Chapter 22: Footnotes — Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 22, titled simply “Footnotes,” is exactly what its name promises: a collection of asides that expand on moments from earlier chapters. Because the chapter is structured as a series of tangents rather than a continuous narrative, the summary below groups the footnotes by theme.

Personal history and self-image. Brunson recalls that during high school she wore inexpensive drugstore makeup, typically costing five dollars or less from Rite Aid, because makeup culture for teenagers was not what it is today. She eventually upgraded to slightly better products from CVS, but struggled for years to find a foundation shade that matched her skin, often settling for shades two steps off. She credits Rihanna's Fenty line with finally solving that problem. She also reveals that she still has nightmares about her school uniform, usually dreaming that she cannot find it before an important event. At her art school, nicknamed CHAD, the mascot was an owl, which forced the team name to be a bird pun. She reminds readers that she won prom queen at that art school, calling herself the coolest of the weirdos, and jokes that the title means little now that she spends her days scooping cat litter.

School closures and Black education. Brunson reports that the Philadelphia school board voted to close CHAD in 2020, twenty-one years after it opened. This marks the second school designed specifically to enrich Black children's lives that shaped her and has since closed. She notes the irony that both institutions that contributed directly to her success no longer exist. She also jokes about Philadelphia High School Laws, claiming they require loudness on trains and that TastyKakes count as breakfast.

Historical and cultural notes. Brunson points out that the printing press was invented in China roughly four hundred years before Gutenberg's version. She references dial-up internet for younger readers, and notes that Instagram originally had no video feature, only pictures, which she frames as a nostalgic milestone for millennials. She also mentions that the Emmys were hosted online for the first time due to the pandemic.

Social commentary. Brunson observes that protests against police brutality were erupting globally as she wrote, calling the chapter a sad and exhausting time capsule of the unchanging times. She urges readers to take better care of the earth, regardless of their stance on climate change, and to be kind to neighbors. She expresses cautious optimism, noting that Gen Z is coming in hot and starting revolutions on TikTok. She also jokes about having learned to build a boat in preparation for the apocalypse.

Escapism and comedy. Brunson admits that watching TV comedies is an avoidance technique she still uses. When a situation feels hopeless, she retreats to something funny, recommending New Girl as a reliable choice. She clarifies that running away is not the answer and that she eventually handles things, but laughter serves as a safe space until change is possible.

Career and fame. Brunson mentions lending her voice to a recent season of Big Mouth, a milestone she frames as vindication for her younger self. She shares a theory that many aspiring writers and comedians end up in advertising instead, without disparaging advertisers. She reflects on the strange nature of fame, noting that a person is never more famous than when strangers in their mentions list their credits to comment on their non-fame.

Food and other asides. Brunson reveals she ate so much Pirate's Booty that she can no longer eat it without feeling sick. She recommends Worlds End State Park for camping, describing it as looking like the Garden of Eden. She also mentions Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band as the Super Bowl halftime show, and references a favorite moment from a show involving a roller coaster photo and the line “He got money.”

Key Events

• Brunson's high school makeup struggles and eventual solution via Fenty

• The Philadelphia school board's 2020 vote to close CHAD

• Global protests against police brutality occurring while she wrote

• Brunson's voice acting role on Big Mouth

• Instagram's introduction of video (a nostalgic milestone)

• The first-ever online Emmys due to the pandemic

• Brunson's recommendation of Worlds End State Park

Character Development

This chapter reveals Brunson's reflective side. Her makeup journey shows growth from insecurity and limited options to finding products that work for her, thanks in part to Rihanna's inclusive Fenty line. Her comments on school closures show a mature awareness of systemic issues in education, even as she jokes about her own school experiences. Her admission about using comedy as an avoidance technique demonstrates self-awareness; she acknowledges the behavior while also insisting that she eventually confronts problems. Her optimism about Gen Z suggests she sees progress in younger generations. The chapter also shows her humility—winning prom queen at an art school is framed as a small, funny achievement rather than a point of pride, and she jokes about the gap between that title and her current mundane life.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Makeup and self-image. Brunson's foundation struggles symbolize the difficulty of finding representation and products that work for Black women. Her eventual solution via Fenty highlights the importance of inclusive beauty lines.

Escapism through comedy. Brunson's use of TV comedies as a coping mechanism is a recurring motif, connecting her personal habits to her professional identity as a comedian.

School closures and Black education. The closure of two schools designed for Black children that shaped Brunson points to systemic neglect of Black educational institutions, even those that produce successful alumni.

Generational differences. Brunson repeatedly addresses different generations—explaining dial-up internet to young people, reassuring old-timers, and praising Gen Z's activism. This motif underscores her awareness of her place between generations.

Environmental care. Her plea to take better care of the earth, paired with the joke about building a boat for the apocalypse, blends earnest concern with her characteristic humor.

Why This Chapter Matters

“Footnotes” is a structural experiment that gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at Brunson's thought process. Because the chapter consists entirely of asides, it reveals the connective tissue between the anecdotes in earlier chapters. It also grounds the book in a specific historical moment—the protests of 2020, the pandemic, and the first online Emmys—making the memoir feel immediate and timely. The chapter's reflections on school closures, makeup, and generational change add depth to Brunson's personal story, showing how her humor is often a response to real frustration or grief. For readers, it demonstrates that even the smallest details in a memoir can carry meaning.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Brunson describe the chapter as a sad and exhausting time capsule of the unchanging times?

Brunson wrote the chapter while protests against police brutality were erupting globally. The phrase captures her frustration that the issues she discusses in the book—systemic injustice, inequality—remain unresolved despite years of activism. The time capsule framing suggests that her words will document a moment that feels repetitive, as if history is not progressing.

2. What does Brunson's makeup journey reveal about representation in the beauty industry?

Brunson's struggle to find a foundation shade that matched her skin, settling for shades two steps off, illustrates the historical lack of inclusive shade ranges in mainstream beauty products. Her gratitude toward Rihanna's Fenty line shows how a brand that prioritizes diversity can solve a problem many Black consumers faced for years.

3. How does Brunson balance humor and seriousness in this chapter?

Brunson uses humor as a coping mechanism and a rhetorical tool. She jokes about apocalypse preparedness and prom queen titles, but she also addresses serious topics like school closures, police brutality, and climate change. The humor makes the serious points more accessible without diminishing their weight, reflecting her stated belief that laughter can be a safe space while change is being made.

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