Roxane Gay Instagram – Roxane Gay posesses a unique gift for holding a mirror to the systemic ills, spiritual rifts, and private little shames that permeate our culture. The Nebraska-born writer has never shied from unwieldy, charged, and personal subject matter. But despite the gravity of many of the issues she engages, Gay’s work is fueled by an enduring optimism. Her latest book, ‘Opinions,’ features a selection of the writer’s most insightful and provocative essays from the past decade. “People really resent Black women having opinions,” she tells the actor @jadapinkettsmith, who published her memoir ‘Worthy’ last October, below, “because they don’t think we deserve them.” To celebrate the book’s release, Pinkett Smith called @roxanegay74 to discuss Morrison’s influence, the importance of dissent, and the wonderful chaos of married life. Link in bio to read their conversation. Images courtesy of Roxane Gay and Jada Pinkett Smith.