Author: Tourmaline
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, LGBT History
Pages: 306
Publisher:
Year Published: 2025
Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)
"Black transgender luminary Tourmaline brings to life the first definitive biography of revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.
'She is the preeminent and foremost scholar on Marsha P. Johnson... To us, Tourmaline is the expert.' - Janet Mock, Allure.
"Thank god the revolution has begun, honey.' Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she picked up a shard of broken mirror to fix her makeup. Marsha, a legendary Black transgender activist, embodied both the beauty and struggle of the early gay rights movement. Her work sparked the progress we see today, yet there has never been a definitive record of her life. Until now.
Written with sparkling prose, Tourmaline's richly researched biography Marsha finally brings this iconic figure to life, in full color. We vividly meet Marsha as both an activist and artist. She performed with RuPaul and with internationally renowned drag troupe The Hot Peaches. She was a muse to countless artists from Andy Warhol to the band Earth, Wind & Fire. And she continues to inspire people today.
Marsha didn't wait to be freed; she declared herself free and told the world to catch up. Her story promises to inspire readers to live as their most liberated, unruly, vibrant and whole selves."
My Rating: 5/5
I think that as we start to rediscover history, we will find more and more of what has been whitewashed and hidden away. People who society at that time deemed undeserving of having their stories told, people who truly led revolutions, and impacted society greatly, but due to any amount of diversity were erased from their own narrative.
This appears to be the case of Marsha P. Johnson. While I am a white, cis woman who is starting her journey in reading more historical nonfiction, I would say that I am learning more and more about just how often this has happened. While I can't change the actions of the past, I can acknowledge the horrors and injustices and do better going forward. Part of doing better is learning, learning about things that are cut out from school, past histories and more. I think this book is incredibly important to read, as we watch documentaries about this time to gain a better understanding of the freedoms and world we see today. The work is far from over, but understanding the buildup in history helps us fight tomorrow's battles.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
No comments:
Post a Comment