How to Be Black

by Baratunde R. Thurston

New York Times Bestseller

Baratunde Thurston’s comedic memoir chronicles his coming-of-blackness and offers practical advice on everything from “How to Be the Black Friend” to “How to Be the (Next) Black President”.

Have you ever been called “too black” or “not black enough”?

Have you ever befriended or worked with a black person?

Have you ever heard of black people?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book is for you. It is also for anyone who can read, possesses intelligence, loves to laugh, and has ever felt a distance between who they know themselves to be and what the world expects.

Raised by a pro-black, Pan-Afrikan single mother during the crack years of 1980s Washington, DC, and educated at Sidwell Friends School and Harvard University, Baratunde Thurston has more than over thirty years' experience being black. Now, through stories of his politically inspired Nigerian name, the heroics of his hippie mother, the murder of his drug-abusing father, and other revelatory black details, he shares with readers of all colors his wisdom and expertise in how to be black.

“As a black woman, this book helped me realize I’m actually a white man.”—Patton Oswalt

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Race, Audiobook, African American, Politics

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2012

About the author

Baratunde Rafiq Thurston is an American comedian based in Boston and New York City. A politically-active, technology-loving comedian, he co-founded the black political blog, Jack and Jill Politics and serves as Director of Digital for "The Onion." Baratunde travels the world speaking and advising and performs standup regularly in NYC. He resides in Brooklyn, lives on Twitter and has over 30 years experience being black.

Thurston is the author of three self-published books, "Better than Crying: Poking Fun at Politics, the Press & Pop Culture," "Keep Jerry Falwell Away from My Oreo Cookies" and "Thank You Congressional Pages (For Being So Damn Sexy!)" His fourth book, entitled "How to Be Black" was published on February 1, 2012.

Reviews

[Cinnamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this book so far. If nothing else, the conversations, smirks, giggles, and very confused looks I've gotten while reading this book in public have been great. Having an older African American woman point at the book, smirk and say "Good luck with that!" was a highlight of my week. And then just a few days later an older African American gentleman went on a rant to me about "in his day" black people were trying to be white and now there were too many white folks trying to act black, but you have to be born black, you can't become black. And when I explained that it was humorous social commentary intended to discuss subtle or latent racism, he scoffed even louder and told me "of course y'all take that from a funny black guy, if he was angry y'all would ignore him and run away from him." I agreed that he was likely right, but he continued to rant in a very hilarious way about how white people have incredibly bizarre impressions of race and how he just doesn't get "you people". But if you are an even mildly-aware white person I highly recommend this book just to read the occasional line that will make your eyes go wide and you'll think "Oh my GAWD! I think I've done that before!" It's all about persepective, and Baratunde creates a great chance to address this persepctive.

[Nando Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(First off, I heard this on Audiobook, and I URGE you to do the same. I'm sure the book is just fine, but on the audio version you get Baratunde's narration and original recordings from the interviewees)

Wow, to think this is the debut from Baratunde Thurston. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next... This book may be funny, but the message in it couldn't be more serious and straightforward. I feel like a door was opened to me, exposing a little bit of what an American black person goes through – how they're brought up, their history, their views, challenges and conflicts – inter- or intra-racial ones.

His views and the ones of his interviewees shed a light on the current racial situation of America, and ridicules the "post-racial America" bullshit, while at the same time pointing out that being black in 2012 means a lot of different things, and those things are very different than in previous times.
There are some hilarious descriptions of the different roles a black person has to play in American society, such as "the black friend" or "the angry black man," and realizes that understanding (and laughing about) these things has positive results.

Finally, I love how he and some of his guests talk about the difference between the perception of black people in America vs. other parts of the world. I thought it was particularly enlightening to hear his African-born guest talk about how he doesn't get the black/white thing, because where he comes from, those who dominate his people look like them. I can relate to that; I come from a country where people are highly mixed, and therefore it's tough to even say who's black and who's not, and yet, we have deep social problems. Those problems come from us being humans, so demonizing anyone based on their particular skin tone is foolish.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read this laugh out loud book almost six years ago and loved it. It spoke to me then and it spoke to me again now. It should be read by every black person whoever felt like they weren't black enough. It also should be read by non-black people who have misconceptions on what and how "all" black people think and behave. Thurston's book teaches the reader that there is more than one way to be black. He knows this because he was the child of a woman who exposed him to activities that we as an American society do not associate with black people. This book is also filled with advice such as how to be the black friend and the next black president. Ultimately I learned that society does not define what blackness is, black people do. So when you see a black person doing something that seems foreign to you, it just means that it is time to update your definition of blackness.

Review also published here: https://medium.com/ballasts-for-the-m...

[Julie Ehlers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this because whenever I was in the bookstore, I would pick it up, flip through it, and land on something that made me laugh out loud. If that happens enough times, you eventually realize you and a book are meant to spend quality time together. I think Thurston's goal with How to Be Black was threefold: (1) to write a memoir of his own life; (2) to make the reader laugh; (3) to teach the reader a thing or two about race in America. At all three things he succeeds. I definitely laughed quite a bit and learned quite a lot throughout the book, but the memoir chapters were the most entertaining and fascinating for me, encompassing as they did two worlds I know nothing about: a dangerous neighborhood in crack-riddled DC and the rarefied air of Sidwell Friends and Harvard. I do kind of wish Thurston had written a full-on memoir and explored his ideas of race through that, and if he ever decides to do it I will be first in line at the bookstore. In the meantime, I'm glad I read this one.

[Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and smart, in How to Be Black Baratunde Thurston takes a serious and not-at-all-funny subject -- racism in America-- and presents it in a light-hearted and satirical manner.   I listened to the audio version of this book, read by Mr. Thurston himself, and I'm sure that added to my enjoyment of the book as his sarcasm shines through brilliantly. 

I don't usually listen to books because I don't process audio well; my brain needs to see the words printed on paper or screen in order to fully absorb them.  However, I felt like listening to something whilst doing something else and this audio book was available.  I will have to read the (visual) book as well though, so that I can get the full message of what Mr. Thurston is saying and remember it.  I'm thinking I'll probably bump it up to 5 stars when I do but for now, 4 stars.

[Dann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually hilarious.

[Des · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial thoughts: More of a 3.5 for me mostly because it lagged in a few places but overall a great and funny book.

Full review:
I'll do this in bullet points mostly because I'm trying to catch up on my reviews and may not remember all the details:

1. Baratunde is really funny and witty and it shows in his writing.

2. Some of the chapters lagged a little but that's to be expected. Not every part of a satirical book can be laugh out loud funny.

3. The section on his name and Nigerians discovering it was particularly hilarious because it's so true. Trust me, I know. He also wrote it in such a way that I could picture it so vividly which made it even funnier.

4. This is one of the few books that I can say for certain that I will listen to as an audiobook if I get the chance. It was funny enough just reading it as text so I can only imagine how funny it will be as an audiobook.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is affirming and inspiring. I am awed that Baratunde Thurston can talk about race and yet maintain a sense of humor, hope and forgiveness. And it's not like he sweeps history under the rug, either. From this book you can get a real sense of how exhausting it is to be black in White America. This book is the real deal!

It can get lonely sometimes being a person of color in elite academic/professional settings, and I really think Thurston gets that. So for me personally, I really connected with his life story and his compassionate way of navigating our oppression-ravaged world. What hit me was that it can be tough to be middle class and a person of color at the same time because it's just the truth that middle class and up are predominantly white social circles. Example: the chapter entitled "How to Be the Black Friend."

"By acting as a buffer and a sounding board between worlds, The Black Friend can prevent misunderstandings from escalating into an all-out conflagration, and all black people benefit from these quiet acts of diplomacy, not just those who serve as Black Friends. The irony is that many in the black community look with derision upon those of their number who serve as Black Friends. Truly exceptional Black Friends are treated as traitors to their race, told they aren't 'black enough,' and called Oreos and sellouts. If you are the type of person to instantly judge a black person seemingly enjoying himself in the company of a group of white people, think twice before you judge. He just might be on a mission!" (83).

This resonates immensely for me!! Just how middle class people of color can be misunderstood, pulled between two worlds and are charged with the task of being lifelong diplomats..

This book is a quick read, informative, humorous and (I would argue) accessible to a diverse audience. It makes me so excited for the future. It makes me proud to be a part of this cohort of articulate middle class activists of color! Also, we're all in this together.

Thurston rounds up a kick-@$$ panel of black comedians/bloggers. Towards the end of the book he talks to Kamau Bell about the "Distributed Struggle: spreading the burden of fighting oppression more broadly across society." This is what he had to say:

"'You can't end racism and make sexism worse. You can't end racism and make homophobia worse. You have to put it all forward...So a big part of my how-to-be-black is actually trying to be inclusive of all the struggles. Slow clap.'

Yes, he actually said 'slow clap' at the end of his statement."

LOL. Couldn't have put it better.

[willaful · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I had to laugh when I started this book and read "Even if you're reading the book years after its original publication, it's probably February-ish on your calendar." I swear, I first heard about this book in January, from someone on my friend's list, and my library hold didn't come through til February!

This is a somewhat uneasy mix of genuine memoir and satire about black stereotypes, and I found it enlightening, mostly goodhearted, but more amusing than laugh-out-loud funny. Quite possibly it would be funnier to me if I were black and had shared some of the author's life experiences -- though I did spend a fair bit of time wondering, "Oh man, am I that asshole he's talking about?" I think I enjoyed the memoir parts the most -- though they're occasionally somewhat harrowing, so perhaps enjoyed isn't the right word. Let's say appreciated.

The underlying message is there is no one right way to be black, and the book ends on a call to arms for black people to just be themselves, essentially. It's a good call.

[Book Riot Community]

This is one of the funniest autobio-type books I’ve ever read. Thurston takes a satirical approach to his “guide” based on his personal experiences, but the book is really more than that. There’s some excellent (and educational!) commentary in there not just from the author, but from an actual panel of folks who come from various backgrounds, both culturally and professionally. It’s broken up into short chunks based on various issues or stages of his life, and questions about when and how one begins to perceive themselves and identify as black (or white, or, or, or). Super smart, accessible, and flows wonderfully. –Kristina Pino



from The Best Books We Read In February: http://bookriot.com/2016/03/01/riot-r...

[Stephen Matlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, so I didn't know what to expect from the book, but I have been following this guy on Twitter for a while. I didn't know also that he was the "Jack Turner" behind the "Jack & Jill Politics" blog that I followed. (I don't pay attention to all that much, I guess.)

But this guy's name kept popping up on my Twitter feeds--another guy I follow kept posting about him and recommending him, and then his book kept appearing as well, so I picked it up.

First off, the book cover is fairly aggressive. It makes it difficult to read in public, because some random white guy sitting on a bus reading a book with six-inch-high bold letters announcing the title "HOW TO BE BLACK" can be a little weird. There are more than a few black Americans who ride the bus with me, and there was no scenario I could work out where I could explain what it was I was doing reading that book. So in an act of brilliant reasoning but perhaps moral cowardice I simply removed the dust jacket and read the book so as not to expose the spine too often.

The book itself is charming and funny and raucous and sincere. It is humorous to the point where you laugh out loud and then people on the bus want to know what you're reading (which then means you have to tell them "Well, there's this book I'm reading for research on what this all _means_, but you know, I'm not actually reading it seriously, but I'm also not reading it because I am making fun of anybody, and besides, I'm really a nice guy..." Well, you can see why it can be a difficult book to read in public.

It it also serious and sometimes poignant. Mr. Thurston had an amazing mother and life experience. There are so many moments when you are happy for the ways things work out for him--rather ordinary things, really, like planning for a college or figuring out a career--that take unavoidable importance due to the nature of being someone a lot of people just don't expect to have around. It doesn't seem to be something he avoids or something he uses as a badge: it just is, and he deals with it as it is.

And, there are the wonderful stories and recommendations. For those of you expecting a true guidebook with bullet points, lists, and exit criteria on How to Be Black, he provides them. For the Black Friends Auxiliary, he also gives helpful points. It is funny, it makes you laugh, and then you have to check yourself: Do I act like around my One Black Friend?

What a mess we've made in America of race and people and color and skin. It has caused a lot of grief and pain and heartache. But we can still look at directly, think about it, talk about it--and sometimes laugh at the absurdity, even the absurdity of owning a book you're not comfortable reading in public on a bus.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How to be black" is, as Thurston admits, a huge topic that one book can never really hope to tackle in its entirety. But Thurston admits as much, and his best effort is certainly worth reading. As a white woman, of course I never have been and never will be black, but I think that this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand race and racism in the United States. Much of the book is deeply personal and the book is really a strange chimera of memoir and satire. But it works because Thurston uses his personal experiences to support his thesis: that there are infinite ways of forming your own black identity, but also to show that there are near-universal black experiences in America (the chapter 'How to Be the Black Friend' does this especially).

It would be expected that a man who works for the Onion would be funny, but Thurston's uses humor to great effect. His satirical manner of poking fun at uncomfortable situations helps illuminate when and how white people are prone to making behaving, if not badly, at least in an ignorantly. There were some jokes that had me laughing so hard I had to put my book down.

Thurston discusses hard topics, and painful topics, but rather than taking an angry or vengeful bent, his tone is hopeful, which made the book that much more rewarding to read. In all, I would highly recommend How to Be Black to anyone. Even if you're not interested in the topic being discussed, it's hilariously funny, and you just might learn something.

[Agnė · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

“How to Be Black” by Baratunde Thurston is part memoir, part humorous social commentary on race and identity related issues in America. Despite being raised by a Pan-African single mother in the inner city of Washington, DC during the drug wars, Thurston not only stayed out of trouble but also graduated from a private, primarily white Sidwell Friends School and later form Harvard University. Along the stories about the origins of his name, the tofu-eating hippie of a mother and the murder of his drug-abusing father, Thurston shares his expertise in how to be a black friend, a black employee and even a black president. To provide an additional perspective, the author also engages a Black Panel - six successful black American artists/comedians and one white Canadian - in a provocative conversation about race and identity.

THUMBS UP:

1) Educational.
Thanks to “How to Be Black,” now I have a much better understanding of African-American culture and race-related issues in the United States. In addition to bringing to light quite a few interesting cultural aspects and stereotypes that I wasn’t aware of, Thurston also helped me to grasp the gravity of external as well as internal conflicts African-Americans have to face in America as a minority group.

2) Audacious and optimistic.
Thurston not only bravely addresses very sensitive issues such as racial stereotypes and discrimination but also dares to make fun of them. The author clearly is one of those people who turn lemons into lemonade, and thus, despite the fact that most of the racial problems are quite grave, the tone of “How to Be Black” is rather hopeful.

3) Encouraging.
Through his personal memories and humorous social observations, Thurston encourages conversations about racial differences in order to stop interracial as well as intraracial conflicts that stem from ignorance and misinformation. The author also offers a more universal advice to ANYONE who has ever felt like an outlier, no matter of the race, gender or ethnicity: simply be yourself, embrace your interests and just be happy.

COULD BE BETTER:

1) Humor.
Even though certain passages made me smile and nod in approval, I didn’t find this book laugh-out-loud hilarious. To be honest, quite often I felt like the author is trying too hard to be funny and sometimes his humor would even strike me as arrogant. To make matters worse, some jokes didn’t seem funny to me simply because I didn’t get them: occasionally, I wasn’t sure whether the author is being serious or mocking something, and certain satirical passages seemed overdone and out of place (for example, the final five pages in “How to Be The (Next) Black President” chapter).

2) Not for everyone.
Contrary to the author’s claim, “How to Be Black” is NOT for everyone. I bet if I were African-American myself, or at least more American, it would be easier to relate to the author’s experiences and to understand and appreciate historical, political and social references. Since Thurston doesn’t bother to explain the original subject he is referring to, I am sure I missed quite a few jokes as well as some more serious points. For example, the author spends the whole PAGE advising a black employee on how much watermelon he should eat at a company holiday party. Unfortunately, this page made very little sense to me because, apparently, I was not aware of a common stereotype (which the author fails to mention) that black people LOVE watermelon.

3) Writing and editing.
Although I love the main message of the book, some other Thurston’s arguments could have been developed better. To be honest, sometimes I had a hard time understanding how certain stories are relevant to the point the author is trying to make (for example, the encounter with a recruiter from the navy), or even whether there IS a point. I also wished that the Black Panel answers were shorter and more to the point.

4) Impersonal memoir.
Although funny, optimistic and potentially inspiring, Thurston’s memoir seems rather impersonal and thus not very captivating. Apparently, it’s not enough to have a good story; you also have to tell it well.

VERDICT: 2 out of 5

In addition to being a memoir, “How to Be Black” by Baratunde Thurston is also a brave, educational and entertaining insight into racial issues in America. However, historical, political and social references as well as the author’s humor and writing might not be accessible to everyone.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can this book deserve the coveted 5 star award, you say? Simply this: it made me laugh a whole lot, it's hopeful and wonderfully good-natured, and it inspired me with the energizing realization that the world is changing right this very moment in crazy, unforseen, wonderful ways that mean we all are stretching and changing the definitions of Blackness, Whiteness, Femaleness, Chineseness, Fatness, or whatever else we are -- to whomever we honestly are and whomever we intend to become! I just got this wild heady sense of freedom and endless possibilities even while I was tearful with anguish and joy over the past and future of Blackness in America.

I should quote at least one thing that made me laugh out loud. (Note that these quotes are often internal quotes from The Black Panel, seven of Baratunde's friends and colleagues whom he feels "do blackness well.") From the chapter The Future of Blackness: "Then when you turn a certain age, you get to have a ceremony or something, and then you're black! And then no one else could ever take that away from you, no matter what you do. No matter if you go and work for Booz, Allen & Hamilton. Doesn't matter."

Also one thing that brought tears to my eyes. "Our early existence in America exposed the nation's shortcomings from the start, and thanks to our struggle, America has become more of what she has the potential to be. As Derrick put it, black people in America 'have literally been the physical embodiment, the manifestation of the ideals that the Founding Fathers said they believed in, thought they believed in. But they didn't exist until us. That's something to be proud of.'"

The idea of the outsourced struggle is brilliant. "I've done workshops where I have literally taken all the people of color out and left the white people and said, 'Your job is to end racism, and I'll be back in twenty minutes. You set it up. Take it down.'"

And even better is the idea of the collaborative struggle. "I think that all people who are fighting for oppressed people should only be allowed to work for the group that's one over from them. Black people should only be allowed to work for the Mexican immigrants' struggle in America. Mexican immigrants should only be allowed to work for gay marriage. Gay marriage should only be allowed to work for black people. I feel like if we all just stepped one group over, I think we would get things done a lot quicker."

I felt a little sad and neglected about this time, toward the end of the book, because never once did he mention the W word: Women. Finally at the very end, in the Afterword at the bottom of page 246 (in the hardback edition), Jaquetta Szathmari just slips it into her final quote. So yes, he does just barely acknowledge the majority-minority that is the whole female part of humanity. But even if he doesn't feel it, it's still true. So much of the book rang very true to me as a female. I kept shouting "Yes! Yes! Yes!" while reading, disquieting my son and cats, already a bit unsettled from the maniacal laughter. Also, from Jaquetta herself, "But people of all persuasions, ethnicities, political backgrounds have come up to me and said, 'Thanks for telling my story.' So I think there's a lot more people who feel like outsiders than I had originally thought." So the real story, to me, is this, is how collectively we are in the process of ridding ourselves of all that outmoded, wrong-headed stereotypical thinking and just redefining and being who we individually are, so that nobody is an outsider anymore and we're all in.

In the acknowledgements -- and this is one of those books that make you want to read every word including the book flaps -- the very last line is a blank underline with "your name on this line" in parentheses underneath. I have a strong urge to claim it as my own, this book. I want to write my name in bold black letters on that line. And for that, Baratunde, I have to thank you.

[Shamus McCarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because it looked like it was funny. I also was hoping it would teach me how to dance and elevate my freestyle skills. Unfortunately, it was made clear early on in the book that this book will not teach non-blacks how to be black. I almost returned to book and demanded my money back, but it was pretty funny up to that point so I kept reading.


Baratunde is a funny guy. I have a feeling we would get along and crack up at bad jokes all night if we ran into each other at a bar. The book, is a guidebook/autobiography about blackness. I was hoping for more jokes about white people, but Bar focused more on his own race and the 'Shit Black People Do'. Probably a good way to stay out of trouble with Republicans, and other groups of uptight white people. I however, am not an uptight white person, and I wanted more racist jokes against WHITEY! So I deducted 1 star for not being racist enough. This may sound strange until you realize that I'm a bad person.


I didn't finish the book, I eventually got bored with it and found myself forcing the read. This is probably because I'm more of a fiction guy then an autobiography guy. Had I known this book was going to turn that way I would have not picked it up. Baratunde, you're cool and all, but your life isn't really all that interesting. And besides that, you're 30! What kind of narcissist writes an autobiography in their 30's?! 1 star deduction for being a D-bag!


Although I didn't finish it, it is a good book so I'm not going to go below 3 stars because I'm a bad reader who finds nonfiction boring. That's not Bar's fault, I'm just not the target audience for this book.

[Arlene♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this both in physical format and in audiobook form, and I think it is best listen to than read. Mainly because you get a better sense of who Baratunde Thurson is and the people on his Black Panel who narrate their parts in the book about what is to be black, grow up black, see blackness in America and what can come from it. There were moments when I gave a good laugh, the learning to swim part in particular, but all in all it was just okay. Being from DC myself and going to college on the Eastern Shore of MD, I understood and could recognize a lot of the things that Baratunde referencers when talking about his growing up in DC (I went to public schools though) and having a very hands on mother. Other than that while it was intelligent and written in a very non threatening format I think that both black people and non people of color could pick this up and get something from it. Not bad for my first nonfiction book in like years!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snarky, witty, and all-around entertaining. Also thought-provoking, nuance-ridden, and bitingly direct. A definite to-read, even if (especially if) you aren't black.

Baratunde is fucking hilarious and I could listen to him talk forever.

[Todd N · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the racial tension of the late-60s somehow got into my DNA along with a bunch of my mom's diet pills, so please forgive me if I pass out from anxiety in the middle of reviewing this book.

Baratunde Thurston did a great interview on Fresh Air, so I was very interested to read this book. Several Goodreads friends also liked it, which also pushed it up on my queue a few books.

When I finally found it at the local bookstore, I was dismayed to find it in the humor section, filed amongst the novelty books, books shaped like toilets, and books that are blogs everyone is sick of. And I was further dismayed to find that the book jacket came in both black text on white and white text on black. What the hell balls is that supposed to mean? I wound up getting it on the Kindle so that I wouldn't have to decide. (Told you I am anxious.)

The quick summary is that I'm glad I read this book. Most striking is the influence of a strong and brave single mother. It's very similar to Gil Scott-Heron's memoir, which I read earlier this month. They both went to private, predominantly white schools and wound up straddling two different world views during their formative years. It's a rare person who not only can pull that off without burning out or succumbing to cynicism, but who can use it to fuel their ambition.

I was surprised that the humor fell flat so often, especially since Mr. Thurston is a stand up comedian and writes for The Onion. Humor is probably the right approach when taking on a subject like race, and the idea of the book as a How To manual is a great premise.

But to me, the structure of the jokes stand out more than the jokes themselves. A lot of it is setup, punch; setup, punch. Occasionally, you get the setup, punch; setup, punch, tag; callback to first punch for maximum humor effect. Some chapters are introductory essay; list, and the list is mainly a delivery mechanism for more setup/punch. And when there is a list of three things, you know that the hi-larious item is coming right after the Oxford comma. Anyway, this is a long way of saying that the comedic parts needed some pruning and editing, and they detracted from the very interesting memoir and points of view in between.

[[[Aside: This could be a problem specific to me, because I can't watch shows like South Park or Family Guy or even the Simpsons. It feels like I'm sitting in the writer's room instead of watching a show. I couldn't get through one David Sedaris story without putting the book down. Ren and Stimpy and David Foster Wallace are gone. Let it go. I attribute this to thinking Dave Barry was the greatest comedic genius on Earth, until I read so much of his stuff that my brain finally figured out every hacky trope he uses. As revenge on comedy, I turned my brain into a humor decompiler. (I do find Robert Benchley and P.G. Wodehouse and Beavis and Butthead quite funny, though.)]]]

Also appearing in the book is a group of Mr. Thurston's friends, artists, and comedians. They are sort of a Greek chorus that declaim on a particular topic. Actually they aren't like a Greek chorus at all because they all say different things. What the heck is wrong with me? I found their perspectives to be very interesting, like the woman who told a grade school classmate she was "beige" because that was the crayon she used to color her drawings of herself. And the woman who put up a site called Rent-A-Negro.com, which is a fantastic satire, only to have it almost ruined by the evil things people submitted through the site. The author of the dread Stuff White People Like (another "comedy" book with too-visible seams) is included in the panel.

Recommended, though reluctantly. For the few hours it takes to read, there is a lot of interesting stuff.

A few random points:

- It has never even occurred to me to touch an African American's hair. Never. Honestly. I didn't realize this was such a big deal. I just hope I don't start obsessing about it now.

- I love the concept of the Black Friend as doing crucial work in preventing racial flare ups. It also made me feel uncomfortable because now I realize that I spent an entire dinner asking a Muslim co-worker a million questions and making her the Muslim Coworker. I hope I didn't make her feel uncomfortable. I was genuinely curious, and I feel I had a much better understanding of current events after talking with her for a few hours.

- One sentence that struck me as straight up brilliant: "America dodged a bullet in the 1960s when cities burned in response to the Vietnam War, assassinations, and large-scale police brutality."

- I can't believe that someone wrote the N-word on Mr. Thurston's dorm room in Harvard. It's casually mentioned in the book, probably to deliberately understate it, but I really must be out of touch because I wouldn't find it believable if it happened in fiction. [Update: Since I've gotten three comments on this, I feel like maybe I should clarify a bit. I write my reviews out as a stream of consciousness and then go back and edit any glaring grammatical problems that I notice. I didn't mean to say that I felt Mr. Thurston was lying, but rather that it was completely at odds with my understanding of what it would be like at Harvard -- a place I have very limited experience with beyond walking past it a few times in the 80s. I defer to Mr. Thurston's experience with Harvard (and unfortunately racism too). Rereading this, I shouldn't have used two forms of "didn't believe" when I meant something closer to "beyond belief" or "inconceivable." ]

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't always read Baratunde Thurston books in public, but when I do I get asked about it every time. Or someone just stops walking past me and bursts out laughing. Thanks, Library Coworker! I was ready to burst out laughing as well, because Thurston's autobiography is just that funny. Of course, he wasn't familiar with the book or Thurston until I mentioned The Onion.

So maybe this isn't a book for white girls to read in public. Or maybe the title is an ingenious marketing scheme because I had more discussions about this book than I have had about any other book I've read lately--including Ulysses. In every single one of those awkward discussions I told someone to pick up the book.

It's a very good book. I was entertained by witty social commentary while at the same time actually thinking and, dare I say, learning. I recommend it just as highly to anyone who didn't already mock me publicly for reading it.

[Wiebke (1book1review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was highly informative, easy to understand and funny. What more can you want from a non-fiction than to actually come away educated and more understanding of others?

Listening to the audiobook was a good decision, as I now know how to pronounce his name and also heard all the original recordings of the people he interviewed. Very well produced.

This is for everyone who wants to learn more about what it means to be black in the USA.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in January, I got bitten by the New Year's Resolution bug and decided to try jogging. It was one of those decisions made in a hasty blur of good intentions, and in stubborn denial of all existing evidence against it. Evidence like the fact that running makes me furious, and I hate it.

Not to toot my own horn, but I actually stuck with it for about two weeks. What ended my short-lived attempt at fitness glory? I ran a full mile without stopping, promptly hurt my ankle, and limped my way back to the car, sweat dripping down into my sports bra along with my dreams of 13.1 stickers and social media self-congratulation. Running is best left to the experts, people like my handsome husband and Olympians. I'll stick to walking and the occasional yoga DVD.

By the time I came to my senses, however, I'd already signed up for an Audible subscription. Audiobooks are expensive, after all, and not to hate on my beloved public library, but their audio collection at the moment consists mostly of CDs, to which all I can say is, holy antique technology, Batman. (Hey, the budget only goes so far. I get it.) Back when I pictured myself prancing merrily down the street several times a week, I thought audiobooks would be great because that way I wouldn't sacrifice any reading time. And they would have been, had I actually continued with my running plan past, I don't know, chapter three.

So anyway, it took me two months to listen to How to be Black, but that's my fault, not the book's, because the book is hilarious and thought-provoking and challenging. Thurston is, among other things, a writer for The Onion, and he has the rare and valuable ability to be simultaneously entertaining and sharply observant. I laughed even as I cringed in recognition of my own biases and assumptions.

With chapter titles like “How Black Are You?” and “How to Be the Black Friend,” Thurston explores his own experience as a black man in America, but he also broadens the scope by interviewing a panel of other witty, insightful people. A perk of the audio version is that it's narrated by Thurston himself, plus the audio from his interviews is included, so we get to hear each person's answers in his or her own voice. That added a lot for me.

It's clear from just a quick glance through my shelves that I don't read much non-fiction. When I do, I gravitate towards writing like this: personal, honest, funny, and illuminating. How to Be Black is a lot more than a book-length joke; it's humorous, sure, but it's also concrete proof that you can crack people up and make a point at the same time.

My jogging experiment may have failed, but at least I got this book out of the deal.

More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, insightful, entertaining, sweet. Part memoir, part meditation on blackness in America. I really enjoyed everyone on the Blackness Panel, too.

Minus one star because he didn't take me on a second date.

[Gretchen Rubin]

A book that manages to be laugh-out-loud funny while exploring very serious issues. After I finished it, I immediately subscribed to Thurston's six-episode podcast "We're Having a Moment" and his weekly email. Plus he just launched a new podcast, "How to Citizen with Baratunde."

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about this book after hearing the author's fantastic interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. The interview was superb, and the buzz about the book was exciting, so I was very hyped to read it. The book has two interweaving themes - an autobiography of the author, and a "manual" on How To Be Black (as the title suggests) which brings in "testimony" from other black bloggers, activists, authors, etc. The manual part was funny and informative, though I have read some other influential books ("Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?") that offered more thorough and in-depth discussions of race and race relations. The autobiography part was... not all that interesting to me. I couldn't tell you why exactly - perhaps it was that hearing about how someone has succeeded after attending a top private school and Harvard isn't the most compelling story. He seems like he would be fascinating to talk to in person, but I got bored listening to what it was like to go to Harvard, network on Twitter, etc. The author's mother's biography would be truly interesting - somehow she carved out a superb education for her kids despite being a single mother and living in inner city Washington DC during the crack wars. Regardless, if you don't have much background or exposure to formal discussions of race this would be a great primer. And it's a quick read (or listen for me), so I'd say it's worth the time.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Baratunde R. Thurston has penned a consistently humorous book. The book drips with irony, such as declaring November National American Indian Month and promoting the benefits for all races of the position of The Black Friend.

Thurston sprinkles How to be Black with laugh-out-loud lines like “Never underestimate the media’s hunger for a rhyming Negro,” media “blackness emergencies,” and, in fact, that entire chapter, “How to Speak for All Black People,” was positively sublime! I’m a light-skinned Cuban, so most people don’t realize I’m Latina, so I’ve been spared having to Speak for All Hispanics -- including people from countries from which I haven’t even met one person (e.g., Paraguay). So I found the chapter fascinating in a sick kind of way. How could people be so inconsiderate?

From the title, you already know if this book isn’t for you. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Allen West, Andrea Tantaros, and Sean Hannity!) But if you want an amusing and subtly instructive guide to navigating while black in the 21st century, don't miss this book.

[Byron · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sort of hybrid memoir/comedy book that's not very good as either a memoir or a comedy book. The autobiographical stuff isn't candid enough, and the SWPL-like comedy stuff isn't funny enough. The guy has an interesting enough story: his father was killed trying to cop some crack back in like '86, his mom sounds just plain crazy, he grew up in an unfortunate neighborhood, he went to the same private school in DC as Chelsea Clinton, he went to Harvard, he's been on TV and worked for The Onion, so on and so forth. I could have taken just those facts and wrote a more interesting book without even knowing any details - and without any of this "panel of black experts" shit to pad out the length. The SWPL-like comedy stuff could best be described as a less irreverent version of TAN's Encyclopedia of Blackness, or whatever it was called, suffused with a corporate diversity seminar-like political correctness agenda. Not of much use to me personally.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Be Black is the reason audiobooks were created. Being many things professionally: a humorist, a political voice, a technologist, it is not surprising that Thurston's delivery in his audiobook is so top notch and versatile. Thurston's tone matches the theme of his book : part memoir, part satire, part political and historical commentary. This is what makes this book so great is that all of these elements are necessary for a thoughtful discussion on race in America. The audiobook includes interviews with the "Black Panel" which felt like a podcast in the middle of book, and kept it fresh and balanced nicely the others the more self focused parts of the book. I did really enjoy the memoir sections, lots of great Washington DC history (where I live) shoutouts. I only wish that my audiobook purchase came with some of those pictures mentioned in the middle of the book.

[Isatta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually picked this book up last year to read it, and I started to read it but then I got China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan and betrayed my blackness by chucking this to the side.



How to Be Black is an autobiographic satire. Baratunde Thurston regales readers with hilarious anecdotes about his childhood and growing up black. He breaks down stereotypes of African Americans and how this affects their relationship with their white counter parts as well as their social identities. It sounds like something super serious, but it was actually hilarious.

I liked this book and spent a lot of time laughing while reading it. The issue is, I am not actually a fan of nonfiction. At this point I actually am asking myself why the hell I keep reading a genre I know that I don't like, then I remember it's because I promised myself I would expand my horizons.



There is actually not much to say about this book other than, it was funny and I learned a couple of new things. i loved Baratunde's delivery of his autobiography but I would probably have enjoyed this book more had it been a genre I was fond of.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part autobiography, part irony rolled up into a whole lot of very wise social commentary. Thurston makes some very insightful observations about the way that people exist and thrive in multiple worlds. I suspect that this book holds a lot that is familiar to anyone who is a member of a minority group. That group need not be ethnic or racial in nature. There are in effect, a minimum of two worlds in every interaction between different people. There is the other person's perception of your world and there is your own perception of your world. In this particular book there is an example of how being black is perceived to be by non-blacks, contrasted by how being black is to Thurston. The thoughts, feelings and emotions about what it is to be black to Thurston, are shared by many of us who are black (hence the success of the book). The caveat is that Thurston is describing the experience of what it is like to be black in a white, middle-class, American environment. Underlying this is a theme about how those of us who are "different" are actually ambassadors for those differences; helping to shape, sharpen and maybe even change the perceptions of others. I think the real brilliance of this book is the acknowledgement that these differences in perceptions exist at all. This book was thoughtful and refreshing, humorous and good natured. Highly recommended.

[Linda Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading HTBB a few weeks ago and enjoyed it thoroughly, except for all the profanity. I realize nowadays people spread profanity around like confetti. There is no shame to their game when it comes to cursing. However, being a non-curser, it still jars me somewhat when all of a sudden it is in my face. That said, I waited until now to write a review to see what still resonated with me after a few weeks. First of all, it is an easy read. I read HTBB in eight to nine hours on a road trip. Second, Baratunde is very smart, honest and funny. How do I know? I just read the chapter about 'How to Be The Black Employee.' I laughed so hard about the watermelon dilemma. This book shows Baratunde's great intellect. Baratunde reminds me of comedian Jerry Seinfield, in how he can take a seemingly innocuous subject like swimming and give it such a hilarious look from the Black perspective. Third, I think including the Black Panel was a clever idea. What I am taking away with me from HTBB is that we all need to take the time to understand each other better. We are all different and quirky. When we realize that, we can have so much fun together laughing at ourselves.