The Dragons, the Giant, the Women: A Memoir

In Brooklyn, New York, Wayetu is scrolling through Tinder. She “swipes left” to reject a range of men: several photographers, men with no profession, men who like to party, misogynists who complain about women who don’t respond to their messages, men who claim that they’re finally ready to commit, men she knows, and men who attended Ivy League universities. She selects two. The first is Ian, a tall man who went to New York University and quotes Scripture. He works in finance and lives a little more than a mile away. The other is Tailor, who is also tall. Tailor works in real estate and lives in Brooklyn. He likes books and films.

Wayetu has learned that her ex-boyfriend is dating someone else. It’s been seven months since their break-up. 

Wayetu is late for a date when her friend, Deda, calls. Deda has sent her an article that lists all the ways in which Black women are undesirable and “the most likely to be swiped left” (135).

Wayetu heads to a dive bar to meet up with Johnny Boy, a guy she met on the street. He asks what she’s reading, and she mentions the essay on why it’s so hard “for Black women to find husbands” (135).