First published 2020
Frederick Joseph examines his experiences with racism through personal stories and conversations with prominent voices. As a transfer student navigating a predominantly white high school, Joseph encountered countless uncomfortable moments that he often chose to ignore. Comments like "We don't see color" and "What hood are you from?" became regular parts of his daily life. Now older and more reflective, Joseph recognizes these incidents as missed chances to educate others about their harmful impact. He addresses readers directly, sharing race-related memories from his past while explaining why these interactions caused pain and how he would respond differently today. Each chapter includes perspectives from artists and activists like Angie Thomas, April Reign, and Jemele Hill, among others. The book covers cultural appropriation, power dynamics, white privilege, microaggressions, and the devastating consequences of overt racism. Joseph transforms his role as a former "token Black kid" into that of an educator and ally. The book includes an encyclopedia of racism that defines terminology and explains relevant historical events.
Genres: african-american, social-issues, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-narrative, social-commentary
272 pages · Hardcover · Candlewick Press
Content warnings: racism