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This month’s pick for the Results Without Restriction (RWR) Book Club Belly of the Beast by Da’Shaun L. Harrison. This powerful, deeply intellectual book explores how anti-fatness is rooted in anti-Blackness, and how both oppressions are maintained by white supremacy and capitalism.
Harrison argues that fat Black people are often denied humanity and visibility, and offers a new vision of body liberation grounded in abolition and self-determination.
The Book Club Belly of the Beast Reading Guide:
Book Summary
This selection of the RWR Book Club Belly of the Beast connects fatphobia to systemic anti-Blackness. Harrison weaves personal stories, political analysis, and historical context to explain how fatness has been weaponized against Black people — especially Black queer and trans people — and how body liberation requires dismantling oppressive systems.
This book is radical in the truest sense: it goes to the root of where oppression lives, and what must be torn down to truly be free.
This Book Is Great If You…
- Want to deepen your understanding of fatphobia as systemic oppression
- Are exploring abolition, Black liberation, or radical self-acceptance
- Need language for the intersections of race, gender, fatness, and queerness
- Want a book that challenges and expands your worldview
Need a Copy?
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Why I Chose This Book
At RWR, we talk about redefining results and rejecting restriction — and that includes recognizing how our bodies exist within systems that weren’t built for us to thrive. This book reframes the conversation around fatness from individual choices to structural violence. It’s not easy reading, but it’s essential if we want our self-care to mean something beyond ourselves.
Suggested 4-Week Reading Plan for Book Club Belly of the Beast
Week 1: Preface – Chapter 2
Week 2: Chapters 3–5
Week 3: Chapters 6–7
Week 4: Chapter 8 – End + Reflection
Journal Prompts
- What surprised you most about the connection between fatphobia and anti-Blackness?
- Where have you seen these patterns in your own life or community?
- What parts of this book made you uncomfortable — and what might that discomfort be pointing to?
- How does your wellness work expand to include collective liberation?
FAQ
Q: Do I need to identify as Black or fat to benefit from this book?
A: Not at all. This book is for anyone interested in understanding how systems of oppression intersect. Harrison’s work invites all readers to consider how anti-fatness and anti-Blackness are embedded in our culture and institutions. Whether you’re a health professional, activist, educator, or someone navigating your own relationship with your body, you’ll find something here that challenges and expands your perspective.
Q: Is this book academic or personal?
A: It’s both. Harrison weaves personal narrative with cultural critique and historical analysis. It’s accessible to non-academic readers while offering the depth and rigor often found in scholarly work. Their voice is bold, clear, and unapologetically radical.
Q: Will this book be too heavy for me emotionally?
A: Parts of it may feel intense — especially if you’re new to anti-racism or body liberation work — but it’s also affirming. Take your time, pause when needed, and know you’re not alone.
Keywords
- body justice, anti-fatness, Black liberation, Anti-oppression education, fatphobia and racism, racialized body image
