Under Her Skin: How Girls Experience Race in America

by Pooja Makhijani (Editor)

Not since Scout relayed her innocent, yet stark, fictional awakening to racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird has the influence of race on the world of children been painted with such delicate clarity as in this collection. Including the perspectives of women of color, white women, and those caught in between, Under Her Skin traces themes related to double lives, fear, envy, lineage, and family, broadening our understanding of the often-painful subject of racial difference. Essays include the reflections of a woman whose girlhood is spent deciphering levels of oppression—from her Jewish family’s internment in the camps to her own treatment of their African-American maids; a radical parallel forged between a half-Nigerian narrator and three generations of Finnish male immigrants whom she claims as kin; and the startling connection of a white fourteen year old to Emmett Till through the photograph found on his lifeless body. The first book of its kind to include the impact of racial awareness on women of all colors, Under Her Skin embodies a vital and unique contribution to the national discussion on race.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Race

302 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2004

About the author

Pooja Makhijani is the author of Mama’s Saris, Bread Is Love, Together For Mama, and Aunties.

Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Real Simple, The Atlantic, WSJ.com, The Cut, Teen Vogue, Epicurious, Publishers Weekly, ELLE, Bon Appétit, The Kitchn, BuzzFeed, and Catapult among others.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm biased; I'm actually in this one.

[Lucy]

What an amazing collection of essays from a diversity of writers. This is a rich anthology, and the editor did an excellent job of choosing stories that reflect the complexities of race, racial identity, and racial consciousness. There are no easy outs in these essays. The authors embrace the complexity of their stories and present even the parts that conflict with their ideas/ideals with an honesty that is inspiring. This is a great read not only for women of color, but for white women as well. I think reading stories of white women's racial consciousness would be extremely helpful in providing examples of how white women might open their minds and eyes to the presence of racial stratification in our culture. It's also a book I could definitely see using in in the future for teaching purposes.

[Tanita Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent so far - a series of deftly written sometimes poignant, sometimes touching, funny, maddening -- essays. Good stuff, awesome editor!

[Renuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every woman must read.

[Carrie]

essays,women's studies

[Kathleen (itpdx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays written by women about the impact of race on their childhoods. Well written. Lots of food for thought.

[Michelle Cajigal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than one essay that I hated (because of the melodramatic whining), this was a great collection that I would recommend to any young women or men.