Weaving together personal stories; history; and analysis; Same Family; Different Colors explores the myriad ways skin-color politics affect family dynamics in the United States.Colorism and color bias—the preference for or presumed superiority of people based on the color of their skin—is a pervasive and damaging but rarely openly discussed phenomenon. In this unprecedented book; Lori L. Tharps explores the issue in African American; Latino; Asian American; and mixed-race families and communities by weaving together personal stories; history; and analysis. The result is a compelling portrait of the myriad ways skin-color politics affect family dynamics in the United States.Tharps; the mother of three mixed-race children with three distinct skin colors; uses her own family as a starting point to investigate how skin-color difference is dealt with. Her journey takes her across the country and into the lives of dozens of diverse individuals; all of whom have grappled with skin-color politics and speak candidly about experiences that sometimes scarred them. From a Latina woman who was told she couldn’t be in her best friend’s wedding photos because her dark skin would “spoil†the pictures; to a light-skinned African American man who spent his entire childhood “trying to be Black;†Tharps illuminates the complex and multifaceted ways that colorism affects our self-esteem and shapes our lives and relationships. Along with intimate and revealing stories; Tharps adds a historical overview and a contemporary cultural critique to contextualize how various communities and individuals navigate skin-color politics.Groundbreaking and urgent; Same Family; Different Colors is a solution-seeking journey to the heart of identity politics; so that this more subtle “cousin to racism;†in the author’s words; will be exposed and confronted.
#374464 in Books Nelson Alondra 2016-09-20 2016-09-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 0807027189216 pagesThe Social Life of DNA Race Reparations and Reconciliation After the Genome
Review
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A Catalyst for HealingBy CelesteAs descendants of people forcibly separated from their national and ethnic groups centuries ago; descendants of enslaved Africans have little to rely on but DNA technology to learn who they are. In this book; Alondra Nelson does an impeccable job of showing how DNA breakthroughs can and are being used to heal people.14 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Dense with InformationBy 'chelleAlondra Nelson has done an exemplary job of breaking down incredibly complex social and scientific topics into language a layman can understand without oversimplifying. While it was a bit dry at times; The Social Life of DNA was replete with information. It was so dense with knowledge that it took me thrice the normal time to read.Not only do I feel that I have learned something about genetics and genealogy; I have; more importantly; come to a greater understand of the cultural significance of these studies in the black community. I have long understood the theft of culture and family from Africans and African-Americans as a part of the many horrors of slavery. What I had failed to understand was how emotionally significant an ethnic identity can be to a person. In particular a person for whom this identity has not only been taken but replaced with an identity as victim.This has given me a great deal to process for which I thank the author.I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Goodreads First Reads program9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A must read for anyone interested or engaged in human geneticsBy Jen W.This author has a rare ability to explain complex social science topics in ways that just make sense. Her conversational style is welcoming of novice and casual readers of the subject matter. Her research is thorough and thoughtful; which ensures that experts will learn something new as well. The book is not over-burdened with academic references (i.e.; she uses endnotes as they are intended to be used); but she doesn't skimp on engaging important and relevant scholarship. Readers will become familiar with highly influential work while being entertained by the fascinating stories she covers in this book. This is an important read for anyone interested in anthropological genetics or the non-medical applications of DNA analysis. You don't have to be an academic to understand or enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
