Hood Wellness; Tales of Communal Care from People Who Drowned on Dry Land

Hood Wellness: A Bold Reimagining of Self-Care and Survival

“A funny, thought-provoking, and profound memoir about the intersection of Blackness and health. Gordon’s vision of a more just future feels both inspiring and possible.” — Kirkus Starred Review

What does self-care look like when you’re struggling to make ends meet, living with a disability, or navigating intersecting layers of marginalization? How do you prioritize well-being while disentangling from systems designed to oppress?

Enter Hood Wellness, a groundbreaking exploration of wellness that challenges the exclusionary norms of the multi-billion-dollar health and self-care industries in the United States. Gordon redefines what it means to care for oneself, offering a radical, community-centered approach that makes space for those often left out of mainstream wellness narratives.

More than just an individual pursuit, wellness is about survival. Through deeply personal storytelling, Gordon weaves together memoir, humor, critical race theory, and social commentary, exposing the flaws in an industry that largely caters to white, affluent, heteronormative audiences. She argues that traditional self-care is often performative and surface-level—what America truly needs is communal care.

Through powerful narratives of resilience—ranging from terminal illness and police violence to embracing gender identity in an increasingly hostile climate—Hood Wellness sheds light on the stark realities of today’s political, racial, and gender struggles. Gordon confronts these challenges head-on, offering readers a transformative, accessible, and inclusive vision of well-being that prioritizes justice, authenticity, and collective healing.

This compelling book is a call to action, empowering readers to cultivate resilience, self-love, and meaningful change in their lives. Hood Wellness isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about building a more just and sustainable future for all.