Graphic Novel Review - 'Wash Day Diaries' by Jamila Rowser (Writer), Robyn Smith (Artist)

The authentic Black sisterhood experience in the Bronx, told from the points of view of four ordinary, complex, beautiful and wonderful women - Kim, Tanisha "Nisha", Davene, and Cookie.

'Wash Day Diaries' is about more than Black hair and Black hairstyles, although it is important and does intrinsically weave and braid and intertwine with other aspects of the women's lives. All of their hair is absolutely beautiful and divine, in both the artwork and how each style fits each of their personalities. Such stunners can only be achieved through nearly a day's worth of hard, careful work. It is all about Black women's self-care, endurance, resilience, and their powerful, groundbreaking and revolutionary love and trust in their friendship. Their sisterhood.

Safe to say that 'Wash Day Diaries' is also very educational for white people, like myself.

It is very slice-of-life, and the lovely art depicts the women's day-to-day living in the signature and distinct colour palettes of purple (regal and reserved singer Kim's chapter), pink (spastic, nerdy and funny Nisha's chapter), blue (elegant but shy and depressed Davene's chapter), and yellow (rambunctious and optimistic Cookie's chapter). Catcalling, a toxic stalker ex, Black women being judged for their hair, how they take care of themselves internally through their haircare routines, depression, family complications and healing, dementia, juggling careers, and the ironclad friendship shared between Black women (not just in clubbing and singing - in defending against exes, and there is a sleepover in the graphic novel!) are among the painfully real themes explored in 'Wash Day Diaries', with tints and blossomings of hope, humour and joy. And all of the heart.

At least one of the women is queer and has a girlfriend, too. The dangers and tragedies of Black-owned businesses being shut down is lightly touched on but undeniably there. Racist police brutality is implied in a line of dialogue, concerning how Black people would not want to get the police involved in anything, even if it's a matter of safety, for obvious reasons.

'Wash Day Diaries' as a whole can read as being too short, abrupt, and a little underdeveloped. But it is breezy due to its limited dialogue; it can be read in less than half an hour.

Then there's that moment where one of the women is clearly suffering from depression, and her friend, one of the other woman main leads, is dismissive (at least when it comes to medication), not taking it as seriously as it should be, and she comes across as invalidating, patronising and pushy, even if she is trying to help. However I think this was done intentionally, that we are meant to see that the friend is wrong and not in fact helpful. No one is perfect, after all (not an excuse but still, life is life), and the moment is the only time we see a negative experience between these friends. Therapy and antidepressants are tried and considered, to offset the "oh you're fine you seem fine you just need to get out and hang out with your buds" mentality in half-arsedly dealing with depression.

It is a short but beautiful comic. Humorous, touching, pretty, and full of the strength of Black sisterhood. We need stories like this; this needed to exist in this day and age.

And that's that. I hope I could adequately review and give some mien of justice to 'Wash Day Diaries', and its interconnected chapters' depictions of Black women's experiences in America, as a white British woman.

Final Score: 3.5/5