Scan barcode
mschlat's review against another edition
3.0
This book has three types of chapters that interweave:
1) chapters on Thurston's life (growing up in DC, going to Sidwell Friends School and Harvard) that focus on his expansive definitions of blackness and how they change with his experiences,
2) chapters where Thurston consults with "The Black Panel" --- friends, bloggers, artists, writers, and comedians --- who comment on some of the same definitions of blackness from different perspectives, and
3) chapters where Thurston writes very cutting and funny non-fiction pieces on the expected roles of Blacks in the US ("How to be the Black Friend", "How to be the Black Employee", etc...) that focus on restrictive definitions of blackness.
I really liked the first and second types of chapters, but --- as much as I appreciated the truth bombs --- I wasn't a big fan of the third type. I can see how discussing the more stereotypical ideas of black life heavily informs the other peices of writing, but I was much more engaging in learning from Thurston's life (and the lives of his friends).
1) chapters on Thurston's life (growing up in DC, going to Sidwell Friends School and Harvard) that focus on his expansive definitions of blackness and how they change with his experiences,
2) chapters where Thurston consults with "The Black Panel" --- friends, bloggers, artists, writers, and comedians --- who comment on some of the same definitions of blackness from different perspectives, and
3) chapters where Thurston writes very cutting and funny non-fiction pieces on the expected roles of Blacks in the US ("How to be the Black Friend", "How to be the Black Employee", etc...) that focus on restrictive definitions of blackness.
I really liked the first and second types of chapters, but --- as much as I appreciated the truth bombs --- I wasn't a big fan of the third type. I can see how discussing the more stereotypical ideas of black life heavily informs the other peices of writing, but I was much more engaging in learning from Thurston's life (and the lives of his friends).
cbrazas's review against another edition
5.0
While it is hilarious, it is also a strong, useful commentary on race and American culture.
somecallmefifi's review against another edition
5.0
This book has to be one of my favorite. It makes you laugh but is filled with so much truth and it was so easy to make a personal connection with the stories. (I went to the same school as the Author) A must read no matter what your race! For me it was great to hear someone put so much on paper for the world to read but for others it may be a wake up call. Check it out for yourself!
alaskastardust's review
4.0
I thought this was an excellent way to go about discussing blackness and race relations. Unlike a lot of texts about these subjects, the language is accessible and there is a great deal of levity between hard-hitting revelations. The angle of this book works well because I think it appeals to a wide array of people, not just folks who would "usually" read things pertaining to race.
I would consider this a must-read for anyone, but especially white liberals who are at risk of inadvertently saying some wild shit that may be covered in this book.
I would consider this a must-read for anyone, but especially white liberals who are at risk of inadvertently saying some wild shit that may be covered in this book.
mmchampion's review against another edition
4.0
Funny commentary on the state of race relations between whites and blacks and black folks in America. I laughed aloud a number of times and loved his inclusion of other voices (literally on the audio version of the book).
melanieapril's review
3.0
I had been looking forward to reading this book for several months, so it bore the burden of high expectations and ultimately proved to be a little disappointing. I think the book's chief problem is that it tries to be too many things in too few pages. Is it a piece of humorous writing? Well, it's not very funny. I chuckled a few times but never laughed until I hurt. Is it a memoir? The author shares his life story and a few personal anecdotes, but his stories feel rushed. The only real character to emerge from the book is Thurston's awesome-sounding mother, and even she lacks a distinctive voice. Is it an effective treatise on racism? Maybe. The book should really be titled "How to Be Less Racist," since it is most successful when it points out the obnoxious ways white people take their privilege for granted. Unfortunately Thurston has crowd-sourced half these sorts of passages to his friends and included their spoken opinions verbatim in the pages of his book. It's like he was preparing a podcast and at the last minute decided to turn it into a written work. Although his friends' musings are interesting, they are difficult to read in print.
real_life_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Funny, inspiring, brilliant. When I read books like these, it makes me realize how far I have to go to start thinking like an anti-racist in every situation. I promised Baratunde (his name is the most amazing name EVER) on Instagram that I would read this to my sons when they are a little older. Hold me accountable, Community.