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Black is the New White
The smash-hit play, in print for the first time with a foreword and notes from multitalented playwright, writer, commentator and actor Nakkiah Lui. Love, politics and other things you shouldn't talk about at dinner
Charlotte Gibson is a lawyer with a brilliant career ahead of her. As her father Ray says, she could be the next female Indigenous Waleed Aly. But she has other ideas. First of all, it's Christmas. Second of all, she's in love.
The thing is, her fiance, Francis Smith, is not what her family expected - he's unemployed, he's an experimental composer ... and he's white! Bringing him and his conservative parents to meet her family on their ancestral land is a bold move. Will he stand up to the scrutiny? Or will this romance descend into farce?
Love is never just black and white. It's complicated by class, politics, ambition, and too much wine over dinner. But for Charlotte and Francis, it's mostly complicated by family. Secrets are revealed, prejudices outed and old rivalries get sorted through. What can't be solved through diplomacy can surely be solved by a good old-fashioned dance-off. They're just that kind of family.
Charlotte Gibson is a lawyer with a brilliant career ahead of her. As her father Ray says, she could be the next female Indigenous Waleed Aly. But she has other ideas. First of all, it's Christmas. Second of all, she's in love.
The thing is, her fiance, Francis Smith, is not what her family expected - he's unemployed, he's an experimental composer ... and he's white! Bringing him and his conservative parents to meet her family on their ancestral land is a bold move. Will he stand up to the scrutiny? Or will this romance descend into farce?
Love is never just black and white. It's complicated by class, politics, ambition, and too much wine over dinner. But for Charlotte and Francis, it's mostly complicated by family. Secrets are revealed, prejudices outed and old rivalries get sorted through. What can't be solved through diplomacy can surely be solved by a good old-fashioned dance-off. They're just that kind of family.
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 24, 2019
When you cannot possibly wait until October to see the play, you read the play. It’s a crazy amazing Christmas rom-com that’s politically engaged and racially complex and I loved it.
April 26, 2019
Ah, I can't wait to see this performed in Melbourne later this year. Laugh out loud funny, clever and incisive, as you would expect from Nakkiah Lui.
May 17, 2019
Finished: 17.05.2019
Genre: play
Rating: A
#NSW Lit Award Winner 2018 Playwriting
Conclusion:
Rollicking romantic comedy with
important life lessons!
You will enjoy the unfinished battles
…in the character’s public and private lives!
My Thoughts
Genre: play
Rating: A
#NSW Lit Award Winner 2018 Playwriting
Conclusion:
Rollicking romantic comedy with
important life lessons!
You will enjoy the unfinished battles
…in the character’s public and private lives!
My Thoughts
December 20, 2023
It kind of reads like a theatre kid's version of a Tyler Perry movie. Also vaguely reminded me of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins because of how silly it was sometimes. Cute.
January 27, 2022
This was originally a play commissioned by the Sydney Theatre Company, that had sell out seasons in Sydney and Melbourne before being published in 2019.
The premise: Charlotte, a young woman and successful lawyer, takers her boyfriend home for Christmas to meet the family. The twist on the usual trope: She is Black, from a proud First Nations family who are also rick, successful and upper middle class. Her boyfriend, Francis, is not what they expected. He's unemployed, an experimental classical composer, and white. Throw into the holiday mix his conservative parents and too much wine, and watch the old rivalries, prejudices and secrets come bubbling up.
A mix of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and Meet the Fockers, this play successfully straddles Rom Com and Social Satire. Sweet, mischievously funny, subversive, intelligent, thoroughly Australian and of our time. An enjoyable read. If I get a chance to see it on stage, I shall... at the very least for the literal Dance Off!
The premise: Charlotte, a young woman and successful lawyer, takers her boyfriend home for Christmas to meet the family. The twist on the usual trope: She is Black, from a proud First Nations family who are also rick, successful and upper middle class. Her boyfriend, Francis, is not what they expected. He's unemployed, an experimental classical composer, and white. Throw into the holiday mix his conservative parents and too much wine, and watch the old rivalries, prejudices and secrets come bubbling up.
A mix of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and Meet the Fockers, this play successfully straddles Rom Com and Social Satire. Sweet, mischievously funny, subversive, intelligent, thoroughly Australian and of our time. An enjoyable read. If I get a chance to see it on stage, I shall... at the very least for the literal Dance Off!
September 15, 2019
Some parts of Black is the New White were absolutely fantastic, and were a great laugh. However, I do feel that the enjoyability of Lui's work was hindered by the nature of its humour in some circumstances. I was quite disappointed by this, as this piece has a very supportable message, but found myself becoming bored as a result of repetitive and somewhat uncomfortable humour. The extremely blunt racial humour in the opening scene didn't set me up for a great beginning, and I feel that the nudity could have been spared for the work's benefit. I understand that some really enjoy this type of humour, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I'm no prude by any means! I just thought it was... eh. I was also quite disappointed by the story, it felt a little cheap and unsatisfying in its conclusion.
Generally, I feel that Black is the New White could do with some more subtlety in its commentary. Good for a cheap laugh if you're into that, not the best at taking on social issues. 2/5.
Generally, I feel that Black is the New White could do with some more subtlety in its commentary. Good for a cheap laugh if you're into that, not the best at taking on social issues. 2/5.
February 4, 2023
I read this on account of it winning the Russell Prize for Humour Writing and was quite curious about it. I love non-PC humour and intense scenes so long as they're crafted well and with good dialogue. This story certainly did that. The two beefs I had was the believability of Ray and Dennison in such close proximity to each other, despite the circumstances that brought them together, and having to bear that, considering they loathed each other. I thought the ending was a little contrived and seemed about tying up all the loose ends, giving readers what they wanted, but it was a fun, heartfelt, important, and funny play to read with great representation, storytelling, using humour to make important points. Plus I learnt a thing or two more about certain political and cultural issues I had, shame to say, slim knowledge on. I liked the Foreword. I really liked Ray. I thought for such a grouchy bugger, Lui really manipulated me in her crafting of him to love him! And I loved Joan too and their chemistry. 3.7 stars
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August 2, 2022Enjoyable, however completely devoid of subtext.
Everyone says exactly what they’re thinking or feeling at every moment. And anything that isn’t told to us by them is told by the narrator.
For example, the character of Marie has a crush on Joan and instead of slowly letting the audience realise this, it’s told to us immediately as soon as Marie walks through the door.
The tension and conflict never had any stakes because everyone comes to a moral epiphany at the end, no matter how out of character. There is absolutely no way Dennison would have accepted his wife so immediately, nor should he have as she did in fact cheat and lie to him.
And Charlotte’s “no a shant marry you because you’re not the man I thought you were” which gets reversed within (max) a few hours made her seem more childish than I think she was supposed to.
Disappointing, but there were a couple good moments, particularly between Ray and Charlotte.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
AMAZING! When I realised it was a play, I thought about skipping it. I’m so glad I didn’t.
Ultimately it is a humorous story of acceptance, which we need more of as a society. Both humor and acceptance! One part in particular resonated with me, as a White Australian, when asked where they came from. Often Anglo Aussies ask this of different cultures and it highlights how it feels to be on the receiving end, even if asked with good intentions! This is just one example, but the whole play is thought provoking, I would say for everyone regardless of race, class etc.
I loved how all of the characters had major faults, but could be overcome by the positives. Now I want to see it performed as a play!
Ultimately it is a humorous story of acceptance, which we need more of as a society. Both humor and acceptance! One part in particular resonated with me, as a White Australian, when asked where they came from. Often Anglo Aussies ask this of different cultures and it highlights how it feels to be on the receiving end, even if asked with good intentions! This is just one example, but the whole play is thought provoking, I would say for everyone regardless of race, class etc.
I loved how all of the characters had major faults, but could be overcome by the positives. Now I want to see it performed as a play!
July 3, 2020
I wish I'd seen this play. A collision of two families over Christmas lunch -- one Aboriginal, one Anglo, and awkwardness, outrage, poignancy abounds. Was there really nudity and tongue kissing?? I like how the two patriarchs appear polarised at first, but really are mirror images. Rather than race being the central issue (A 'Guess who's coming to dinner'-type deal), it is socio-economic class that draws lines. Both families inhabit a world of Malbec and charcuterie, international travel and techno-gadgets.
January 1, 2023
Fans of the film “Meet the Parents” will enjoy this one.
This play artfully deconstructs concepts of race and privilege in contemporary Australia without being “preachy”. The characters certainly aren’t “politically correct” and perfectly encapsulate how uncensored and awkward Christmas lunch with the family can be.
It’s a quick, light read with some heavy hitting concepts. Luí makes you aware from the foreword that this was her intent.
As a white reader, I must say that this play has given me some new things to mull over.
This play artfully deconstructs concepts of race and privilege in contemporary Australia without being “preachy”. The characters certainly aren’t “politically correct” and perfectly encapsulate how uncensored and awkward Christmas lunch with the family can be.
It’s a quick, light read with some heavy hitting concepts. Luí makes you aware from the foreword that this was her intent.
As a white reader, I must say that this play has given me some new things to mull over.
November 13, 2019
I thought the name sounded familiar when I originally ordered a copy of the play, not twigging that I had booked to see it at the Melbourne Theatre Company later in the year. Now that I have seen it (a couple of months ago), Reading the script was like paying a visit to friends, with all their charm still intact. In production, this play has one of the highest laughs per minute rates I’ve experienced, and the base text is equally delightful
January 31, 2021
This is such a fun little book but deals with some really interesting concepts surrounding Aboriginality and politics and the morality of engaging with the system. I was worried about reading a book that's actually a play, because the only plays I've ever read have been Shakespeare for school and I struggled a lot with those, but this just felt like I was reading a social media post or something easy to read. Plus it's really funny, I absolutely love Nakkiah's sense of humour.
March 21, 2019
I don't often read plays, but who can resist Nakkiah Lui? Such a fun play, I can see this being turned into a great TV series or film. Hitting at racial issues in Australia by throwing tumultuous ideas one after another as you get an idea of how heated and crazy race relations are. Done with a light touch and a hell of a lot of humour. More! More! More!
January 10, 2023
“Live what you believe in. Keep questioning your privilege and those who have power”
A genuinely funny and enjoyable read! Whacky and lovably flawed characters, as well as hard-hitting, emotional conversations that can’t be easily resolved. Ending was too neat for me – very rom-com like (I think this was the author’s intention). Lui’s writing deserves to be performed.
A genuinely funny and enjoyable read! Whacky and lovably flawed characters, as well as hard-hitting, emotional conversations that can’t be easily resolved. Ending was too neat for me – very rom-com like (I think this was the author’s intention). Lui’s writing deserves to be performed.
January 1, 2025
I absolutely loved Black Is the New White—it’s a hilarious and sharp social commentary. The witty dialogue and insightful take on race, class, and relationships kept me engaged from start to finish, while the humor never overshadowed the deeper themes. It’s a thought-provoking yet entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed, particularly as a WOC dating a white man.
June 11, 2020
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I've never read a play before and I absolutely loved this! It discusses class, racism, sexuality and politics in a way that perfectly balances the seriousness of these topics with humour. This is a meet-the-parents scenario set during Christmas and Lui's foreword gives a great background as to why this is. She eloquently explains how "...having privilege gives you the power to be seen as a human and not just a racial identity," and explains her desire to present an Indigenous family as "...a family who are like you;" who are seen as more than just their race.
If you're feeling emotionally drained and looking for a light read, this is a heartfelt story that will make you laugh and leave you feeling hopeful.
I've never read a play before and I absolutely loved this! It discusses class, racism, sexuality and politics in a way that perfectly balances the seriousness of these topics with humour. This is a meet-the-parents scenario set during Christmas and Lui's foreword gives a great background as to why this is. She eloquently explains how "...having privilege gives you the power to be seen as a human and not just a racial identity," and explains her desire to present an Indigenous family as "...a family who are like you;" who are seen as more than just their race.
If you're feeling emotionally drained and looking for a light read, this is a heartfelt story that will make you laugh and leave you feeling hopeful.
March 8, 2021
Where to even start... this play is F**CKING INCREDIBLE!!!!! Nakkiah Lui is an absolute gem and this play truly isn't talked about enough. The representation of Aboriginality in a different light was simply gorgeous. It was so so well done. I'll be recommending this to everyone.
February 27, 2022
I just picked this randomly off the shelf at the library (while I was bored working), and I'm so glad I did! I don't really read plays often, but I was hooked from the author introduction. I'm sure it would be fantastic to have seen live.
August 3, 2025
For a book about race, it feels like the author has read zero non-fiction books on it. Tries to seem like this mind blowing, life challenging read, and it’s instead like the author just discovered intersectionality exists but doesn’t even know the word for it yet.
April 2, 2019
I would love to see this on stage.
June 10, 2019
Read this in one very quick sitting and now need to figure out how I can see the play somewhere.
June 17, 2019
An absurd comedy lampooning modern day Australia.
June 26, 2019
This was fun to read! Wish I were home to go and see the play.
June 30, 2019
My review is scheduled for Indigenous Literature Week (July 7-14) at anzlitlovers.com
July 2, 2019
A pretty delightful read. Funny and witty all round, I really enjoyed it!
Highly recommend.
(I also forgot how much fun it was to read plays).
Highly recommend.
(I also forgot how much fun it was to read plays).
May 10, 2020
Black is the New White is the new Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ;) but more nuanced and funnier. Would happily see it on stage.
July 6, 2020
Very insightful and funny
July 14, 2020
The tensions and contradictions of identity, race & class. Sharp and funny. Would be a treat on stage.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews