black friend: essays, by Ziwe Fumudoh
Monday, September 28, 6:30 PM
Ziwe made her name staring down interview guests and asking the question everyone else was too polite to ask. In her debut essay collection, she turns that same fearless energy inward, unpacking the awkward, cringe-inducing, all-too-real moments that shape how race gets navigated in everyday life: friendships, parties, break rooms, jumbotrons. Sharp, funny, and disarmingly honest.
Why we chose it: This one was nominated and voted on by our book club members! We love the idea of woman who makes people squirm for a living and then writes a whole book about it. Ziwe doesn't do easy answers; she does uncomfortable truths, delivered with enough wit that you're laughing before you realize you're also thinking.
Content considerations: race and racism, tokenism, microaggressions, some frank language
Why we chose it: This one was nominated and voted on by our book club members! We love the idea of woman who makes people squirm for a living and then writes a whole book about it. Ziwe doesn't do easy answers; she does uncomfortable truths, delivered with enough wit that you're laughing before you realize you're also thinking.
Content considerations: race and racism, tokenism, microaggressions, some frank language
PAIRED WITH: 2024 petite Sirah, ward Four Wines
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The wine: Ward Four Wines Petite Sirah, aka "Big Ted's Red" from Grist Vineyard in Dry Creek, Healdsburg. Inky, deep purple, with silky tannins and racy acidity.
The winemaker: Justin Michelle Ward Trabue grew up in Washington DC, a city split into wards, and also her mother's maiden name. With four people in her family, she built four distinct wine styles, each one named for and inspired by a loved one ("Big Ted's Red" among them). Raised on stories of DC's Chocolate City history as a fourth-generation native, Justin built the label around a simple idea: every wine tells a story, and personal vulnerability belongs in the glass as much as it belongs on the page. The pairing: Ziwe and Justin are both turning deeply personal experiences into something bold, funny, and honest, and putting it out into the world. Purchase the wine by the glass or bottle during our Book Club Meeting! |
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BE SURE TO RSVP
Come enjoy some wine and tell us what you thought of the book with an informal discussion. Remember, if you RSVP and attend, you get a Bingo bonus stamp!
raVES & REVIEWS
“One of the smartest, funniest voices in modern America.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“The intimate selections offer a rare look beneath Ziwe’s comedic persona, and the humor amuses . . . energetic mix of comedy and personal reflection.”
—Publishers Weekly
“It’s got a light touch but sharp nails.”
—Bustle
“A precious glimpse into how Ziwe’s uniquely fearless mind functions.”
—Vulture, New York Magazine
—Kirkus Reviews
“The intimate selections offer a rare look beneath Ziwe’s comedic persona, and the humor amuses . . . energetic mix of comedy and personal reflection.”
—Publishers Weekly
“It’s got a light touch but sharp nails.”
—Bustle
“A precious glimpse into how Ziwe’s uniquely fearless mind functions.”
—Vulture, New York Magazine