It's okay if most of your friends are guys, but if you champion this as a commentary on the nature of female friendships, soul search a little. - Roxane Gay

At some point, we have to stop selling every black child in this country the idea that he or she only needs to hold a ball or a microphone to achieve something.

I grew up in this world where fat phobia is pervasive…And I just thought, 'Well, boys don't like fat girls, so if I'm fat, they won't want me and they won't hurt me again.' But more than that, I really wanted to just be bigger so that I could fight harder.

What I know and what I feel are two very different things.