Nigerian-American. Bi, Black, FAT! She/Her. Creator of #TheKentTest. Author of Fat Off, Fat On (OUT NOW). You can reach me at clarkishakent.com 🤙🏾
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Clarkisha Kent
There Is No 'Return' To 2000s Fat-Shaming — And Here's Why - NewsBreak
Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, when scientists were trying to frantically deduce how the disease was spreading, when we were rushing to buy masks and figuring out which “essential” businesses were still open, director Taika Waititi offered what would be one of many problematic celebrity takes.
The best books that will help you kill your inner fatphobe
A poignant and ruthlessly honest journey through cultural expectations of size, race, and gender—and toward a brighter future—from National Book Award nominee Evette Dionne My body has not betrayed me; it has continued rebounding against all odds. It is a body that others map their expectations on, but it has never let me down.
Bi, Black, Fat, Disabled: Clarkisha Kent Is All That and More
So, let us take a journey down the road of the origins of my bisexuality . . . starting with the phrase girl crush. Such an interesting term! Both as a whole and when we look at the two words individually. “Girl” has an obvious definition, but when you deep it, it seems rather redundant to put in front of the word crush on its face; since “crush” is merely describing a brief, yet intense infatuation to a certain someone and doesn’t even particularly hint at the gender of the someone in question.
Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto
Publisher Description In this disarming and candid memoir, cultural critic Clarkisha Kent unpacks the kind of compounded problems you face when you’re a fat, Black, queer woman in a society obsessed with heteronormativity. There was no easy way for Kent to navigate personal discovery and self-love. As a dark-skinned, first-generation American facing a myriad of mental health issues and intergenerational trauma, at times Kent’s body felt like a cosmic punishment.
Fat Off, Fat On
In this disarming and candid memoir, cultural critic Clarkisha Kent unpacks the kind of compounded problems you face when you’re a fat, Black, queer woman in a society obsessed with heteronormativity. There was no easy way for Kent to navigate personal discovery and self-love. As a dark-skinned, first-generation American facing a myriad of mental health issues and intergenerational trauma, at times Kent’s body felt like a cosmic punishment.
9 Helpful Reminders for Anyone Deep in a Depressive Episode
Stories Link Copied Sometimes, doing the bare minimum is enough. Shutterstock / Wondermind If you have depression, you know it’s a complex mental health condition that can ebb and flow. And sometimes it can sweep you away from your true self. When that happens, it can be a struggle to find your way out of a depressive episode.
Clarkisha Kent
Sign up to get updates about my new book, notifications about upcoming events, and more!
Fat Off, Fat on: A Big Bitch Manifesto (Paperback)
$19.95 Available In Store Now (while supplies last) Fort Greene 2 on hand, as of Mar 31 2:21pm Prospect L Gardens 2 on hand, as of Mar 31 2:21pm Description In this disarming and candid memoir, cultural critic Clarkisha Kent unpacks the kind of compounded problems you face when you're a fat, Black, queer woman in a society obsessed with heteronormativity.There was no easy way for Kent to navigate personal discovery and self-love.
Food and Blackness
Cultural critic Clarkisha Kent found that as a dark-skinned, queer, first generation American facing anti-Blackness, homophobia, and respectability politics, the pursuit of “high self esteem” seemed oxymoronic. Psyche A. Williams-Forson, Professor and Chair of American Studies at the University of Maryland, has studied how racism operates in the practice and culture of eating.
My Loneliness Made Me Nostalgic for an Unhealthy Home During the Holidays
You good? Sign up for our newsletter to get expert advice and candid convos delivered right to your inbox Δ By subscribing to our email newsletter, you agree to and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
About Fat Off, Fat On
About Fat Off, Fat On Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto, Clarkisha's first book, is a humorous, at times tragic, memoir that follows Kent on her journey to realizing that her body is a gift to be grown into, that sometimes family doesn’t always mean home, and how even ill-fated bisexual romances could free her from gender essentialism.
To Hate Trans People Is To Hate Freedom
Culture Critic and Bringer of Chaos at Your Service Culture Critic and Bringer of Chaos at Your Service Culture Critic and Bringer of Chaos at Your Service Culture Critic and Bringer of Chaos at Your Service
Fat Off, Fat On: A Big Bitch Manifesto|Paperback
In this disarming and candid memoir, cultural critic Clarkisha Kent unpacks the kind of compounded problems you face when you’re a fat, Black, queer woman in a society obsessed with heteronormativity. There was no easy way for Kent to navigate personal discovery and self-love. As a dark-skinned, first-generation American facing a myriad of mental health issues and intergenerational trauma, at times Kent’s body felt like a cosmic punishment.
The legend of Black Wall Street
For the better part of the last century, the story of Oklahoma’s Tulsa massacre has been forcibly relegated to the shadows of history. However, a renewed focus in digging up the past – particularly when it pertains to historic wrongs perpetrated against Black people – has recently brought the horrific tale back into the spotlight.
Ziwe Brings Her Signature Audacity to Showtime
Audacity. It’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Ziwe Fumudoh. The comedian is unabashed, unashamed, and bold in her challenges to the status quo. But as a fellow Nigerian American, I grew up with the word being deployed as a way to denote how “disrespectful” I was or how my directness made those around me uncomfortable. Back then, the word was a barrier for me. For Ziwe, it’s a strength.
Ziwe Brings Her Signature Audacity to Showtime Original
Audacity. It’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Ziwe Fumudoh. The comedian is unabashed, unashamed, and bold in her challenges to the status quo. But as a fellow Nigerian American, I grew up with the word being deployed as a way to denote how “disrespectful” I was or how my directness made those around me uncomfortable. Back then, the word was a barrier for me. For Ziwe, it’s a strength.
Culture Critic and Bringer of Chaos at Your Service
Clarkisha Kent is a Nigerian-American writer, culture critic, former columnist, and up and coming author.
Cardi B — Hip-Hop's Most Refreshing Political Pundit
Cardi B has been the one rap figure to address different political topics in a way that seems to resonate with not just her fans but Democratic political figures, too. Cardi B is a woman of many facets: a fashionista, a hitmaker, and a burgeoning political commentator. Like most fans across the world, we’ve become acquainted with these facets through social media, a space that Cardi has walked a hell of a tightrope on for the last couple of years.
Cardi B - Hip-Hop's Most Refreshing Political Pundit
Cardi B's politics have resonated with her fans and Democratic figures. It's because she's struck a balance between being herself and being socially savvy. Cardi Bis a woman of many facets: a fashionista, a hitmaker, and a burgeoning political commentator. Like most fans across the world, we've become acquainted with these facets through social media, a space that Cardi has walked a hell of a tightrope on for the last couple of years.
Michaela Coel And Netflix's Problem With Empowered Black Women
Michaela Coel turned down Netflix’s offer because she recognized her worth. She questioned the ways they planned on exploiting her and found a better plan. People always say to “know your worth.” “Recognize your value.” “Stand in your power.” “Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.” But this always turns into a public debate when the person recognizing their worth is a Black woman. This is an issue globally, really, but it seems to be hyper-true about Black women in Hollywood.
Abusive White Men Thrive in The Film Industry
Within the film industry white male directors employ abusive tactics and create hostile work environments in the name of genius and so-called authenticity. TW/CW: mentions of rape and abuse. You know one of the quotes I hate the most? “No pain, no gain.” There are several reasons I absolutely loathe this quote that masquerades as sage advice. But I primarily despise it because of its’ abhorrent valorization of capitalism. It is the belief that suffering is the only thing that can lead to success.
After 131 Years of Incremental Changes, Aunt Jemima Is Finally Leaving
The Aunt Jemima logo changed slightly over time to appease us, but it’s in our best interest to reject incremental change and fight for radical liberation. 2020 has been the year of the gargantuan paradigm shift. The year of astronomical moves toward progress. The year of a collective Tower moment that completely obliterates the existing, oppressive structures at play and violently makes way for a new world order.
Ancestral Worship Helped Me Begin Healing From Generational Trauma
I’ve been immersing myself in ancestral religions—starting, obviously, by diligently trying to forge a genuine connection with my immediate ancestors. TW/CW: This essay mentions r/pe “Women leave in inches.” I don’t know who said this goddamn gem of a quote, but I’ve found it to be heavily applicable to my life. I took such an approach when it came to cutting off my narcissistic father.
Can Y’all Leave Black Girls Like Marsai Martin Alone?
Black girls’ existence, like Marsai Martin’s existence, is hyper-scrutinized in an effort to break them and their spirit. This essay mentions sexual violence and discusses r/pe culture “Protect Black girls,” they said. It’s always a nice exercise in imagining the fantastical when people pretend that these are things that already happen in our world. But this is not the reality. It’s a tale as old as time. Black girl exists.
Let’s Not Be So Quick to Deify Angela Davis
We should be wary of deifying Angela Davis. Deification strips people (but particularly Black people, and especially Black women) of our humanity. “Why?” I’m like 99.9% sure this is what you, dear reader, thought as soon as you read this title. But, bear with me, as I promise it’s not what you think. To be clear, Angela Yvonne Davis is a force of nature. A communist, Marxist force of nature, who just so happens to be a lesbian (coincidence? I think not!).
All Cops Are Bastards… Especially to Service Workers
Because of how the service industry is structured and affected by very real oppressions, service workers the perfect prey for state-sanctioned bullies like the police. Did you read that title? Good, because I mean that shit. But in the interest of writing from a slightly different perspective on things, let’s just say that I meant a loosely synonymous word. Like, say, a bully.
We Fight Together: 17 Black Anti-Imperialists to Radicalize You
White supremacy compels us to analyze how anti-imperialism is a necessity in our resistance against oppression. All of our struggles are intertwined. We are living in a particularly radical time right now. Seriously. I feel like everyone says that every couple of years, but this feels different. The energy in the air is different, so to speak. I’m personally inclined to shout-out Saturn entering Aquarius, which happened in March.
60 Books J. Cole Could Have Read Instead of Writing That Goofy Ass Song
It’s not that hard to read. Here is a list of books that J. Cole should have read before he opened his fucking mouth. This essay mentions sexual assault. Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an odd nigga. A perplexing negro. A puzzling, but damning study on the complete lack of imagination, empathy, and capacity for growth and change when it comes to the cishet Black man and how he regards the Black people around him who are not him.
News Round-Up: NYPD Forgot To Take Their Lactaid and Framed Their Diarrhea as a Poisoning
NYPD tried to blame their sensitive stomachs on Shake Shack employees poisoning them, Mercury in microbraids begins this week and more headlines from today. By Clarkisha Kent Even in the midst of a global pandemic and the fight of and for our [Black-ass] lives, the world continues to spin. Bombarding us at every which way with news of all kinds.
We All Failed Oluwatoyin Salau. All of Us.
At every turn in her life, Oluwatoyin was failed by all the people, all the places, and all the entities that were supposed to protect her. TW/CW: suicide ideation, murder, anti-Blackness, domestic/interpersonal violence, and sexual assault. I should not be here. This, of course, does not help my suicide ideation. But… I think about that a lot.
The Struggle For Black Lives in the U.S. is Long Overdue for Humanitarian Intervention by the UN
It is time to re-activate the effort to bring the crimes that the U.S. has committed against its Black denizens to the attention of the UN. By Clarkisha Kent and Wicked Womanist TW/CW: state-sanctioned violence, torture, sexual assault, murder, mentions of death by suicide An imperative component—relying heavily on public cooperation and denunciation, conducting both soul-less, cloak-and-dagger and naked hateful action, with little judicial and legal oversight—it is a police force without peer.
14 Re-Tellings of Black History According to Shameik Moore (Probably)
“Harriet Tubman did all that huffing and running knowing there were horses and carriages. Who did she think she was? Jordan Peele in a parkour skit???” – Shameik Moore Being Black in this world is simultaneously a wonderful, yet peculiar thing. Many times joyful, but often contradictory. Confusing. Sometimes rage-inducing (word to James Baldwin). But also beatific. Victorious. Triumphant. Indisputably perseverant.
Hear Me Out: Kung Fu Panda Has a Lot to Say About Life, Destiny, and the Corrupting Power of Ego
It’s clear that “Kung Fu Panda” contains a multitude of important lessons for children, but it also has themes for adults to parse through and learn from. I adore the Kung Fu Panda movies. I truly do and have never made it much of a secret.
17 Rough Translations from Lana Del Rey’s Instagram Rant
Miss Rona is definitely been driving celebrity white women to be, ahem, more unhinged than usual. Lana Del Rey (aka Karen Del Rey, or Elizabecky) is no different. So, let’s get one thing straight. White women have been white women-ning since the beginning of time. Karens—which include white women and othernon-Black women—have historically done the absolute most. And I’m sure that’s not gonna change anytime soon.
On Tyra Banks, “Niceness”, and Collective Memory
Tyra Banks is facing a retroactive cultural reckoning thanks to audiences removing the veneer of her cultivated image of “niceness” and faux positivity. 2020 has been an interesting year for hindsight discoveries. Like being thrown into a pandemic and finding that we are completely unprepared and with virtually no social safety nets in place. Like finding out that celebrities are in fact annoying and have no value during potentially civilization-ending events.
My Mom Won’t Leave My Abusive Father and I Still Love and Miss Her
I’m learning to acknowledge the love that I still feel for my mom, even if it is technically in conflict with my palpable resentment of her. TW/CW: this essay discusses family trauma and mentions emotional and physical abuse. May is an extremely weird and emotionally painful month for me. On one hand, while spring started two months ago, May is usually when it moves into full swing. The sun is out, but not punishing me in the way that it will do when summer rolls around. It’s breezy outside.
The Muses In “Hercules” Weren’t From The Beige Brigade And They Could Actually Sing
Casting should call us. This list includes artists who could properly play the role of the five singers that made up The Muses and they also look the part. By Clarkisha Kent and Da’Shaun Harrison It was recently announced that there would be a live-action remake of Disney’s Hercules. There is a lot to be said about these string of live-action films being created in place of thoughtful new content, but this isn’t the piece for that critique.
Re-Learning Radical Softness and My Capacity to Love
I used to believe that displaying any kind of vulnerability—particularly love, which I believe to be the pinnacle of radical softness—meant getting hurt. By Clarkisha Kent Trauma has made me a cold bitch. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Being raised by ultra-strict [Nigerian] parents meant that no iteration of softness was rewarded and that obedience was the real prize. This meant that I learned to lie very well to get what I want.
A Black Writer’s Burnout in the Midst of Chaos
Expectations of Black ingenuity in times of chaos is enough to break any writer. We are worn down by years of digital media instability and now, a pandemic. I actually don’t know how to start this shit off. Which is so interesting to me, because I don’t usually struggle with openings or closings. It’s always the middle shit—the meat of it all—that throws me off. But this time around… it’s an issue.
Lizzo, Whitney Houston, and The Curious Case of “Racial Transcendence”
We should be taking white audiences to task for seeking to divorce Black artists from their race instead of critiquing artists like Lizzo and Whitney for their contributions to pop. When Prince died April 21, 2016, many a music fan was completely caught off guard. Tributes flooded any and every social media platform. The Eiffel Tower lit up purple. It’s a day that’s pretty hard to forget.
So a Toxic Person Tried to Contact You During a Global Pandemic
The pandemic has increased the likelihood that a harmful or toxic person will reach out expecting that your boundaries have shifted under vulnerability. These are unprecedented times we’re living in. And…these are also annoying-ass times. On top of living in a country where the nincompoop-in-chief thinks he can “re-open” it while a killer virus is on the loose and spreading like wildfire, many of us have been forced—for the greater good—to quarantine ourselves in our homes.
Bojack Horseman Gave Hollyhock The Perfect Closure
Spoiler Alert: This article does have spoilers for season 6 of Bojack Horseman. That’s the funny thing about closure. You often never get it. And if you get it, you won’t like how you get it. Because “closure” is a pipe-dream. Netflix juggernaut Bojack Horseman has finally come to a worthy and appropriate end. And for six seasons, the show was praised for tackling issues like addiction, depression, family trauma, and more through its terribly flawed and titular protagonist, Bojack.
BoJack Horseman, #MeToo, and the Monsters We Love
There is a human cost to all the revelations unveiled during the height of #MeToo. This is something BoJack Horseman recognized early on and excelled at. This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s BoJack Horseman, mentions of sexual assault, and physical violence. Back in 2014, the pilot for BoJack Horseman aired. The initial season of the show was met with lukewarm reception and for good reason.
I Found Happiness During A Pandemic And Then Grappled With The Guilt
Even after watching my life be a shit-show for four years, it’s truly weird to be gifted with the happiness of this magnitude in the middle of a pandemic. CW: mention of abuse I am… technically doing really well. This is not a brag. This is not even a humblebrag. This is an acknowledgment that my life is currently going through an intense and expansive upswing. Which just so happens to be happening in tandem with the global pandemic known as COVID-19. I’m not going to lie to you.
15 Things and People Who Are More Oppressed Than “Karens”
Are we surprised that white women are trying to play oppression olympics during a global pandemic? No. But Karen cannot resist. So. Apparently, “Karen” became a slur overnight. And apparently one of a very classist, sexist, and racist nature. And, apparently, it is more slur-ish than… nigga. Or excuse me, “the n-word”. The term "Karen" is being used as a sexist and racist slur. Considering this is an equivalent of the n-word for white women, should it be banned on Twitter?
The Utter Deliciousness Of Taika Waititi and Bong Joon Ho's Oscar Wins
Taika Waititi and Bong Joon Ho’s wins remind us to do the fucking work we want to do where art is concerned, no matter who is watching. This essay contains spoilers for Jojo Rabbit, Parasite, and Joker By Clarkisha Kent and Sherronda J. Brown For 92 years, the Oscars have done that thing that they do where they are as white as snow.
10 Films That (Unintentionally) Have Something to Say About Climate Change
These 10 films explore the very real effects of climate change. Some of them mirror our reality, others help us expand our imagination to spur us into action. It is the year 2020. And in 2020, the continued expansion of the internet and the onset of social media has made it so that, 99.9% of the time, information is readily available.
15 Other Things That Mike Bloomberg Has (Probably) Lied About
Do you know what is worse than a billionaire? A lying-ass billionaire like Mike Bloomberg. I don’t like billionaires. This is mainly because there’s no real way to be a billionaire without some form of exploitation, but also, you know, because of the hoarding. But you know what I hate more than a billionaire? A lying-ass billionaire. Which is exactly what Michael “Mike” Bloomberg is.
Happy Mercury Retrograde in Pisces. Here’s How to Survive It!
Mercury Retrograde can serve as the perfect time to get your life in order and properly cement yourself in the new year. February 16, 2020 marked the beginning of Mercury, once again, going into Gatorade. Now Mercury Marinade can be a stressful time for all of us because Mercury, from our point of view in relation to the sun, looks like it’s moving backward in its orbit, and thus bringing chaos where communication, technology, time, travel, and the mechanical is concerned. But have no fear.
How White People Deploy Dog-Whistles To Harm Black Film Critics
When Black people ask for accountability, terms like “Woke Film Twitter” are deployed as dog-whistles to minimize, sensationalize, and deflect. This essay discusses a suicide attempt. This past Thursday, a traumatic family event removed me from the cesspool that is social media. I shut down my IG. I deactivated my Twitter. And I signed out of even the most innocuous of social media platforms (like Pinterest) and deleted all of these apps.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Clarkisha
Contact Clarkisha, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack