TagHeavy

*Heavy* by Kiese Laymon is a powerful memoir that explores the author’s experiences growing up as a Black man in Jackson, Mississippi, while confronting issues of weight, trauma, and identity. Laymon writes candidly about his complicated relationship with his mother, who had high academic expectations for him but also instilled in him feelings of inadequacy. The book addresses Laymon’s struggles with body image, disordered eating, and his relationship to physical and emotional “heaviness.” Laymon also examines how systemic racism and societal pressures shaped his life and sense of self. Written as a letter to his mother, *Heavy* is a raw and introspective account of family, survival, and the journey toward self-acceptance. The memoir is notable for its honesty, vulnerability, and searing critique of both personal and societal issues.