Thanks to Harper Perennial for my gifted copy!

I really enjoyed this collection of essays and poems all on the topic of intersections of race, sexuality, and gender. Joseph shares personal stories about how he and his loved ones (and all of us) are affected by patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and white supremacy, and makes the case that those are all the same thing. 

Each piece is short and easily digestible, making it easy to pick up whenever you have a few minutes. Though I sometimes wanted him to keep going on a topic and dive deeper, this is a great book to start with if you’re interested in understanding how societal norms and the systems we have in place negatively affect everyone, but that not all oppression is equal. 

Some standout essays:
On the Eighth Day, the Lord Made Oppression 
False Binary
If These Hands Could Talk
A Case for Decriminalizing Sex Work
The Epidemic of Rape Culture 
I Come Apart
Accountability in Caste and Intersectionality
On Patriarchal Violence 

CW: racism, sexism, physical violence, child sexual abuse, homophobia, transphobia, sexual harassment, sexual assault, cancer, chronic illness