Nafissa Thompson-Spires’s collection of short stories, titled “Heads of the Colored People,” delves deeply into the impact of trauma on black Americans. Through twelve powerful stories, she addresses a wide range of issues such as systemic racism, police brutality, and self-hatred, portraying the complexities of black lives in today’s society.
Drawing inspiration from James McCune Smith’s sketches that aimed to humanize black Americans in the 1850s, Thompson-Spires examines the lives of her characters in a contemporary context. She explores themes of black citizenship, the middle class, and the future of black American life during pivotal moments in society.
The title story, “Heads of the Colored People: Four Fancy Sketches, Two Chalk Outlines, and No Apologies,” vividly depicts the fatal shooting of two unarmed black men by police, highlighting the brutality of bias. Other stories in the collection delve into themes such as memory, abuse, fetishism, and social media addiction, all handled with a mix of wit and empathy.
Despite the characters having full rights under the law, Thompson-Spires conveys that the history of trauma within the black community remains profound and complex. Through her stories, she underscores the importance of humor and empathy as tools to navigate and overcome this deep-seated trauma.
