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Title details for Blackness Is a Gift I Can Give Her by R. Renee Hess - Available

Blackness Is a Gift I Can Give Her

On Race, Community, and Black Women in Hockey

by R. Renee Hess
ebook
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From the founder of Black Girl Hockey Club, a collection of deeply insightful and piercing essays shedding light on the history of Black excellence in hockey, the future of Black joy within the sport, and the ways we can all do better when it comes to recognizing—and upheaving—systemic and institutionalized racism.
Growing up, R. Renee Hess didn’t care for hockey. In fact, she was barely aware of it. She was born and raised in Southern California, hardly a hot spot for the game, despite the state having three NHL teams. But, as Hess puts it, she is “a fan of being a fan,” and when she found herself stuck in traffic after a Pittsburgh Penguins game, the streets filled with cheers, something sparked within her. Ever since Hess made that discovery, she has been actively trying to bust the myth that “Black folks don’t like hockey.”
In this collection, Hess shares her hockey origin story and how she came to recognize hockey culture’s lack of authentic engagement with Black communities, tracing her journey to becoming a true game changer. But, as an academic, Hess knows that her singular viewpoint can’t tell the full story, so she reached out to former hockey players, league executives, activists, fans, media, and to the parents and youth shaping the future of the game. We hear directly from players such as Sarah Nurse and Saroya Tinker; from trailblazers like Bernice Carnegie and Kim Davis; and from the collective of Black Girl Hockey Club scholarship awardees and their families, emphasizing the importance of community and support for marginalized players. The result is a hockey book truly unlike any other.
With essays that touch on representation and harmful stereotypes, the many nuanced aspects of biracial identity, being the only person of colour in the room, and the virtues of a lively group chat, Blackness Is a Gift I Can Give Her is a love letter to Black women everywhere, as well as a scathing ode to a game that Hess loves, even if it doesn't always love her back.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    October 8, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780771004636

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780771004636
      • File size: 6920 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Booklist

      September 15, 2024
      When the author--a southern Californian, queer, biracial woman--discovers the sport of ice hockey and becomes a fangirl (hello, Pittsburgh Penguins!), it's no surprise that she stands out in the crowd of predominantly white spectators in a sport with primarily white players. Hess, a gifted writer, recognized the need for community for herself and others who deserve to feel safe and welcome in all arenas. In 2018, she started a chat group, Black Girl Hockey Club, which grew to thousands of followers on the BGHC social media platforms and has since evolved into a thriving nonprofit advocating for inclusivity and supporting Black girls and women involved in the sport. Trailblazers featured throughout each essay include Kim Davis (NHL Executive VP), Saroya Tinker (professional Canadian ice hockey player), Blake Bolden (former U.S. ice hockey/scout for the L.A. Kings), and Sarah Nurse (Canadian professional ice hockey player/Olympian). Hess is unapologetically authentic. More than a memoir about Hess and BIPOC women in ice hockey, each essay offers a playbook for BIPOC sports communities and allies. Very timely and relevant.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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