Theaward-winningauthorofMagicalNegrotracesthedifficultyandbeautyofexistingasaBlackwomanthroughAmericanhistory,fromthefoundationaltraumaoftheslavetradeallthewayuptoSerenaWilliamsandtheaftermathofHurricaneKatrina“AnengrossingjourneythroughParker’sexpansiveandgiftedmind.“--ClintSmith,authorofHowtheWordIsPassedDubbedavoiceofhergeneration,poetandwriterMorganParkerhasspentmuchofheradulthoodintherapy,tryingtosquaretheresonanceofherwritingwiththealienationshefeelsinnearlyeveryaspectoflife,fromherlifelongsinglenesstoabattlewithdepression.Shetracesthislonelinesstoaninabilitytofeeltrulysafewithothersandahistorichyperawarenessstemmingfromtheeffectsofslavery.InacollectionofessaysasintimateasbeingintheroomwithParkerandhertherapist,ParkerexaminesAmerica’sculturalhistoryandrelationshiptoBlackAmericansthroughtheages.ShetouchesonsuchtopicsastheubiquityofbeautystandardsthatexcludeBlackwomen,theimplicationsofBillCosby’sfallfromgraceinaculturepredicatedonacceptancethroughrespectability,andthepitfallsofvisibilityasseenthroughthemischaracterizationsofSerenaWilliamsasalternatelyiconicandtooambitious.Withpiercingwitandincisiveobservations,YouGetWhatYouPayForisultimatelyaportalintoadeeperexaminationofracialconsciousnessanditseffectsonmentalwell-beinginAmericatoday.Weavingunflinchingcriticismwithintimateanecdotes,thisdevastatingmemoir-in-essayspaintsaportraitofoneBlackwoman’spsyche--andofthewriter’ssearchtobothtellthetruthanddeconstructit.
