Magically Black and Other Essays

by Jerald Walker

In Magically Black and Other Essays Jerald Walker elegantly blends personal revelation and cultural critique to create a bracing and often humorous examination of Black American life. He thoughtfully addresses the inherent complexities of topics as eclectic as incarceration, home renovations, gentrification, the crip walk, pimping, and the rise of the MAGA movement, approaching them through various Black perspectives, including husband, father, teacher, and writer. The collection’s overarching theme is captured in the titular essay, which examines the culture of heroic action that African Americans created in response to their enslavement and oppression, giving proof to Albert Murray’s observation that the “fire in the forging process . . . for all its violence, does not destroy the metal that becomes the sword.”

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Race, Memoir, Short Stories, Adult, African American

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful essay collection. It even treats the reader to a choose-your-own-adventure with a surprisingly poignant ending. In each essay, Walker's wit, self-deprecation, and perfect comedic timing had me laughing out loud ("It was a mistake, I see now, to wear a suit to the cannabis store" - the first sentence of "Crisis"). He writes deftly about a range of everyday incidents. He writes about Blackness and whiteness and who we are when the rules change regarding what those labels mean. It's insightful, at times tender, and always grounded in personal history. I'm in awe of his skill as a writer, as his playfulness never undermines serious topics - it survives, intact, to tell these familiar stories of American culture from his singular point of view. I would definitely read more, both to enjoy and to study the craft of creative writing. The final essay is simply beautifully crafted, illustrating the topic of hope and the skill of imagination.
~Rebecca O.



Find a Copy at Scottsdale Public Library

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this read expecting something different. As someone that usually enjoys essays and short stories, I can honestly say think this would’ve been better in a memoir format instead. I did enjoy some essays more than others. Though overall, the book is personal and reflective, I didn’t feel like I was reading anything new.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magically Black and other Essays is an essay collection is a humorous and serious examination on the meaning of being Black and the ways Black Identities are formed.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounding up. This might be a good first read for white people trying to toe into the water of understanding race in America. The stories are well written, interesting (and often tinged with humor) and offer a glimpse of the many ways – big and small – this society treats Black and white people differently.

[Phyllis | Mocha Drop · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of the author’s thoughts on childhood experiences, reflections of African American shared experiences such as driving while black/encounters with law enforcement, “the talk” with our children/young people, dealing with racial stereotypes, mass incarceration of marginalized people, etc.

Having read similar essays and op-ed pieces over the years, I found a similar refrain in several of the pieces presented. However, I really enjoyed the title essay, “Magically Black” in which he challenges his undergrad students on concepts presented in classic African American literature.

Overall, a solid offering for fans of the author and those interested in social commentary from the Black, male lens.

Thanks to the publisher, Amistad, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

[Jose Miguel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Título: Magically Black and Other Essays
Autor: Jerald Walker
Editorial: Amistad

“Magically Black and Other Essays” es una colección de ensayos que exploran la vida afroamericana con una mezcla de humor y crítica social. A través de relatos personales, Walker aborda temas como la paternidad, la identidad racial y las complejidades de la vida cotidiana en Estados Unidos.

El ensayo que da título al libro es particularmente destacado, ofreciendo una reflexión profunda sobre las estrategias de supervivencia y resistencia cultural desarrolladas por los afroamericanos. La habilidad de Walker para combinar anécdotas personales con análisis culturales proporciona una perspectiva valiosa y accesible.

Sin embargo, a medida que se avanza en la lectura, algunos ensayos pueden sentirse repetitivos, ya que giran en torno a reflexiones similares sobre el racismo y la identidad. Además, el autor reconoce en ciertos momentos una tendencia a sobreinterpretar situaciones cotidianas bajo una lente de sospecha, lo que genera debates internos y conversaciones con su esposa —también afroamericana—, quien a veces cuestiona estas percepciones. Si bien esta honestidad es apreciable, puede dar la sensación de que el libro reitera una única reflexión desde diferentes ángulos.

Pienso que “Magically Black and Other Essays” habría funcionado mucho mejor como un libro único con capítulos que ilustraran diversas formas en que el autor experimenta y enfrenta el racismo, en lugar de una colección de ensayos separados. No obstante, es fácil enganchar con la prosa de Walker y su humor aporta ligereza a temas complejos, haciendo de esta colección una lectura valiosa para quienes buscan comprender las sutilezas de la experiencia afroamericana.

[inky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt and extremely accessible series of essays held together with a narrative tone that made it easy to glide through everything. This would act as a good introduction for people beginning to delve into critical race theory--there is something to be said for Walker's role as a teacher and ability to take readers through his classroom, his analysis, as just a piece of this much larger whole. To pair this with the intimate and the personal, to not stray from the breadth of his own thought processes and how they have evolved with time, was extremely well done and really emotional. I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Andree Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Jerald Walker is a poetic writer making the mundane of being black magical. I thought this would have a scholarly tone, but boy was I wrong. I was sucked in from the prologue and wanted to delve more into his brain.
From raising black sons, living in a white neighborhood, dealing with real and perceived slights. I could relate.
The most tongue in cheek essay was his experience as a pimp. It’s not what you think!
This book is poignant and hilarious.

[Ashlei Kretz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing style a lot. Some stories were very powerful and some felt like being back in college for my degree in social work which isn’t a bad thing but due to that; I lost attention in many of the stories
I’d like to give it a 2.5 but I’ll go three as the writing style was great

[Natalie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Ashley White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerald Walker is an expert essayist. I can’t wait to read more of his work.

[Chiari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serious but also very humorous.
Interesting insights for someone living a far from american life. Liked it

[Sheila Hutcherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very quick read that made me think.

[Briar · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with many collections the strongest essays are placed at the front. My main criticism is that while I learned a lot about the author I know very little about how he feels. For a book that says it wants to explore identity formation it doesn't show his internal feelings. I'd say that while Waler has shared his experiences of being Black he's done it in a very narrow POV that shows emotions that are safe for Black men to express. I would've liked to see him go beyond surface level.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: "Magically Black and Other Essays" by Jerald Walker offers readers a window into the everyday experiences of a Black man navigating a society embedded with white privilege and supremacy. Through each essay, Walker brings his sharp, reflective voice to moments that are sometimes humorous, sometimes painful, but always insightful. His writing doesn’t just describe his experiences but draws the reader into the weight of these interactions, giving us a taste of the vigilance and resilience required to move through life under the shadow of racial inequity.

Walker uses humor, irony, and deep reflect to explore everyday, mundane moments that weigh on the lives of Black individuals. As such, the collection really permits readers to feel the "double consciousness" that W.E.B. Du Bois discussed - the idea of a double awareness that Black people must maintain as the work through society. Throughout the collection, Walker captures how this constant, often subconscious awareness shapes interactions that might seem mundane on the surface utt are deeply layered. This "double consciousness" creates a sort of hyper-vigilance, where every gesture and word must be questioned, sometimes as a form of protection, sometimes as a way to maintain dignity. As a result Walker's collection does more than tell stories, they invite the reader to experience the ongoing negotiation of self that Black individuals face in a world structured by racial inequality.

Review: Walker’s essays resonate deeply because they let readers feel what it’s like to live with that extra layer of awareness—the constant self-reflection, the need to second-guess interactions. You can sense the energy it must take to process every encounter, wondering if race is the unspoken factor, and it’s exhausting just reading about it. This collection stands out not only because it’s insightful, but because it doesn’t shy away from conveying the emotional weight of these experiences. Walker doesn’t plead for sympathy or even try to simplify these experiences; instead, he gives us raw slices of reality, trusting us to feel the fatigue and frustration he feels.

The writing itself is smart, engaging, and sprinkled with humor, which gives the collection a refreshing balance. Walker’s humor isn’t there to lighten the subject matter, but to reveal the absurdities within it, to underscore the ridiculousness of a society so insistent on ignoring or justifying inequality. This collection leaves a lasting impression; it’s insightful, heartfelt, and real, a reminder of the daily resilience it takes to move through spaces that often won’t recognize their own biases.

Ultimately, the collection is thought-provoking, forcing the reader to walk in someone else's shoes and confront the complexities of privilege and identity in America today.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic collection of essays where Walker effortlessly writes about things that are on his mind. He has so many points of view, from educator, to husband, to neighbor, to son and he does so in a way that hits the nail on the head as well as the humor in some of these situations. I also love his descriptions of his wife, Brenda, and I can just picture, how she raises an eye brow, or side eyes him, to give him perspective. Walker is so talented and I would love to take one of his classes.

ETA: Staff Pick 10/24

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, funny and relatable.

[Stephanie Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished strong. 3.5 stars.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most short story or essay collections, some of these pieces resonated with me more than others. But overall, this was excellent.

[Caleb Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

(We) had busted our derrieres to raise our sons in a community where it was safe for them to walk its streets at night, which, by dint of their blackness, meant it was not safe to walk its streets at night. - Jerald Walker

This one caught my eye with its interesting cover and beautifully poetic title. I was intrigued and, as I have wanted to undertake more nonfiction, I picked it up. This is my first book of essays and I enjoyed the format. I think I would have liked it more if there were different authors and perspectives, but Walker has lived a storied life which made for many thought-provoking and, at times, hilarious stories. Part history, part memoir, this book is an introspective exploration of what it means to be Black in America.

Walker educated, enlightened, and entertained, using experiences from his own life to teach what he has learned. As an educator, writer and memoirist, husband, father, and black man, the essays discuss topics such as racial profiling, power dynamics, systemic racism, unconscious (and conscious) bias, the burden of black parenthood, discrimination, and so much more. Each essay offered a new perspective of and from Walker at different points in his life. From his troubled youth, to his aged wisdom, this book shows what it means to be black; the pain, strife, power, and resilience.

Specifically on the topic of parenting black kids, and as a black father myself, this was an area that I gravitated towards. Discussions of "The Talk" regarding police interaction and "existing while black" and letting your child have some semblance of freedom in the world, meanwhile you are constantly worried for their safety over something as trivial as the color of their skin. All parents struggle letting their kids go out into the world, but parents of black children know they are sending them out into a world that seems hell-bent on swallowing them up whole.

I could go on and on, discussing all the pieces that stood out to me from this one, but would suggest you read it for yourself. If you are a fan of nonfiction and looking to explore topics of black culture, pick this one up. Highly recommended.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪄✊🏾Book Tour: Magically Black And Other Essays by Jerald Walker
🪄✊🏾Pub Date: September 10, 2024
Thank you, partner @cocoachapters @amistadbooks

The essays in this collection made me think about
•the notion that Black people have to be twice as good as “them” to get half if not all of what “they” have.

•the term double consciousness coined by W.E.B. Dubois which he defined as the struggle African Americans face to remain true to black culture while at the same time conforming to the dominant white society. Much like Jerald Walker described in his own experience of being in a racist religious cult, buying weed from the dispensary, being a Black professor, buying a house, etc., it’s the feeling of having two or more social identities, and being pressured to adhere to the standards of both groups. Double consciousness can also be a coping mechanism used to deal with the constant threat of racism. The way humor is used in each essay made me wonder if this is Jerald’s way to laugh to keep from crying at these serious issues. Du Bois believed that African Americans experienced double consciousness because they lived in a society that devalued them, but also had an African-American culture that encouraged equality.

•what it means to be “magically black” because I initially thought of the ways in which Black people are said to have transcended race when exceptionally good at something or better than everyone else. As if there’s no way you can be THAT good at something while Black. (OJ, both MJs, Prince, Beyonce, etc.)

Magically Black And Other Essays focuses on racial identity, the culture of survival that Black people created during slavery and continue to use to this day, and the heroism and resiliency of Black people living in America. Highly recommend!

[Sherley's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑨𝑳𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔. 𝑨𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕.

Magically Black and Other Essays should be on everyone's must-read books of 2024 list!

I did not know what to expect going in. I was afraid, with the topics that would be discussed, that this would be a heavy / sad read, but I was pleasantly surprised. Mr. Walker's book was simply amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Magically Black and Other Essays. Magically Black and Other Essays was thought provoking, captivating, educational, insightful, and inspirational. I really appreciated Mr. Walker's use of humor in discussing these heavy topics. I did not expect to laugh as much as I did and the series of essays really resonated with me. I could relate to a lot of the situations discussed in the essays and while some things had me laughing, others had me shaking my head. The writing is absolutely stellar and the world building is perfection!

At the end of my reading journey, I felt refreshed, empowered, seen, and MAGICALLY BLACK. Though this was my first time reading Jerald Walker's work, it will not be my last. I highly recommend that everyone reads this life-changing book!

[K.C. Norton]

I’ve got some mixed feelings about this one. It’s funnier than what I had anticipated, for sure. Overall I felt like each essay wrapped up too neatly, so that each piece was resolved in a way that sometimes felt… disingenuous, maybe? Too pat? In many of these pieces, Walker addresses nuanced topics with a blend of self-deprecating humor, 20/20 hindsight, and wry sincerity. Even the funnier sections are still rooted in real-world commentary. The tidy endings made the essays too self-contained, IMO, and often didn’t ask the reader to engage with the questions his essays raise.

On the other hand, having read a lot of serious nonfiction about race and social issues, I did find that Walker’s lighter tone, and some of his assertions, made me think about his material in a different way than that of an author like Ta-Nehisi Coates. All this to say, I’m not sure how I feel about this one, but I would happily read more of the author’s work in the future.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by author Jerald Walker, and I must say, it was very reflective. Mr. Walker incorporated his thoughts and brought them to life on paper, representing many points of view that I’m sure we’ve all thought / experienced at some time. I do feel that this book would go over better as a memoir, but overall, I did enjoy some essays more than others, Stopped by The Police and Lost, just to name a couple. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys essays filled with realism, honesty, and relatable situations. I will be going back to visiting the author’s other writings as well.

[Valérie Montour · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays was refreshing and super funny. I had a smile on my face for most of it.
However, I don't see the point of it ? I'm not sure the author knows either. It was pretty disconstructed and I feel like some essays contradicted others (like saying that having prejudices against Black people is racist - which it is, don't get me wrong- but then saying himself that if he hadn't finish school he would have ended up in jail or in a gang like many of his folks. I didn't even have that prejudice before reading that book so I don't understand what his message is here).
But yea, this was a fun read, might give a go to his other works!
7.5/10

[Mary Ressner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vastly entertaining, wickedly funny book:
if you are Black. If you know, you know.
On the other hand, the material treads a very fine line between holding on to the rage a la
Marge Simpson/Lisa Simpson and expressing it a la Malcolm X and Colin K. The ability to do this is most likely what allows the Author to keep turning out books. Kudos to him for carving out a niche in the Nationalistically pure publishing industry.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, thought-provoking and often sad. Walker's essays often bounce between emotions quickly enough to give me whiplash. They often read more like journal entries or memoir contributions more than individual essays, which I didn't actually mind, but it was often jarring. I really enjoyed every essay, and I'll be seeking out other works by the author.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Droll and dry humor on being Black. The humor is very New Yorker. I had to check that it was essays and not comedic short stories. "Lost" and "Stopped by the Police" are great. The colloquial tone felt like I was being told the story by a close friend.

[Jess Sanborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It was a mistake, I see now, to wear a suit to the cannabis store"

Listened to this audiobook at work, and thought it was great. Liked the humor and genuineness in some serious and deep conversations / personal experiences.