Jasmine Lashawn

Blessed but not Exempt: The epiphany of a middle-class black woman amidst the 2020 civil unrest Jasmine Lashawn

Initially having no interest in writing nonfiction, she was surprised at this being her debut project. She was also shocked by her ability to write so much about a heavy topic. When the civil unrest of 2020 began, she picked up her computer, started writing, and didn't put it down for days. In Blessed but not Exempt, she shares her experiences as a middle-class black woman. Educated black women often feel the need to suppress who they are to be deemed "good" and to obtain and keep success. Yet, no amount of religion, code-switching, or education can exempt a person of color from systematic racism. Blessed but not Exempt is Jasmine's way of telling everyone out there to be true to your culture, fight the good fight, and be successful anyway.