Reclaiming the Black Body: Nourishing the Home Within

by Alishia McCullough Narrated by Not Yet Available

Overview

An essential exploration of the overlooked impact of disordered eating among Black women-and a prescriptive road map to returning to peace and wholeness within our bodies, from the clinical therapist who founded Black and Embodied Counseling and Consulting PLLC

Food has always been a political tool for the oppressor. And the body, especially the Black body, has always been one of its many battlegrounds.

Licensed mental health therapist, somatic healer, and eating disorder specialist Alishia McCullough understands that for far too many Black women, the myriad effects of racial trauma have disrupted their most essential relationship: the one they have with their bodies-and by extension, with their food. African Americans are disproportionately impacted by disordered eating behaviors, yet their experiences are frequently overlooked by doctors and mental health experts. As a result, entire communities-our most vulnerable communities-are forced to navigate systems that are already primed to dismiss their needs, leaving them without proper care, or often even the language they need to identify what's wrong.

McCullough's groundbreaking work radically validates the lived experiences and generational traumas of BIPOC communities. As part of a steadily growing movement among clinicians to “decolonize therapy,” McCullough rejects the patriarchal, white supremacist mindset that has dominated the field, and instead embraces a more integrated approach that seeks to understand disordered eating patterns by examining the psychological wounds left by centuries of racism.

Weaving together crucial history, compelling client stories, guided practice, and McCullough's own experiences with disordered eating behaviors, Reclaiming the Black Body is a revealing, potentially life-saving book that illuminates the way home, back to the safety and comfort found within our bodies.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Alishia McCullough‘s radical approach ignites crucial conversations around eating disorders within Black communities and paves pathways to liberation and self-love. With courage and compassion, she confronts the entrenched systems of oppression surrounding eating disorders while integrating profound wisdom.”—Patricia Duggan, licensed therapist and somatic healer
 
“With Reclaiming the Black Body, Alishia McCullough is helping to usher in a new and critically needed wave of Black liberation; one that centers body-based freedom . . . This book is the essential tool to redeem the Black body in a sustainable way.”—Dr. Mariel Buqué, trauma psychologist and author of Breaking the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma

“In the traditionally conservative landscape of eating disorders Alishia McCullough stands out as a trailblazer . . . The transformative impact of her work is evident, reaching and influencing thousands within the community.”—Gloria Lucas, eating disorder awareness educator and founder of Nalgona Positivity Pride

“[A] beacon of light . . . Alishia McCullough’s writing provides a sense of grounding and ease unlike any that I’ve experienced, and calls to each one of us interested in transforming the experiences of our bodies. Reclaiming the Black Body is something that everyone needs to access; we will be better as a collective for doing so.”—Jessica Wilson, dietician and author of It’s Always Been Ours: Rewriting the Story of Black Women’s Bodies

“Alishia McCullough is a healer, thought leader and paradigm shifter. Her work is truly ahead of its time.”—Ilya Parker, educator and founder of the Decolonizing Fitness movement

Product Details

BN ID:	2940192471326
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	01/14/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged