Selected as part of the Amherst Jones Library's On the Same Page program. I'm very glad I read it! About half of the essays are in second person, an unusual choice but one that works very well here; the other half are in first person.

See also: The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph; I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown

Quotes

Racism is part and parcel of our culture, the great American disease with which we are all afflicted; there will be no cure until we accept this diagnosis. (from "The Heritage Room," 39)

Her tolerance for racism was extreme, in your view, which was to say she resisted it only if it were actually occurring, whereas all you required was its possibility. (From "Smoke," 84)

We were having trouble getting excited about our trip to Chicago, on account of all the murders. (From "Once More To the Ghetto," 120) ( )

I sped through this, it was so enlightening and well written. I wish I had read Dragon Slayers before I tackled the Norton Anthology of African American Literature. I really appreciated his perspective on reading the works of African Americans. His essays are entertaining and eye opening. Really a lot of food for thought here. ( )