Token Black Girl

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Racial identity, pop culture, and delusions of perfection collide in an eye-opening memoir by fashion and beauty insider Danielle Prescod. Growing up Black in an elite, predominantly white community, Danielle found her identity increasingly invisible amidst the whitewashed media she consumed. She aspired to fit into this narrow mold, setting harmful goals that led her to endure painful chemical hair treatments in elementary school and to deprive herself of food during puberty. Her obsession with controlling her image through impeccable fashion choices drove her to pursue a career in beauty and fashion, navigating the storm of racist and sexist beauty standards. Assimilation was challenging, but Danielle became the "Token Black Girl," striving for social cache while climbing the media ladder, all while facing demeaning questions and assumptions from colleagues. After years of suppressing her emotions and true self, she turned a critical eye inward, confronting the motivations behind her self-destructive behaviors. With sharp wit and candor, this memoir unpacks the damaging effects of insidious white supremacy in media—both unconscious and strategic—while sharing a personal journey of recovery, celebrating identity, and dismantling social conditioning.