colin_cox's review against another edition
4.0
One of the questions I am left asking after reading Sarah Valentine's memoir, When I Was White, is this: what does it mean for someone to pass accidentally? Is accidental passing even possible? Must one possess some degree of awareness of what one is doing, to pass? If what Valentine experienced (believing she was white and not biracial for most of her life) is not passing, then what is it?
Valentine leaves this question unanswered, gravitating toward ambiguity over transparency. This is not to suggest that When I Was White is an inscrutable book. On the contrary, Valentine's more significant point is that racial identity and biological history are, to some degree, impossible questions to answer even as race "clings to people of color like a magnet to iron" (163).
Throughout When I Was White, Valentine makes what would otherwise be impenetrable academic concepts clear, readable, and understandable. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite aspects of When I Was White. Because Valentine attempts to understand complex ideas and terms, she pushes the memoir into interesting and unexpected territory.
Valentine leaves this question unanswered, gravitating toward ambiguity over transparency. This is not to suggest that When I Was White is an inscrutable book. On the contrary, Valentine's more significant point is that racial identity and biological history are, to some degree, impossible questions to answer even as race "clings to people of color like a magnet to iron" (163).
Throughout When I Was White, Valentine makes what would otherwise be impenetrable academic concepts clear, readable, and understandable. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite aspects of When I Was White. Because Valentine attempts to understand complex ideas and terms, she pushes the memoir into interesting and unexpected territory.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
2.0
This was a difficult one because there are certain points where it feels like the author was comfortable with the racism within her family because it wasn't aimed at her but she's also a Black woman who spent most of her early life brainwashed to believe she was white. She heard the racist things white people say when there are no people of color around and was comfortable until it was aimed at her. There's some cringe stuff like her childhood nickname being 'beaner' and general racism and lack of awareness until she learns that her father is Black. Oh, and some stray ableism.
The whole chapter full of pseudo-philosophical conversations at Denny's should have been cut.
The whole chapter full of pseudo-philosophical conversations at Denny's should have been cut.
shannanh's review against another edition
4.0
It was very interesting up until the end. One woman's story into her life and the day she finds out she is actually a woman of color.
danicapage's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: By making this comment, I’m not trying to denigrate the author or her experience. It seems like her relationship with her mother was complicated and that her mother lied often and frequently and purposely hid the truth. While I don’t think this was the author’s intent, some comments came across a little bit victim blaming. No two people experience rape the same way or react the same. And trauma can make it difficult for people to remember things. Somebody having sex with somebody who is passed out is rape, somebody having sex with somebody they drugged is raped, and somebody could have been in a relationship with somebody/gone to a party with them and even liked them and still been raped.
I don’t think the author’s intent was to say otherwise, but how certain things were said made it seem so. I think it was meant to reflect and show her tumultuous and problematic relationship with her mom and her mom’s story alone. But I can’t leave a review and not start with that.
Warnings: I don’t feel like there are too many warnings to give here: racism, sexual assault/rape/mental illness, some tame sexual content.
I don’t know what to make of this book in some ways. A lot of reviewers are saying and criticizing the author for not realizing and figuring out she was Black sooner. I think that’s unfair for the reasons the author explains throughout the book. Memoirs are always hard for me to rate. I felt some of the pacing and what she chose to focus on was off. For example, the lengthy description of a wedding. I listened to audio, so I can’t comment on errors or anything like that.
I also felt this memoir in many ways was very moving and poignant. I never felt completely hooked or captivated, but it was an intriguing read.
I don’t think the author’s intent was to say otherwise, but how certain things were said made it seem so. I think it was meant to reflect and show her tumultuous and problematic relationship with her mom and her mom’s story alone. But I can’t leave a review and not start with that.
Warnings: I don’t feel like there are too many warnings to give here: racism, sexual assault/rape/mental illness, some tame sexual content.
I don’t know what to make of this book in some ways. A lot of reviewers are saying and criticizing the author for not realizing and figuring out she was Black sooner. I think that’s unfair for the reasons the author explains throughout the book. Memoirs are always hard for me to rate. I felt some of the pacing and what she chose to focus on was off. For example, the lengthy description of a wedding. I listened to audio, so I can’t comment on errors or anything like that.
I also felt this memoir in many ways was very moving and poignant. I never felt completely hooked or captivated, but it was an intriguing read.
freder1ck's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written memoir. The author is biracial, but through family insistence, was raised as white in the United States where racial identity is related to everything. To the people who ask how she didn't embrace her biracial heritage until she was 27, the memoir makes clear (as with family secrets generally) that she did have a certain awareness. If your mother is the keeper of your memories and identities, who do you believe when your mother tells you one thing and everyone else tells you another thing? Love and acceptance are only adequate when they embrace the whole person, omitting nothing.
eclairemars's review against another edition
2.0
Great start, but then over-politicized and mono-dimensional
sarahfett's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. The author has a fascinating story to tell with important insights into race and identity in America. But this book is in need of a lot of editing. At times the narrative is choppy without enough details to be able to follow the story, but in other places it is overly verbose. I did read an ARC, but they are usually in better shape this close to publication. I'll hold out hope that a good editor goes through it before it is published because it is a 5 star story that everyone could benefit from reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on August 6, 2019.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on August 6, 2019.
assisiminded's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciated this very thoughtful consideration of identity, family, and how race is perceived and realized in the United States.