The Other Black Girl

The Other Black Girl

Author	Zakiya Dalila Harris
Language	English
Genre	Thriller
Publisher	Atria (US) Bloomsbury (UK)
Publication date	June 2021
Publication place	United States
ISBN	978-1-982160-13-5

The Other Black Girl is a 2021 novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris. The debut novel follows a woman who is the only Black person working at a publishing company. It was sold at auction to Atria Publishing Group for over $1 million. A television series based on the novel premiered on Hulu on September 13, 2023.[1]

Plot

Nella Rogers is an editorial assistant and the only Black employee at Wagner Books, a publishing house in New York City. When Hazel-May McCall, another Black woman, is hired as an editorial assistant, Nella initially believes she will be an ally. While Hazel seems supportive in their personal interactions, Nella soon finds herself sidelined and her relationships at Wagner strained due to Hazel's advice and interference. Nella receives anonymous notes ordering her to leave Wagner. Nella begins to suspect that Hazel is not what she seems, and searches for answers about both Hazel's and Wagner Books's dark pasts.

Background

Harris cites Passing by Nella Larsen, Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred, Toni Morrison’s Sula, and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as key influences on the novel.[2] Harris has also cited Jordan Peele's movie Get Out and Ira Levin's The Stepford Wives as inspiration for the novel, which contains elements of horror and satire.[3]

Reception

The Other Black Girl was released on June 1, 2021 and received positive critical reception from outlets including the Washington Post and Kirkus Reviews.[4][5] The Guardian described it as "a glimpse into the publishing world and its original take on black professional women striving to hold on to their authentic selves and their stresses."[6]

Television adaptation

Main article: The Other Black Girl (TV series)

A television series based on the novel premiered on Hulu on September 13, 2023.[7] The series stars Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola, Hunter Parrish, Bellamy Young, Eric McCormack, and Garcelle Beauvais.[8][9][10]

References

1. "First Look and Date Announcement: Hulu Original "The Other Black Girl"" (Press release). Hulu. July 18, 2023. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
2. Sethi, Anita (June 5, 2021). "Zakiya Dalila Harris: 'Publishing is such a spoofable world'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
3. Harris, Elizabeth A. (May 26, 2021). "Her Book Doesn't Go Easy on Publishing. Publishers Ate It Up". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
4. THE OTHER BLACK GIRL | Kirkus Reviews.
5. "Review | 'The Other Black Girl' should be at the top of your summer reading list". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
6. Porter, Regina (2021-06-16). "The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris review – an audacious debut". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
7. Highfill, Samantha (July 18, 2023). "Get a first look at Hulu's The Other Black Girl adaptation". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
8. Rice, Lynette (October 31, 2022). "'The Other Black Girl': Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola and Hunter Parrish Join Hulu Original Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
9. Andreeva, Nellie; Rice, Lynette (November 3, 2022). "'The Other Black Girl': Eric McCormack & Bellamy Young Join Hulu Original Series From Onyx". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
10. Rice, Lynette (December 13, 2022). "'The Other Black Girl': Garcelle Beauvais Joins Hulu Original Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2023.