Ashley C Ford

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Ashley and Wife Kelly (6)

Biography 


Ashley C Ford is not only an author, but also a podcaster, an actress, a wife, and a daughter. She grew up in Fort Wayne Indiana. There she was raised by a single mother and her grandmother. Ford’s father also spent 30 years in prison, using this as inspiration for her writing. After high school, Ford attended Ball State University, graduating in 2011 with a degree in English.She is married to her now wife, Kelly Stacy, who is also a writer.  Ford identifies as a part of the LGBTQ+ community having this be a large topic in not only her writing, but her podcasting and education as well. Ford also experienced sexual assault, having this be a key part in her writting as well. Ford has stated that she considers Roxane gay a mentor for her. Not only did Ford write novels, but she also wrote for Buzzfeed, The Guardian, Elle, and A Cup of Joy. She was awarded senior writer at Refinery29, and was also awarded Forbes 30 under 30 in media in 2017. (1)


In the memoir Somebody’s Daughter published in 2021, Ashley C Ford walks us through her life. She notes her relationship with her mother is strained. She then goes on to talk about how she wishes she could lean on her father during this tough time, but he is in prison and she grows up not knowing what put him there. After that goes on to talk about the struggles of growing up a female, going through bodily changes and how she feels sexualized by men. Continuing on to divulge how she was sexually assaulted by her ex boyfriend. She goes through all of this alone, keeping it a secret from her family. Throughout this memoir Ashley C Ford takes us through the many struggles she faced in her life, opening the gate for people to know they are not alone in their struggles.(2)
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Reviews

Bridgett M. Davis from The New York Times, gives us the inside scoop on Ashley C Ford’s Somebody’s Daughter explaining the explosiveness of Ford’s memoir. Davis goes on through her review to state that “Ford powerfully captures the complicated mix of meanness, frustration and obsessive mothering familiar to so many Black daughters” (3). She goes on to explain how captivating this novel is and how this opens up the door for people to feel accepted for who they are and what they've gone through.

Book Browse goes into detail about how not only does Ashley speak about what it's like to come into one's body, but it also touches on some more sensitive topics including her father's imprisonment. They go on to say that it received a five star review, referring to it as “A moving, emotionally candid memoir about contending with the repercussions of childhood sexual assault.” (4) Furthermore they go on to say how important it is that these topics are touched upon, and give the utmost credit to Ford for being able to share her story to “validate, comfort and inspire those who see themselves reflected in her experiences.”(4)


The Washington Post gives Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C Ford a standing ovation. Author of the article Allyson Hobbs states how influential this book is for the black community. She says that “ Ford helps to fill a gap in the literature on African American women’s lives.”(5) She goes on to say that the book, while divulging into many hard to talk about topics, does it in a graceful way that is appropriate and insightful. Hobbs then continues to say that “Ford makes is to offer her story — written in the most lively and lucid prose”(5) showing not only how influential this book is, but also speaking on the type of writer Ford is.

Reflection

Ashley C Ford is such an influential part of the writing community. Not only does she share the hard to talk about struggles she endured all throughout her life, but she does it with grace and honesty. She is so influential to the younger generation because she shares her struggles with her body, and her emotions, but in a way that makes us as readers feel heard and seen. Along with all this she is an influential part of the black and queer community, openly talking about these topics, giving them a platform to be heard with care and compassion. 

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Works Cited

(1) Wikipedia contributors. "Ashley C. Ford." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Nov. 2023.


(2) Ford, Ashley C. “Somebody's Daughter.” Macmillan Publishers, 1 June 2021, https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250305978/somebodysdaughter.
(3) Davis, Bridgett M. “Book Review: ‘Somebody’s Daughter,’ by Ashley C. Ford.” The New York Times, 1 June 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/30/books/review/ashley-c-ford-somebodys-daughter.html.

(4) McLaughlin, Callum, and Lauren Grodstein. “Review of Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford.” Book Browse, 2024, https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/4289/somebodys-daughter#reviews.

(5) Hobbs, Allyson. “Book review of Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C. Ford.” The Washington Post, 25 June 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/what-happens-to-a-family-when-a-father-goes-to-prison/2021/06/23/57736b1c-d2ac-11eb-a53a-3b5450fdca7a_story.html.

(6)“7,436 Likes, 223 Comments - Ashley C. Ford (@smashfizzle) on Instagram: ‘He’s My Favorite. 📸: @honeyandsaltphoto’: Wedding, Wedding Pinterest, Bride.” Pinterest, 16 Sept. 2018, www.pinterest.com.au/pin/7436-likes-223-comments-ashley-c-ford-smashfizzle-on-instagram-hes-my-favorite-honeyandsaltphot--280912095493447147/. 

(7) Ford, Ashley C. “Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir: Ford, Ashley C.: 9781250305978.” Amazon.com, https://www.amazon.com/Somebodys-Daughter-Ashley-C-Ford/dp/1250305977.

(8)Rowley, Dirk. “Ashley C. Ford's powerful story of Fort Wayne childhood becomes NY Times bestseller.” WANE 15, 17 June 2021, https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/ashley-fords-powerful-story-of-fort-wayne-childhood-becomes-ny-times-bestseller/.
(9)Ford, Ashley C., et al. “The Bride Without A Plan.” Refinery29, 13 September 2017, https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/getting-married-with-no-plan









Comments

  1. MaKayla DiMaioFebruary 20, 2024 at 8:47 AM

    I really liked how you started off your blog by introducing who Ashley Ford is and a few key factors about her life. It was really interesting to learn some of her best interests as well as the trauma she has gone through which is very heavy emotionally. You identified her as a person and shared enough for us to get an idea of who she is/what she has gone through in her life. For example learning that her father spent almost thirty years in jail as she was only raised by her mother and grandmother and then learning she got married to her wife. It was a lot to read at once but gave me an idea of who this person identifies as and the harsh times in her life. It made me think and want to continue on to learn about what got her to fall in love with writing. Her book that goes after the name of "Somebody's Daughter" really caught my eye. Knowing her novel goes after her real life story as a young girl who grew up without a father figure in life wanting to know more about him. I think you did really well with going into detail about your author and you made me want to learn more/ be interested. Reading books is really not my most favorite thing to do unless I am hooked onto what I am reading. This novel has pulled me in and I would love to read it. Great Job :)

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  2. Jordan HaleyFebruary 20, 2024 at 5:58 PM

    The authors biography really gives good in depth details about the author we are about to be reading about. I think it really helps show how her story and the person that she is helps in her writing. The use of multimedia was really good in this blog, the images fit where they are supposed to be and really help the reader with more detail on Ford. I would definitely put this book in my future reading list!

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