Black, White, Other: Biracial Americans Talk About Race and Identity

by Lise Funderburg

The groundbreaking oral history, Black, White, Other, made its mark by being the first book to ask black/white biracial people to speak for themselves on matters of race and identity. In the book, journalist Lise Funderburg presents the lives and views of forty-six adult children of black-white unions. Topics include love and marriage, racism in the workplace, religion, community, and bringing up children in a racially divided world.

First published in 1994, Black, White, Other continues to be a relevant and seminal resource in discussions of race in America. Now available in an expanded 20th anniversary edition, it features updated commentary from Lise Funderburg and a foreword by novelist Mat Johnson.

Black, White, Other is not only for the millions of biracial Americans who have yet to see themselves accurately rendered on the page, but also for everyone interested in the subject of race and the prospects for achieving true pluraism in America. The New York Times lauded the book as "important...an example of how we can talk about race with feeling, humor, and dignity." The Buffalo News wrote that the "pages seethe with a tapestry of life....No book is more likely to force a reader to confront his beliefs about race than this one." And The Indianapolis Star noted that "Funderburg lets her subjects ask-and answer-the controversial, touchy questions that many wonder but few dare to pose."

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, Social Science, Cultural, Psychology, Sociology

374 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

I'm a writer based in Philadelphia. I've written for many national magazines and newspapers, and my latest book is called "Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home." It's a memoir/social history about race, filial duty, mortality, and barbecue."

Reviews

[Cardyn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding examination of the personal devastation caused by entrenched racial stereotypes, especially for individuals who physically appear to be neither 100% one thing or another.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book compiling interviews with 40+ mixed individuals. I was at times inspired and excited for raising children with these struggles, and at times concerned. I hope I can do my best to raise children with a healthy sense of identity and a realistic view of the world.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me to know there are others that go thru what I do.

[Amy Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an African American/Native American. So, I can really relate to some of the people that she interviewed. It is a powerful and realistic book of what interracial people go through in this country. It is sad that most people believe that being light skinned, and near white, or passing for white is a great thing. The comments about "good hair" etc.,. But, what it actually does is make people jealous of you, and not like you. Some of the real accounts were disturbing, sad, and eye opening.

[Alex Piven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This is the first book I have read that deals with biracial people as the subject, and I found it incredibly insightful. It stimulated me in thinking about my own experience as a biracial person. Above all, it highlighted how different each and every one of our experiences are, growing up as a biracial person in America.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

well organized and an easy read but not sure that I learned any thing new.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated, yet sadly still relevant.

[Latham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about 20 years old and was an interesting read. I'd like to think that our notions of "different" or "other" continue to evolve.