Wednesday Book Review: Ugly

On this week’s book review I would like to recommend another great read. This book left me completely memorized and beside myself. ‘Ugly’ by Constance Briscoe is a compelling book about a young girl yarning for the love of her mother but due to her darker skin tone and strong features was branded Ugly by the very woman who gave birth to her.

“Constance's mother systematically abused her daughter, both physically and emotionally, throughout her childhood. Regularly beaten and starved, the girl was so desperate she took herself off to Social Services and tried to get taken into care. When that failed, she swallowed bleach 'because it kills all known germs and my mother always told me I was a germ'. When Constance was thirteen, her mother simply moved out, leaving her daughter to fend for herself: there was no gas, no electricity and no food. But somehow Constance found the courage to survive her terrible start in life. This is her heartrending - and ultimately triumphant - story.”

This story reminds me a little of my youth (my mother did no such thing, she always called me beautiful till this very day). As a child I was often bullied and labelled ugly for being darker and from Africa. I heard the most startling and ridiculous statements from kids/adults that had the same skin colour as me. I strongly believe that racism is far worst when you receive it from your own kind. It’s truly gloomy when a black man or woman looks you in your face and makes you feel imitated for being a shade darker or for having stronger features no body deserves to be called ugly. (Unattractive is more socially polite in my books) We are all unique and remember beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. Our black society needs to understand that until we combat racism within ourselves we can’t eradicate racism worldwide.

This is an uplifting and courageous story that truly shows the strength and beauty of the human spirit……..get your copy now!