joy, a 26-year-old Nigerian-American literati with a B.A. & M.A. in English Language and Literature. I’ve always had a passion for reading, writing, and research. As a Louisiana native, my interests encompass all facets of the Black/African experience. Feel free to look around and read what speaks to you, leave a comment, share a post with your mutuals, contact me even. Connect with me on my various socials below, too. I’m excited to be your new blogger bestie!
Category: Read, Rinse, Repeat
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Detangle CROOKLYN With Me!
7–11 minutesStep into Spike Lee’s Crooklyn through the eyes of a little Black girl carrying weight she never should’ve held. This reflection unbraids hyper-independence, misogynoir, and the quiet traumas we normalize in Black families—revealing how generational patterns shape our children long before we notice.
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Read, Rinse, Repeat: Bemused by Farrah Rochon
6–9 minutesLet’s rewind to the Muses—five sisters who sang Hercules into legend and now rise again in Farrah Rochon’s Bemused. This Greek mythology retelling fuses Disney nostalgia, Black girl magic, and divine sisterhood, reminding us that unity isn’t weakness. It’s the truest form of power.
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring Esmeralda Santiago’s When I Was Puerto Rican. This powerful memoir traces girlhood, identity, and assimilation, following a first-generation Puerto Rican daughter navigating rural roots and Brooklyn life. A vital read for understanding Hispanic voices, culture, and resilience across generations.
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Read, Rinse, Repeat: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
8–11 minutesCelebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by diving into Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X, a searing novel-in-verse that captures the Afro-Latinx experience with raw honesty. Xiomara’s voice shatters silence, reclaiming space for girls told they are too much and not enough—all at once. A must-read for identity, faith, and freedom.
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What if Princess Tiana’s dream came true—but at a devastating cost? Farrah Rochon’s Almost There: A Twisted Tale reimagines the story of Disney’s only Black princess, navigating magic, grief, and resilience through the misty streets of New Orleans. Step into this haunting retelling where Tiana’s choices blur the line between dreams and darkness.
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Natasha S. Alford, an acclaimed author and journalist of Puerto Rican and African American descent, explores her multiethnic identity in her memoir, “The American Negra.” Through her personal journey, she addresses the complexities of belonging and the challenges faced by Afro-Latinxs, advocating for greater recognition and acceptance of their diverse heritage.
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Ancestral grounds. Forbidden secrets. A family searching for home steps into a nightmare in Nyasha Hatendi’s Sacrilege. But what if the true curse isn’t folklore—it’s colonial erasure? Horror and history collide in this chilling tale of identity, belonging, and the price of miseducation.
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Foluso Agbaje, a British-Nigerian author, explores themes of culture, identity, and feminism in her debut novel, The Parlour Wife. Set in 1940s Lagos, the story follows Kehinde, a young woman facing societal challenges amid World War II. Through her journey, themes of resistance and the complexity of womanhood emerge, emphasizing empowerment and choice.
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Kalynn Bayron, an acclaimed author known for her fantasy novels like Cinderella Is Dead, blends captivating plots with social justice themes. Her debut novel features a queer Black protagonist challenging misogynistic norms in a fairy-tale world. Bayron’s work has opened doors to Black-fantasy literature, making significant waves in contemporary feminist discourse.
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Read, Rinse, Repeat is a new book review series sharing insightful critiques of compelling reads. The first review focuses on Damilare Kuku’s debut collection, Nearly All The Men in Lagos Are Mad, which humorously explores women’s dating experiences through relatable narratives. It’s a recommended read for those seeking engaging, romantic stories.
