The Other Black Girl Explained
The Other Black Girl is a 2021 novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris. The debut novel follows a woman who is the only Black person working at a publishing company. It was sold at auction to Atria Publishing Group for over $1 million. A television series based on the novel premiered on Hulu on September 13, 2023.[1]
Plot
Nella Rogers is an editorial assistant and the only Black employee at Wagner Books, a publishing house in New York City. When Hazel-May McCall, another Black woman, is hired as an editorial assistant, Nella initially believes she will be an ally. While Hazel seems supportive in their personal interactions, Nella soon finds herself sidelined and her relationships at Wagner strained due to Hazel's advice and interference. Nella receives anonymous notes ordering her to leave Wagner. Nella begins to suspect that Hazel is not what she seems, and searches for answers about both Hazel's and Wagner Books's dark pasts.
Background
Harris cites Passing by Nella Larsen, Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred, Toni Morrison’s Sula, and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as key influences on the novel.[2] Harris has also cited Jordan Peele's movie Get Out and Ira Levin's The Stepford Wives as inspiration for the novel, which contains elements of horror and satire.[3]
Reception
The Other Black Girl was released on June 1, 2021 and received positive critical reception from outlets including the Washington Post and Kirkus Reviews.[4] [5] The Guardian described it as "a glimpse into the publishing world and its original take on black professional women striving to hold on to their authentic selves and their stresses."[6]
Television adaptation
See main article: The Other Black Girl (TV series). A television series based on the novel premiered on Hulu on September 13, 2023.[7] The series stars Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola, Hunter Parrish, Bellamy Young, Eric McCormack, and Garcelle Beauvais.[8] [9] [10]
Notes and References
- July 18, 2023 . First Look and Date Announcement: Hulu Original "The Other Black Girl" . August 20, 2023 . Hulu. . August 18, 2023 . https://archive.today/20230818073112/http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2023/07/18/first-look-and-date-announcement-hulu-original-the-other-black-girl-130213/20230718hulu01/ . live .
- Web site: Sethi . Anita . June 5, 2021 . Zakiya Dalila Harris: 'Publishing is such a spoofable world' . August 20, 2023 . . June 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210605191031/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jun/05/zakiya-dalila-harris-publishing-is-such-a-spoofable-world . live.
- Web site: Harris. Elizabeth A.. May 26, 2021. Her Book Doesn’t Go Easy on Publishing. Publishers Ate It Up.. August 20, 2023. The New York Times. May 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210527154851/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/books/zakiya-dalila-harris-other-black-girl.html. live.
- Book: THE OTHER BLACK GIRL Kirkus Reviews . en.
- News: Review 'The Other Black Girl' should be at the top of your summer reading list . en-US . Washington Post . 2021-09-02 . 0190-8286.
- Web site: Porter . Regina . 2021-06-16 . The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris review – an audacious debut . 2021-08-31 . the Guardian . en.
- Web site: Highfill. Samantha. July 18, 2023. Get a first look at Hulu's The Other Black Girl adaptation. August 20, 2023. Entertainment Weekly. August 17, 2023. https://archive.today/20230817193358/https://ew.com/tv/the-other-black-girl-first-look-photos-hulu-premiere-date/. live.
- Web site: Rice. Lynette. October 31, 2022. 'The Other Black Girl': Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola and Hunter Parrish Join Hulu Original Series. August 20, 2023. Deadline Hollywood. October 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031201646/https://deadline.com/2022/10/the-other-black-girl-sinclair-daniel-ashleigh-murray-brittany-adebumola-hunter-parrish-join-hulu-series-1235159116/. live.
- Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . Rice . Lynette . November 3, 2022. 'The Other Black Girl': Eric McCormack & Bellamy Young Join Hulu Original Series From Onyx. August 20, 2023. Deadline Hollywood. November 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221103174618/https://deadline.com/2022/11/the-other-black-girl-bellamy-young-eric-mccormack-hulu-original-series-1235162130/. live.
- Web site: Rice. Lynette. December 13, 2022. 'The Other Black Girl': Garcelle Beauvais Joins Hulu Original Series. August 20, 2023. Deadline Hollywood. December 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221213203718/https://deadline.com/2022/12/the-other-black-girl-garcelle-beauvais-hulu-original-series-1235197451/. live.