Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir
In this poignant inaugural collection of youthful poetry and reflective essays, Walela Nehanda unveils a stirring narrative of their confrontation with leukemia as a young Black individual. Receiving their diagnosis at the tender age of 23, Nehanda traverses the indifferent terrain of medical care, grappling with hurdles that range from the misuse of their pronouns by healthcare professionals to the well-meaning yet condescending counsel from acquaintances. Their personal odyssey serves as a prism through which the complexities of their marginalized identities are examined within the labyrinthine US healthcare system. Nehanda's saga transcends mere physical survival; it embodies a journey of spiritual enlightenment, as they forge a deeper bond with their roots and confront the specter of mortality with unwavering resolve. 'Bless the Blood' stands as an evocative testament to tenacity, self-discovery, and the relentless struggle against medical prejudice. Enthusiasts of Audre Lorde’s poignant 'The Cancer Journals' and Laurie Halse Anderson's impactful 'Shout' will find Nehanda's unvarnished and heartfelt storytelling both devastating and uplifting.
- Author: Walela Nehanda
- Publisher: Kokila (28 January 2025)
- Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
- ISBN: 978-0593529508
- Pages: 400 pages