Sonya Renee Taylor is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body Is Not An Apology, a digital media and education company committed to radical self-love and body empowerment .Founded in 2011, it began as an online community to cultivate radical self-love and body empowerment. The Body Is Not An Apology now reaches over 1 million people each month in 140 countries with their articles and content focused on the intersection of bodies, personal transformation and social justice. Sonya is also an International award winning Performance Poet, activist, speaker and transformational leader whose work continues to have global reach. She has a B.A. in Sociology and an M.S.A. in Organizational Management and continues to be a fierce activist for global justice using the lens of intersectional Black Feminism and radical self-love. In her book “The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love” Sonya invites readers to reconnect with the radical origins of their minds and bodies and celebrate their collective, enduring strength.

“The Body Is Not An Apology” begins with a Prologue that explains where the phrase for the radical self-love movement, also the name of the book, started.  It goes back to 2010 at a Southern Fried Poetry Slam where the author uttered the words “your body is not an apology.” She reminded herself of the phrase whenever she felt a discouraging thought coming on and used it as the basis for the organization she founded to help others overcome body shame and its destructive effects. The book is divided into five sections: Making Self-Love Radical; Shame, Guilt and Apology-Then and Now; Building a Radical Self-Love Practice in an Age of Loathing; A New Way Ordered by Love and Your Radical Self-Love Toolkit.  They all contain Unapologetic Inquiries and Radical Reflections that help further explain that ideas that she is trying to convey. At the end, she includes extensive notes by chapter and resources for further readings on feminism, racial justice and LBTQIAA issues.

Having a positive self-image is important for the individual as well as the community and world as a whole. Sonya Renee Taylor’s encouraging messages involve having to put aside any toxic upbringings and changing the way we interact with others. It touches on subjects like body-shaming, body terrorism and homophobia. Readers should note that she touches on politics both to emphasize her points and to explain how she has been personally affected by other people’s racist and homophobic actions. A standout chapter is ‘Chapter 4: A New Way Ordered by Love’ section ‘Unapologetic Agreements’ that focuses on how radical self-love and communication can foster global change: “Have compassion for and honor people’s varied journey. Our journeys are unique and varied. Compassion births patience.”  It is a small book and thankfully, written in a down to earth and easy-to understand language.  This is important because her message of self-love, confidence and the importance of stopping body shaming and thinking we are not “good enough” is one that more people should take to heart. “The Body Is Not An Apology” is an impactful and empowering guide for readers who appreciate a book that challenges the status quo and arms them with compelling and life-changing advice.

“To be fear facing is to learn the distinction between fear and danger. It is to look directly at the source of the fear and assess if we are truly in peril or if we are simply afraid of the unknown.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.