This idea of seeing strength where others see only a problem is the through line that binds the collection together.Ī particularly memorable essay, “Dying to Be Competent,” begins with a humorous and incisive critique of LinkedIn, moves on to a searing account of the loss of McMillan Cottom’s daughter after racially charged medical negligence, shifts to the devastation caused by the failure of white people to see the competence of black women, and ends with a critique of global capitalism. The essays find positive meanings in each use of “thick,” which comes to connote physical and intellectual power. “Thick” is the overarching concept, signifying a method of anthropological description rich in evocative detail, a criticism of women’s physical appearance, and a complaint about complex writing and thinking that is difficult to label and categorize. The title essay sets the tone for the entire collection. Each piece weaves together details from McMillan Cottom’s life, observations on US society, and sociological research and theory in order to illuminate the fraught cultural space occupied by black women. The collection covers a range of topics-beauty, healthcare, sexual assault, media representation, and more-always with a focus on the experiences of black girls and women. These essays examine race, feminism, and culture with fierce intelligence. Combining personal experiences with scholarly insight, Tressie McMillan Cottom’s Thick: And Other Essays is essential reading for our times.
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