Fat Bubble: Fat Girls in Black Bodies

Welcome back to the Fat Bubble, where every week I drop into your inbox with fat affirmation, fat culture, and a focus on a fat leader or resource that I hope enhances your week!

Recently I've been less consistent with Fat Bubble. After over a year of sending them out resolutely, weekly, full of passion and intent, it's been harder to do over the last six months. I know, the change is Palestine. Palestine has, I think, exposed the cracks for all of us to see, if Covid hadn't already done that. It's difficult to remain consistent when there are genocides raging, and when even joining millions, persistently and loudly and unequivocally calling for a safe and liberated Palestine, are ignored by those in power. The details of capitalism, even those of us using our position within capitalism to work towards liberation, feel hollow. The newsletters I've sent out have always tried to focus on fat leaders speaking out for Palestine, and if you haven't had the chance to read them you can find them in the recent archives

And so there have been a couple of weeks where I haven't sent out my usual newsletter. No one's been mad at me, and of course it's a decent anti-perfection practice to allow imperfect patterns. Even if I'm not entirely consisted, I'm very committed, and I always return to this powerful little corner of the internet. Sometimes the most liberatory thing to do is to say that we will not comply - with the order of things, with going about our business as if nothing has happened. It's not possible, and if you are still needing to remind yourself of that... please consider this email a reminder. Permission to be affected by the deep human suffering with which we are currently forced to be complicit. Even with all our resistance, it impacts the soul.

This weekend I took myself away to be by the sea. With just some comfies, snacks, books and skincare, I went to a budget hotel and... existed. Just be-ed. I left my room for exactly half an hour, over 48 hours. I watched TV and read LOADS. I did some skincare and ordered Deliveroo. And then at the end I went for a good long walk along the beach, had some lunch, and came back to reality.

It was a deep privilege to be able to do this, I felt extremely grateful for the time and space. It gave me a chance to be human, and to think, and also to not think at all. It didn't fix anything, but it wasn't designed to; it was, instead, designed to be simply an acknowledgment that rest is a requirement.

When we are liberated, it makes room for us to flourish in creativity and help someone else get free. It is fascinating to see the ideas of others come to life while providing a service that replicates the process'.  - Joy Arlene Renee Cox

One of the books I took with me, and immersed myself in, was Fat Girls in Black Bodies by Joy Arlene Renee Cox. I had previously listened on audiobook, but wanted time to be able go through with pen and trusty highlighter, underscoring the parts that spoke out to me. If it isn't a book already in your collection I highly recommend it; it's a book sectioned into three - 'belonging', 'resistance' and 'acceptance'. Combining both narrative memoir and clinical insight, it is such an important book at the intersection of Blackness and fatness.

'As I look around, I'd argue that there isn't one thing in this world that Black fat women have not done. Not one. We are a force of nature that has been moving and keeping things afloat throughout time. Anyone arguing that fat girls can't, won't, or don't do great things is lying. We move. We sing. We draw. We inspire and change lives. Together we can change the world! Together the world... OUR world... is already changing!'  - Joy Arlene Renee Cox

If there is one thing I could ask of you, it's for you to please let me know if there are any fat people in your fat bubble that you have appreciated sharing about Palestinian liberation, that I haven't shared. I would love us to be inspired together!

Until next time, friends, wishing you safety and joy.