5 ⭐ CW: racism, slavery, sexual assault


Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat by Khalisa Rae is a short poetry collection. Khalisa reached out to me via Instagram DMs and asked if I'd be interested in reading her book. Friends, I'm glad I said yes.

This collection was powerful and evocative. Khalisa writes themes on the struggles Black women have on a day to day basis from the smallest microaggressions to the constant reminder that this country was founded on slavery. She explores generational/historical trauma, how Black women are commoditfied and sexualized. Khalisa eloquently points out the hypocrisy of the assimilation of African peoples while simultaneously appropriating Black culture.

I loved how she captured the feeling of making yourself small or less to accommodate white people. The imagery was vivid and the metaphors on point. Some poems were especially haunting. Her poem "Mermaids and Ghost Ships" reminded me Rivers Solomon's novella, The Deep.

If you're looking for some insight on what it's like to carry the burden of being a Black woman in American, pick up this book. Favorite quotes below:

"When they call you hero, when they hand you the cape anyway, ask, 'Haven't I carried enough?'"

"Maybe she been waiting to be swept off her feet by a wild, uncontrollable thing."

"I learned that my body is only alive when it is free to choose."