DRESSED IN DREAMS A Black Girl's Love Letter to the Power of Fashion

Africana studies professor and cultural critic Tanisha Ford's voice is well paced and informative but never overly academic as she narrates her life story, focusing on the theme of fashion. Her narrative encapsulates the impact of social change on clothing trends. Ford clearly expresses her desire to belong, her longing for her mother's confidence and fashion sense, and her quest for "good hair." A chapter on bamboo earrings covers cultural appropriation and segues beautifully to hair and makeup as an extension of self-expression. Ford's voice is vibrant but packs the most punch with her quiet delivery of complicated topics such as the symbolism of the hoodie. She also captures the intensity of a Black Lives Matter protest when she imitates crowd chants and the bullhorn voice of the police. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2019]