Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
|
Loading... Not a Genuine Black Man: Or, How I Claimed My Piece of Ground in the Lily-White Suburbsby Brian Copeland
   None No current Talk conversations about this book.  AuntieClio | Aug 12, 2013 |    ) beaurichly | Feb 20, 2012 | ) ImBookingIt | Mar 26, 2010 |  ) sean.r | Feb 12, 2009 | Brian Copeland tells the story of his life in a very conversational tone that brings in the elements of his comedy work without seeming contrived. Alongside the moments of mirth, readers will feel their hearts sink in their chest almost every chapter as another instance of racism is discussed. Despite moving between his childhood and adulthood, into what we might consider to be an "enlightened" time, Brian Copeland continuously runs across heartbreaking instances of racism. Some reviewers have reccomended this book for 9-12-year-olds, but I think this book is a bit too mature for them, due to the scenes with Copeland's father. Instead, I believe that it would be most appropriate for 9th graders and above. ( ) kitsune.heart | Dec 1, 2008 | no reviews | add a review
Based on the longest-running one-man show in San Francisco history--now coming to Off-Broadway--a hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb In 1972, when Brian Copeland was eight, his family moved from Oakland to San Leandro, California, hoping for a better life. At the time, San Leandro was 99.4 percent white, known nationwide as a racist enclave. This reputation was confirmed almost immediately: Brian got his first look at the inside of a cop car, for being a black kid walking to the park with a baseball bat. Brian grew up to be a successful comedian and radio talk show host, but racism reemerged as an issue--only in reverse--when he received an anonymous letter: "As an African American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because YOU are not a genuine Black man!" That letter inspired Copeland to revisit his difficult childhood, resulting in a hit one-man show that has been running for nearly two years--which has now inspired a book. In this funny, surprising, and ultimately moving memoir, Copeland shows exactly how our surroundings make us who we are. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)792.7028092The arts Recreational and performing arts Stage presentations, Theatre Variety shows and theatrical dancing Techniques, procedures, apparatus, materialsLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4.34)
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English (1)
2
Mr Copeland is the perfect example of how we can never know what's going on in someone else's life. The horror of being black in the Bay Area never truly came to my mind, until I read this book. While identifying with so many of the "outsider/don't fit in" stories, and definitely the "I don't know what I did wrong. I'm a good person, why do people hate me/bully me so much?" theme, I will never in a million years understand why having a non-pink skin tone is justification to be horrible to people who are just trying to live their lives.
It's no surprise that Mr. Copeland slid into depression and beyond. The story of how he recovered and deals with being black in America and black in the diverse (yet somehow still racist) San Francisco Bay Area is a story told with grace and dignity.
Thank you Mr. Copeland for writing such a book (