Far Away from Close to Home: Essays

In her collection of essays, "Home: A Black Millennial Woman's Story," Emmy Award-winning actor Vanessa Baden Kelly explores the concept of home and its significance to Black millennials. She examines issues such as race, community, gentrification, and the challenges of raising a child in a modern urban environment. The essays are raw, intimate, and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on the experiences of Black women in America.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 256 pages
\n Publication date: 20 May 2021
\n Publisher: Three Rooms Press
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New & Noteworthy:


The New York Times has praised Vanessa Baden Kelly's book, describing it as "vivid and relatable." The writing is said to be reminiscent of Vanessa herself, showcasing her humor, charm, and bravery.


In her collection of extraordinary, incisive, and often-humorous essays, Emmy Award-winning actor Vanessa Baden Kelly delves into the concept of "home" as it pertains to a Black millennial woman. She explores the significance of race in forming communities, the impact of gentrification on the lives of young Black women, and the factors that either support or hinder families with young children. Through these profound and intimate essays, Baden has created a space where she can express thoughts and feelings that she feels uncomfortable sharing aloud. As she further explores and develops her initial ideas, her essays evolve from personal narratives to fully realized communiques of a generation of Black women who are navigating a new sense of belonging and ostracism in various aspects of private, work, and public life.


One particularly captivating essay in the book takes a single ride on a Los Angeles public bus, beginning with the overwhelming odor of a man sleeping across one of the seats. This ride serves as a vehicle for exploring a range of ideas and choices, including the decision to sit in the back of the bus, the interconnectedness of living in a majority-Black community in the Crenshaw district, the segregation and gentrification of Los Angeles, and the challenges of raising a child in a modern urban environment.


Underlying the theme of each essay is a fundamental question: How can a Black millennial woman find "home" anywhere, even in the face of invasion by police, men, and societal expectations?


Vanessa Baden Kelly's book offers a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of these complex issues, providing a valuable perspective on the experiences of Black millennial women in contemporary society.

\n Weight: 270g\n
Dimension: 140 x 210 x 17 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781953103024\n \n