Colorstruck

by Benita Porter

662 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Keely Gilchrist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was waiting for years to find this book and finally did…I just finished it and I thought it was overhyped. I’m so disappointed. It’s 662 pages and it’s all over the place. I felt like there were too many characters to follow and half of them didn’t even contribute to the story. You could have removed them and it wouldn’t have changed. There’s way too much background information on each character and it didn’t contribute to the story. It was pretty unrealistic to set place during the Depression. I feel like Benita Porter is wonderful with words and race relations but didn’t tell this story in a way that held my attention. I don’t want to spoil it for everyone but I’ll say it didn’t do it for me.

[Najah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books! Set during the heyday of jazz in Harlem, this novel spans the topics of class, color and gender inequalities. Very well written.

[Alexandria Perry-Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and loved!

[Nruss2020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out and I have been looking for it ever since! Thank you Benita Porter for writing such an outstanding portrait of colorism. I would love to get my hands on a copy! I highly recommend this book!

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL WHEN I READ THIS BOOK. FROM THE FIRST PAGE TO THE END OF THE STORY I WAS INTERESTED. THE STORY UNFOLDS WITH A GRANDFATHER (PA-PA) TELLING HIS FAMILY "A DEATHBED SHOULDN'T BE THE PEACEMAKER IN THIS FAMILY." THESE WORDS CAME BACK TO THE YOUNGEST GRANDCHILD, RENEE, AS SHE WATCHES HER TWO OLDER COUSINS BICKER. THE BASIS OF THEIR ANIMOSITY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER IS SKIN TONE. CHERIE IS LIGHTER THAN PAT AND HAS SHOWN HER DISPLEASURE FOR HER DARKER HUED COUSINS WITH HER ACTIONS: SHE ACTS AS THOUGH SHE DOESN'T KNOW THEM IN SCHOOL AND HAS TAKEN ON THE PERSONA OF AN "UPPITY" PERSON. RENEE FEELS HELPLESS AND AS THOUGH SHE'S CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THIS BEHAVIOR GOES ON UNTIL GRANDMA CATCHES "WIND" OF IT. SHE PROCEEDS TO INFORM THE GIRLS OF THEIR HISTORY THROUGH HER OWN EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE BEING "COLORSTRUCK". THIS BOOK WILL TAKE THE READER ON A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME TO THE PRESENT DAY WITH GRANDMA TELLING HER STORY AND WHY FAMILIES NEED TO STICK TOGETHER. COMING FROM A FAMILY THAT DOES PASS HISTORY DOWN ORALLY, I FELT A KINSHIP TO THE STEELE FAMILY. I BELIEVE THAT ANYONE READING THIS BOOK WILL HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR TOGETHERNESS WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILIES STICKING TOGETHER.

ZANDRA BARNES
AAMBC REVIEWER