Bulletproof Diva: Tales of Race, Sex and Hair

by Lisa Jones

In "Bulletproof Diva," Lisa Jones brings the wit and candor of her infamous "Village Voice" column, "Skin Trade, " to a much larger audience. Chock full of the "fierce black girl humor" that has made her column so popular, this provocative collection of essays and observations on race, sex, identity, and the politics of style speaks to a young generation of blacks who were raised in an integrated society and are now waiting for America to deliver on its promises of equality. The thirty-seven short pieces and six long essays in "Bulletproof Diva" cover a wide range of topics, many of them extremely controversial. Jones moves smoothly from issues of ethnicity in a changing America, challenging viewpoints on African-American and mixed race identity, to "butt theory" and the roller-coaster politics of black hair. Written in a style that is as appealing as it is unapologetic, "Bulletproof Diva" marks the debut of a genuinely gifted young writer with a distinctive voice and a fresh perspective on the black cultural scene. "Lisa Jones's writing is so vibrant and dynamic, her words create a kind of fierce music... a fabulous book." -- "The Boston Globe"

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Memoir, Feminism, Race, Sociology

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

lisa jones never fails to amaze. i read this originally as a college student, and reread it again many years later. if i cannot be like lisa jones, i at least want friends like her. what a phenomenal writer, activist, and woman...!

[wordLife · Rating 3 out of 5]

elevates the art of the personal essay... easy to get into for women of color.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book since it came out in 1994, but it just sat on the shelf all those years. A friend who worked at a radio station gave it to me, along with some other books that had been sent to the station in hopes they would interview the authors on the air. I'm glad it took me more than 20 years to pick it up because it was even more fascinating now than it would have been then. The subtitle of the book is "Tales of Race, Sex and Hair," and it was compiled from columns Jones wrote for The Village Voice. She worked with Spike Lee on several of his movies and has also written plays. Reading her thoughts on ethnicity (she's bi-racial but detests the description), early rap, and dating in the days before the Internet, cell phones, and Barack Obama is like stepping into a time machine, yet her columns about dealing with ethnic hair could have been written today for a blog about the natural hair movement. She is a talented writer with a unique voice and incredible insight and humor into issues serious and not-so-serious. I researched her to see what she's doing now, and I couldn't find much, which is disappointing. I'd love to hear what she has to say on race, sex, and hair in 2015.

[Régine Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of "trade book" I would like to write...I first read Bulletproof Diva in highschool and was subsequently converted to Black feminist thinking and cultural criticism as a way of life. Her thoughts on everything from race, popular culture, hair, ethnicity, and identity are fascinating as well as provocative. I also really liked the journalistic Village Voicey writing style. Although like many books I read while I was "younger" I wonder if I would have the same thoughts today so I plan to re-read to find out. Stay tuned...

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Jones’ Bulletproof Diva: Tales of Race, Sex, and Hair is a collection of essays that confronts the intersections of race and culture from the perspective of a biracial woman who identifies as Black. Jones, the daughter of writers Amiri Baraka and Hettie Jones, describes her struggle with her racial identity and intersperses her experiences with witty observations about race and the representation of race in popular culture. Set in New York City in the 1990’s, the cultural references have a strong sense of place and time, but Jones’ insight into race and culture still resonates today.

[This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bulletproof Diva resonated with me in 1994, when I begged my mother to give this book as my high school graduation gift. Yes, I wanted only this book, and nothing more. These essays are timeless as Ms. Jones could have written them today.

I recommend this book as an addition to womanist/black feminist literature because it captures many issues faced, but often ignored.

[Elisa Gusdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Jones will give you something to talk about in her collection of essays on skin color and gender politics. Her hip writing in this book makes it one of my favorites!

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 1 out of 5]

Get over yourself.

[Elizabeth]

Great collection of essays. Really enjoyable.

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

rarely actually "funny", but always wry, well written, clear sighted and clever.

[Paloma Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool and fresh

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could remember who suggested this great book. I loved Jones essays.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of cultural studies inspired essays from The Village Voice exploring contemporary Blackness, urban life and cultural politics.

[Gia Fondren · Rating 3 out of 5]

i only ead some of this one. this is where i learned of her moher book how i became hettie jones. this book writes about things that occurred many years ago and im not in touch as much a befor. i found it to be a difficult read.try it. told me because of my hair type, im not one to marry etc.. Eye opener.