Summary of Becoming Human: Matter and Meaning in an Antiblack World, by Zakiyyah Iman Jackson

Dive into Zakiyyah Iman Jackson's 'Becoming Human' for a thought-provoking exploration of race, culture, and the complexities of humanity in an antiblack world.

Welcome to the mind-bending world of _Becoming Human: Matter and Meaning in an Antiblack World_! In this joyride of academia, Zakiyyah Iman Jackson takes a hard look at the intersections of race, culture, and the concept of being human-because who knew that definitions of humanity could be so complicated and, let's be honest, a bit absurd?

First things first, brace yourself: Jackson is not giving us warm and fuzzy feelings about what it means to be human in a society that's been playing a twisted version of "Survivor" for centuries. Nope, it's more like "Survivor: The Most Antiblack Edition." Here, the author critiques the ways Antiblackness permeates our understanding of humanity itself, ensuring that traditional European frameworks of perception do not just cling to, but actually thrive on, the marginalization of Black existence. Spoiler alert: these frameworks are not as cozy as your grandma's living room couch.

Jackson ventures into various disciplines-literary studies, critical race theory, and cultural criticism, oh my!-looking at how the matter (yes, we're talking about physical stuff, folks) and the meaning (you know, that thing we apply to stuff) coalesce into a fascinatingly messy narrative of Black identity. She artfully unpacks how the physical body has been treated as a battlefield in the war of societal perception. If you thought metaphors in literature were tough, wait until you see how Jackson tackles them here!

Throughout the book, she employs a mix of film analysis, literature, and philosophy, weaving a complex web of ideas that will make your head spin (in a good way). Maybe keep a dictionary handy for those times when you feel like you need a translator for your own brain. It's like she's throwing a scholarly rave and everyone's invited, but you might need to show your dance moves on the dance floor of intersectionality.

Now, as we tiptoe through this scholarly garden of thoughts, we get to know how various cultural symbols-think art, literature, and even medical narratives-construct and deconstruct what it means to exist as a Black person in this antiblack world. Jackson argues that these narratives play a crucial role in either validating or invalidating the humanity of individuals. So, it's really not just a casual read; it's a call to arms for thinkers, activists, and anyone who likes to contemplate what it truly means to be a human (without the cliché).

In the end, _Becoming Human_ isn't just an erudite exploration; it's a refreshing perspective that challenges us to rethink our own positions within this flawed system. Jackson's work serves as a reminder that being human is not only a matter of biological existence but deeply tied to societal meanings and that some serious radical re-thinking is needed. Buckle up and prepare to redefine everything you thought you knew about humanity, Blackness, and-dare I say it?-the universe.

To sum it all up, if you like your academic readings with a side of sass and a hefty dose of reality check, grab a copy and get ready to have your mind stretched in ways you didn't know were possible! Just try not to spill your coffee on your textbooks while you're at it.

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.