Scan barcode
A review by awebofstories
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Lacey Lamar, Amber Ruffin
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Stalking and Police brutality
Grade: A
So, do you want some comedy about racism? Or, should I say, do you want to be completely unsettled? Because this book is both.
Amber Ruffin writes for Late Night with Seth Meyers and has her own show on the Peacock service, so she is well-known in the comedy world. Less known is her older sister, who lives in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. While Ruffin, who now lives in New York, doesn't face the same kind of racism that she did in her hometown, Lamar is still in the thick of it. This book is a collection of the racist incidents Lamar faces daily, which become the stories she tells her sister during their phone calls.
I listened to the audiobook, which I believe is the way to go. However, there are many references to pictures in the book, so I would recommend getting a print copy (libraries are great for this!) so that you can see pictures of the creepy baby doll Lacey is gifted, as well as all her hairstyles and what they've been called.
Ruffin does most of the narration, with Lamar chiming in at key moments to keep her sister on the straight and narrow. This works incredibly well; as a professional comedian and comic writer, Ruffin can deliver on these stories. I found myself simultaneously laughing out loud and being completely shocked by what I was hearing. It is horrifying that things depicted in these stories are happening in our present day, but Ruffin and Lamar point out how absurd the racists are.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it, especially if you can access both the print and audio versions.