With today’s social and political climate, it is arguably more important to be informed on various modern day issues that are faced by other communities, especially those that are underrepresented, and marginalized. I want to read Heavy, by Kiese Laymon in order to help others and myself enrich our understanding of the issues within the black community and the black experience in America. By doing so, it is much easier to better support Them.

Jennifer Key, an author who did a  detailed book review of the memoir Heavy (Kiese Laymon), and  highlights Laymon’s account of the plight of poor black Americans, specifically the challenges that Laymon faced in his adolescent, young adult years and young middle aged years. In the American memoir, it is explained how long held secrets can possibly destroy families, relationships and even his own body. There are secrets, traumas, and  within the black community that are so deep rooted from decades ago which are weighted so heavily on the black body and the African American experience. Laymon emphasizes that there is  actually no power in keeping secrets, and it is tougher to tell the truth because of the potential risks and challenges that follow. He eventually rose above, and freed himself from the shackles of the secrets and took control over them, instead of letting the past traumas control him. Key says that he really hones in on his family members, and their painful history and reveals the truth, even if risks the relationship with the ones closest to him. In an honest discussion of his life, he spares few details and explains how much his reputation and his place in society is affected by his honesty, especially in a world where black men are often ostracized and scrutinized for almost everything that they do. Even as a young black woman in America, I still do not experience a lot of what Laymon went through on a day to day basis. So although I have a good understanding of black culture, it is always insightful to listen to other people and amplify their voices. 

To begin, In an video interview with PBS, Kiese Laymon breaks down some of key topics of discussion in his memoir Heavy. He describes it as a letter, written to his mother with whom he has a complicated relationship with. Laymon reads a small passage in his memoir titled “Hulk” which describes the disciplinary beatings he used to receive from his mother, then he proceeds to question the effectiveness of this culturally learned behavior passed down through generations in the black community. Physical abuse was often seen as preparation for the real world, which is often kept quiet because of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” nature of the subject. Laymon reveals that he exposed a heavy secret by trying to end the taboo, and beginning a conversation about the matter. He is almost afraid of how white people will view black families, especially black women as he knows not everyone will understand the complexity of black women and how layered they are.. From here, he navigates the world of toxic masculinity, battling stereotypes and what it means to have a black body in white America. Laymon knows that not everyone, mostly white Americans, may not understand because they don’t go through these experiences, but that doesn’t mean we still should not respect each other just because it is an issue they may not be a person’s immediate concern. It may be difficult to understand the culture that has been passed down through several generations. But by reading Heavy, you can better understand how to be an ally, and not judge black families for the way that they run their households because a lot of issues are caused by the deep rooted dark history of African Americans. It allows readers to question how they can contribute to demarginalizing them.

In conclusion, the book review of Heavy written by Jen. Key gives a summary of what Laymon says he went through. In  a PBS interview, Laymon First hand account of what it’s like to be black in America. You can get to the real issues and recognize how much the history of this country and racism has embedded itself into African American households, and how we can collectively move forward and do better.