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Debutante: Race, Resistance, & Girl Power
They’re wearing ball gowns, they’re debutantes... and they’re black. The debs’ ball is a controversial colonial export but can it be empowering too? Australia’s most celebrated young playwright Nakkiah Lui and actress Miranda Tapsell put on their hats and gloves to find out.
Nakkiah and Miranda are angry, young, vocal, Aboriginal and very, very funny. Join them on their journey, starting with a lesson on teatime etiquette in London where it all began, as they follow the debutante trail and discover that First Nations women across the globe have made this tradition their own. Nakkiah and Miranda ask: can beauty, poise and politeness actually empower them? Or is it better to get angry and start shouting?
Nakkiah and Miranda are angry, young, vocal, Aboriginal and very, very funny. Join them on their journey, starting with a lesson on teatime etiquette in London where it all began, as they follow the debutante trail and discover that First Nations women across the globe have made this tradition their own. Nakkiah and Miranda ask: can beauty, poise and politeness actually empower them? Or is it better to get angry and start shouting?
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 14, 2020
An excellent piece of writing and presentation that brings together many Indigenous issues in the context of the Debutante Ball.
At face value the topic seems rather unspectacular and parochial, but you would be so wrong in assuming this.
“Debutante: Race, Resistance, & Girl Power” is in fact front and centre in describing, dispossession, exploitation, colonisation, activism, and taking back power.
I agonised over the 5 star review and it probably doesn’t fit the Goodreads “Its amazing” description, but it was very, very good in the way this topic was treated, elaborated and contextualised.
Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell have given a wonderful historical perspective to the Indigenous Debutante Ball that revisits many unresolved issues. It is witty, but not a comedy and Nakkiah often does not “hold back” as she describes absurdities and pretence.
The power of this work is the context and research that is presented.
Nakkiah visits the modern day Queen Charlotte's Ball in London and provides her excellent political insight to what this means for 21st century Australia.
The North American section is also cleverly presented and provides the global context for colonisation and inequity.
I loved meeting the Aboriginal Elders and hearing their wonderful voices, joy and wisdom. Similarly the young women presented disarming and beautiful perspectives and this was quite uplifting.
It is a very good book, that is fun and very easy to engage with.
The writers are knowledgeable and very thought provoking.
I really could go on raving, providing my further insights, but I’m taking up valuable reading time and stopping you getting to “Debutante: Race, Resistance, & Girl Power”.
At face value the topic seems rather unspectacular and parochial, but you would be so wrong in assuming this.
“Debutante: Race, Resistance, & Girl Power” is in fact front and centre in describing, dispossession, exploitation, colonisation, activism, and taking back power.
I agonised over the 5 star review and it probably doesn’t fit the Goodreads “Its amazing” description, but it was very, very good in the way this topic was treated, elaborated and contextualised.
Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell have given a wonderful historical perspective to the Indigenous Debutante Ball that revisits many unresolved issues. It is witty, but not a comedy and Nakkiah often does not “hold back” as she describes absurdities and pretence.
The power of this work is the context and research that is presented.
Nakkiah visits the modern day Queen Charlotte's Ball in London and provides her excellent political insight to what this means for 21st century Australia.
The North American section is also cleverly presented and provides the global context for colonisation and inequity.
I loved meeting the Aboriginal Elders and hearing their wonderful voices, joy and wisdom. Similarly the young women presented disarming and beautiful perspectives and this was quite uplifting.
It is a very good book, that is fun and very easy to engage with.
The writers are knowledgeable and very thought provoking.
I really could go on raving, providing my further insights, but I’m taking up valuable reading time and stopping you getting to “Debutante: Race, Resistance, & Girl Power”.
June 29, 2020
In 9 episodes, Miranda and Nakkiah travel the world talking to other indigenous women and to other debutantes. They find many things in common especially with the Native Americans.
Nakkiah going to etiquette class in London was hilarious.
And as her mother said, when the girls are sitting around sewing their dresses together, the older ladies are filling them in on a whole lot of topics; women’s business.
Debutante balls may have colonial origins but they don’t belong only to white people, and why can’t the Black girls have moments of joy and frivolity; even if they’re an activist the other ninety percent of the time? As one girl commented, they don’t tend to have a big wedding - it’s too expensive - so this was her one chance to wear a white ballgown.
Worth listening to if only to hear Miranda’s adorable giggle.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5...
Thought provoking.
4 stars
Nakkiah going to etiquette class in London was hilarious.
And as her mother said, when the girls are sitting around sewing their dresses together, the older ladies are filling them in on a whole lot of topics; women’s business.
Debutante balls may have colonial origins but they don’t belong only to white people, and why can’t the Black girls have moments of joy and frivolity; even if they’re an activist the other ninety percent of the time? As one girl commented, they don’t tend to have a big wedding - it’s too expensive - so this was her one chance to wear a white ballgown.
Worth listening to if only to hear Miranda’s adorable giggle.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5...
Thought provoking.
4 stars
July 7, 2020
Informative and hilarious look at how deb balls have changed and the reasons why. But it also looks at the history of deb balls and the racism encountered by the first nation and other minority races that are encountered within this audio book is intensely powerful. Would recommend.
July 7, 2020
I really loved this story - Kinda wish I had gone to a Debutante ball now!
July 14, 2020
Not a lot of new information here, but lightly presented. New traditions being created in an ever evolving culture
April 25, 2021
Interesting discussion about the origins of debutante balls and how they are being reclaimed as a way of deconstructing colonial power structures.
March 17, 2021
It's all in the title: Race, Resistance, & Girl Power. Before listening to this, it never occurred to me why people would put effort into a debutante ball, but now the myriad of reasons seems so obvious. I found the hosts entertaining and straight-talking, and every person interviewed added to the themes being explored. I loved listening to this, and I heartily recommend it.
December 9, 2021
TW: mentions of Residental Schools, colonialism
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews