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The Real Ones: How to Disrupt the Hidden Ways Racism Makes Us Less Authentic
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Expected 10 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
5 days and 15:30:26
15 copies available
U.S. only
Top political strategist Maya Rupert reveals how, for people of color, being real comes at a cost and authenticity is a privilege the marginalized cannot afford—that is, unless we change the system that keeps sending us the bill. . .
One of Maya Rupert’s earliest memories was learning how to be inauthentic. That performance—the ability to make white people feel comfortable about race—has brought her everything from safety to success. As the third Black woman in history to run a presidential campaign, she soon realized that there was no room among society’s expectations for our real selves. In The Real Ones, Rupert reveals that for some, inauthenticity is necessary for survival.
In this deeply relatable book, Rupert weaves together pop culture and politics, workplace advice and personal stories. She shares the off-camera experiences on the presidential campaign trail in a post-Obama political landscape. She sees what Taylor Swift and Beyoncé fans expect from our biggest stars—one is admired as the authentic girl next door, the other is required to be a queen. She exposes the trap too many face in the workplace, when we are asked to bring our full selves to work—but not too much. Rupert sees a world where success is at the expense of our authenticity, not because of it.
The Real Ones offers an entirely fresh take on race—that authenticity is a privilege kept from people of color. When we are constantly confronted with the question, "Who do you think you are?" we cannot begin to ask ourselves "Who am I?" In the end, Rupert upends our understanding of authenticity, so that readers can stop questioning who we are, and finally thrive.
One of Maya Rupert’s earliest memories was learning how to be inauthentic. That performance—the ability to make white people feel comfortable about race—has brought her everything from safety to success. As the third Black woman in history to run a presidential campaign, she soon realized that there was no room among society’s expectations for our real selves. In The Real Ones, Rupert reveals that for some, inauthenticity is necessary for survival.
In this deeply relatable book, Rupert weaves together pop culture and politics, workplace advice and personal stories. She shares the off-camera experiences on the presidential campaign trail in a post-Obama political landscape. She sees what Taylor Swift and Beyoncé fans expect from our biggest stars—one is admired as the authentic girl next door, the other is required to be a queen. She exposes the trap too many face in the workplace, when we are asked to bring our full selves to work—but not too much. Rupert sees a world where success is at the expense of our authenticity, not because of it.
The Real Ones offers an entirely fresh take on race—that authenticity is a privilege kept from people of color. When we are constantly confronted with the question, "Who do you think you are?" we cannot begin to ask ourselves "Who am I?" In the end, Rupert upends our understanding of authenticity, so that readers can stop questioning who we are, and finally thrive.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
2 people are currently reading
2469 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 28, 2025
"Being controversial doesn't make you interesting"
We all know she doesn't typically wander away from the romance focused world, yet here I am again having what is honestly, a lovely and learning time in a space just as reflective. She could yap about her thoughts here all day but to be concise, read this book babes.
I found this ARC an incredibly thoughtful moment to reflect on the structures and perceptions that exist in our societies in general, and in particular where historical expectation has often left little room for equal opportunities within race and minority. Right down to the micro ways we communicate with ourselves and with each other.
Maya has simplified the dichotomy of such a complex conversation about her experience being PoC in a political world, in such an elegant and digestibly approchable way.
I enjoyed hearing the nuance and observations found here and honestly, feel this is exactly the kind of read that we should be encouraging more of. It is direct. It is thoughtful, and in an uncanny way the conversation is authentic in it's retrospection.
We all know she doesn't typically wander away from the romance focused world, yet here I am again having what is honestly, a lovely and learning time in a space just as reflective. She could yap about her thoughts here all day but to be concise, read this book babes.
I found this ARC an incredibly thoughtful moment to reflect on the structures and perceptions that exist in our societies in general, and in particular where historical expectation has often left little room for equal opportunities within race and minority. Right down to the micro ways we communicate with ourselves and with each other.
Maya has simplified the dichotomy of such a complex conversation about her experience being PoC in a political world, in such an elegant and digestibly approchable way.
I enjoyed hearing the nuance and observations found here and honestly, feel this is exactly the kind of read that we should be encouraging more of. It is direct. It is thoughtful, and in an uncanny way the conversation is authentic in it's retrospection.
November 24, 2025
This is 4.5 out of 5.
This book is in my personal and political wheelhouse. Glad the author is telling her story and observations as a law-trained politico and former manager of a presidential campaign. Authenticity is a kind of white elephant for PoC and other underrepresented communities.
The meditation on the intersection of authenticity and underrepresented communities touches on code switching, Black hair vs. professional attire, authenticity in film and TV, "bring your full authentic self to work" bullsh*t, authenticity-light for hire, and the way the authenticity test is weaponized in politics. This forces minority candidates to thread a needle that the YT men never need to attempt.
(It reminded me of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's "lie" about his "auntie". His authenticity came under scrutiny from one demographic. Meanwhile, all PoC know what "auntie" means. Being authentic in public would have cost ZM in a different electoral demographical context).
Rupert's chapter about Black Republicans lost me a bit. But I get it. She wants us to make room for political evolution at The Cookout. I'm not gonna do that but I get it. She also talking about herself. She had a NWUC that forced her to rethink, reevaluate, and evolve.
Maya Rupert includes women, Latinos, LGBT in the anecdotes on which she relies to explore her topic. Rupert deftly builds her thesis with tangible examples from her personal and professional life, as well as well-known events in popular culture. It's the first time I read an in-depth analysis on this topic.
Unlike most of these nonfiction books on race, this book was informative for Black and non-Black readers. That alone is a feat.
[NetGalley provided me with an advanced reader copy of this book]
This book is in my personal and political wheelhouse. Glad the author is telling her story and observations as a law-trained politico and former manager of a presidential campaign. Authenticity is a kind of white elephant for PoC and other underrepresented communities.
The meditation on the intersection of authenticity and underrepresented communities touches on code switching, Black hair vs. professional attire, authenticity in film and TV, "bring your full authentic self to work" bullsh*t, authenticity-light for hire, and the way the authenticity test is weaponized in politics. This forces minority candidates to thread a needle that the YT men never need to attempt.
(It reminded me of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's "lie" about his "auntie". His authenticity came under scrutiny from one demographic. Meanwhile, all PoC know what "auntie" means. Being authentic in public would have cost ZM in a different electoral demographical context).
Rupert's chapter about Black Republicans lost me a bit. But I get it. She wants us to make room for political evolution at The Cookout. I'm not gonna do that but I get it. She also talking about herself. She had a NWUC that forced her to rethink, reevaluate, and evolve.
Maya Rupert includes women, Latinos, LGBT in the anecdotes on which she relies to explore her topic. Rupert deftly builds her thesis with tangible examples from her personal and professional life, as well as well-known events in popular culture. It's the first time I read an in-depth analysis on this topic.
Unlike most of these nonfiction books on race, this book was informative for Black and non-Black readers. That alone is a feat.
[NetGalley provided me with an advanced reader copy of this book]
November 19, 2025
While leading Julián Castro's presidential campaign, political strategist Maya Rupert noticed the strange way "authenticity" was weaponized against candidates of color. In her debut book, she explores the conflicting demands of authenticity for people with marginalized identities. It's a thought-provoking book that calls on all of us to stop policing other people's willingness to share their true selves.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews