"Music journalist and hardcore metal devotee Laina Dawes uncovers black women’s voices and stories of participation in punk and metal."—Vice

About

Laina Dawes is not always the only black woman at metal shows, and she's not always the only headbanger among her black female friends. In her first book, the Canadian critic and music fan questions herself, her headbanging heroes, and dozens of black punk, metal, and hard rock fans to answer the knee-jerk question she's heard a hundred times in the small clubs where her favorite bands play: "What are you doing here?"

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Laina Dawes gives an honest account of black women in a predominantly white male scene through interviews, anecdotes and thorough research. In the process she finds not only herself, but helps others explore their core as well. - Dana

While Dawes could have focused on black people in metal as a whole, she wisely chooses to focus on some of the most underrepresented (for example, Skindred, Sepultura, Sevendust, Suffocation, Blasphemy, Body Count and even Metallica at some point all have or had black male members). It’s an easy, but captivating read. A couple of the references were new to me, and provided a bite of fresh info. She diligently pays homage to predecessors, going back to women in the blues era like Big Mama Thornton who defied traditional feminine stereotypes. Including a variety of established and emerging artists in addition to fans, Dawes fits story into history.- DiningwithDana.net

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Continue reading the review at: Dana Reads… “What Are You Doing Here? A Black Woman’s Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal” by Laina Dawes  on Dining With Dana and get the book on Amazon!