Fat Bubble: Love Is A Revolution - Renee Watson

Oct 05, 2023

Welcome back to the Fat Bubble, where each week I pop into your inbox with affirming example of joyful fat culture. How different life can be when we surround ourselves with resources and reference points where our identities are validated.

This week I’ve been thinking of reading lists, particularly for secondary-age children. As children have gone back to school, many will have come back with suggested reading lists. I wonder if they have been sufficiently affirming. Have our children, particularly those from historically marginalised communities been served? Have our Black, Asian children seen their needs centered, when these lists have been compiled? Have our disabled children been seen themselves represented? Have our LGBTQ+ children found fictional characters to whom they can relate? And do our fat children see themselves joyfully included?

As our young ones are forming their sense of self, it’s so vital to experience a feeling of belonging in books – to see, and feel seen, in those magical fictional worlds; to know that care and thought has been given to who they are. Books can be a rad way to find solidarity, and an accessible way to learn more about ourselves and others – to affirm ourselves, and to widen our worldview.

I was coded as fat all through my childhood, until I actually became fat. Throughout my childhood, I don’t remember reading a single book where the central character was fat. Fat characters were secondary, and negatively portrayed – always the best friend, or the project friend, or the bullied friend. I don’t remember reading a single book where I was even introduced to the idea that this aspect of who I was could be neutral, or even positive. It brings me a great deal of joy, and personal healing, to know that there are teens coming up now with access to more representation. This access is under threat, and it’s absolutely not a given that it is being prioritised enough by far in dominant culture. But it’s there, it’s available, and we can all make a fuss to make sure it remains, and held as vital by the communities that support our children.

So, here is a wonderfully affirming book for this week – Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson, featuring a Black central character in a bigger body. It’s fun, playful, interesting and encouraging. I can’t say it better than Watson herself:

'I am intentional about writing stories where Blackness is not a burden. I want young readers to have books where Black teens go on summer excursions, have sweet first kisses, and stay up too late binge-watching their new favorite show. I believe this is important not only for Black readers but for non-Black readers as well. When non-Black readers only have books about Black pain, struggle, and tragedy, it can perpetuate stereotypes and cause even the most well-meaning person to see Black people through a lens of pity. This isn’t to say stories that explore painful situations should not be told—especially stories about the Black experience in the United States of America. This is to say we need a range of stories. We need stories that not only process our sorrows but amplify our joys.'

This is a joyful book about being Black. About being in a bigger body. About being young. Where none of these things are a problem to be fixed but, instead, are an experience to be celebrated. It's a joyful book and I truly recommend it for your young ones, and for you.

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

Vicky

From the Archives

If you liked this profile, you might be interested in my piece on 'Fat Chance, Charlie Vega' by Crystal Maldonado.

Fat Bubble: Love Is A Revolution - Renee Watson

Discussion about this post