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Black Sheep
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is a 44-year-old mother of four and grandmother of three, an award-winning businesswoman, an ultrarunner, a social justice activist and a recovering alcoholic.
She is a mixed-raced woman, the daughter of a white Scottish Roman Catholic woman and a Black man. When she was two, her parents separated and Sabrina, her mother and her white-presenting younger sister moved to a small market town where no-one looked like her. From as young as she can remember, she was the subject of verbal and physical racist abuse.
In Black Sheep, Sabrina reveals how she got from there to here: about growing up in a home, a school and a town where no-one looked like her and her subsequent struggle to understand and find her identity; about her lived experience of rural racism; about becoming a teenage mother and her determination to break that stereotype; about her battle with alcoholism and her mental health; about how running saved her life; and ultimately about how someone can not only survive but thrive in spite of their past.
Sabrina's experience will chime with anyone who has felt like an outsider. Poignant and eye-opening, and exploring themes of trauma, identity, mental health and addiction, Black Sheep is a tale of triumph: of grit and determination, of hope over despair.
She is a mixed-raced woman, the daughter of a white Scottish Roman Catholic woman and a Black man. When she was two, her parents separated and Sabrina, her mother and her white-presenting younger sister moved to a small market town where no-one looked like her. From as young as she can remember, she was the subject of verbal and physical racist abuse.
In Black Sheep, Sabrina reveals how she got from there to here: about growing up in a home, a school and a town where no-one looked like her and her subsequent struggle to understand and find her identity; about her lived experience of rural racism; about becoming a teenage mother and her determination to break that stereotype; about her battle with alcoholism and her mental health; about how running saved her life; and ultimately about how someone can not only survive but thrive in spite of their past.
Sabrina's experience will chime with anyone who has felt like an outsider. Poignant and eye-opening, and exploring themes of trauma, identity, mental health and addiction, Black Sheep is a tale of triumph: of grit and determination, of hope over despair.
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2020
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103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 18, 2022
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. I was captivated by the harsh judgements said writer faced during their early years. However, towards the end of the book I felt this autobiography a bit dragged out. It seemed as though an opportunity to display all the achievements this writer had made, without really saying anything relating to the original intent of this book that had held me.
I’m not taking away from the racism faced during their life but to describe themselves as the “representation [they] always needed” was off putting. In addition to emphasising their “fat, negro nose” multiple times (along with other dramatisations of black features). For a light skinned, mix raced woman to be saying this felt… odd?
I appreciate on the other hand, Pace-Humphrey’s expanding on early racist behaviours that shaped thought patterns deeply engrained in them. I wish they went in a bit more to how living in a mainly white town really shaped their racial bias. For that’s what I really wanted to learn about.
I don’t love the prose either but I’m happy to have read this book.
I’m not taking away from the racism faced during their life but to describe themselves as the “representation [they] always needed” was off putting. In addition to emphasising their “fat, negro nose” multiple times (along with other dramatisations of black features). For a light skinned, mix raced woman to be saying this felt… odd?
I appreciate on the other hand, Pace-Humphrey’s expanding on early racist behaviours that shaped thought patterns deeply engrained in them. I wish they went in a bit more to how living in a mainly white town really shaped their racial bias. For that’s what I really wanted to learn about.
I don’t love the prose either but I’m happy to have read this book.
January 4, 2024
The world needed this book, and I am grateful for Sabrina for writing it. I am a trail runner, so I discovered this book by looking for any books by trail runners, ultramarathoners, or hikers who are also People of Color. But this book is so much more than that - it's a story of a young girl who just wanted to be loved and accepted, who was "othered" by those closest to her, who grew up in a town that at best erased who she was and at worst outright racist.
"... I voluntarily split my soul into pieces in order to be accepted, even by those I loved. It worked for a while, until the coping mechanisms I had spent years refining began to destroy me."
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys survived deep seated racism, anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder to become a shining light to any person who felt like they didn't belong, like they had no people. But she did have people, she had to find them and worked to gather them. Representation DOES matter indeed. As an Asian woman trail runner, I will never pretend to know what she and others like her go through - but what I can do is learn what I can in order to be a better ally. I cried at some pages, her description and vulnerability and honesty so raw and sadly still current in so many parts of the world.
If you're on the fence, read this book. Everyone can learn something its pages.
"... I voluntarily split my soul into pieces in order to be accepted, even by those I loved. It worked for a while, until the coping mechanisms I had spent years refining began to destroy me."
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys survived deep seated racism, anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder to become a shining light to any person who felt like they didn't belong, like they had no people. But she did have people, she had to find them and worked to gather them. Representation DOES matter indeed. As an Asian woman trail runner, I will never pretend to know what she and others like her go through - but what I can do is learn what I can in order to be a better ally. I cried at some pages, her description and vulnerability and honesty so raw and sadly still current in so many parts of the world.
If you're on the fence, read this book. Everyone can learn something its pages.
August 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for an e-ARC of this book for an honest review.
TW/CW: Death, Racism, Nationalism, Murder, Mental Illness.
Life is hard in 80's England as a poor child, on benefits and being raised by one parent. The fact that Sabrina's Scottish family judge her as an outcast, simply for being born in England, is disgusting enough, add to that the fact she is mixed race and you have a recipe for an extremely racist, abusive and lonely childhood.
As a child Sabrina grows up wanting to be the same as other little girls but she quickly realizes that is not going to happen. From setting her little heart on a crown usually won by little white girls, to being as an adult woman left by white men to die.
Of course given the full title it is obvious that Pace-Humphreys suffers from racism growing up, and while that is the main focus of the book it covers so much more. The fight to love freely regardless of any social barriers. The hate within family, desertion by her father, abandonment by almost everyone, love, nationality, racial identity, betrayal, self worth,an almost emotional absenteeism and parentification by her mother, death and murder. It is also full of hope for the future, new friendships and finding a place you can feel excepted.
This book is a tough read no doubt about that. When I started the Prologue I had to stop reading the book for a few days. Anyone with half a heart would have multiple feelings at the mere mention of the name George Floyd and for me I just couldn't get pasted the first two pages.
Still after a few days I pushed though my initial urge to get away from the book. I believe it was the fear that made me not want to read this book. You see I have a POC in my life, one I care for an extreme amount, and when Mr Floyd died I had nightmares about this happening to my loved one. We do not live in the US, in fact we live in Ireland, but as Peace-Humphreys says about her English home "this town is racist."
Regardless, I started to read the book again. I found Sabrina to be unbelievably honest in her work. Not only about the words and actions of others but about what she did, said and thought. Given just how much she had been though, the childhood abuse, abandonment by her father, the other-ing by her extended family and her isolation of race in her neighborhood, not to mention peoples treatment of her as an adult, I can't believe she is such a positive and outgoing person.
Running may not be for you, it certainly isn't for me, yet somehow Sabrina makes it an interesting subject. I didn't find myself rolling my eyes, yawning or skipping ahead just to get past parts. It was actually the other way. Not only did I not feel annoyed or bored I felt envious. Peace-Humphreys had such a way with description I actually wished I was there, except for the fall (if you know you know.)
This work was an emotional roller coaster but I'm glad I got on. I didn't feel like I had so much read a book as made a friend. Speaking of friends that last story was heart breaking I was so angry at the betrayal Sabrina suffered.
I think this book does a good job of reminding us, it doesn't matter who your parents are, if you are rich or poor, white or POC, man, woman or any other gender, your nationality, your orientation, we are all human and human life matters.
Actually it reminds us that Black Lives Matter.
TW/CW: Death, Racism, Nationalism, Murder, Mental Illness.
Life is hard in 80's England as a poor child, on benefits and being raised by one parent. The fact that Sabrina's Scottish family judge her as an outcast, simply for being born in England, is disgusting enough, add to that the fact she is mixed race and you have a recipe for an extremely racist, abusive and lonely childhood.
As a child Sabrina grows up wanting to be the same as other little girls but she quickly realizes that is not going to happen. From setting her little heart on a crown usually won by little white girls, to being as an adult woman left by white men to die.
Of course given the full title it is obvious that Pace-Humphreys suffers from racism growing up, and while that is the main focus of the book it covers so much more. The fight to love freely regardless of any social barriers. The hate within family, desertion by her father, abandonment by almost everyone, love, nationality, racial identity, betrayal, self worth,an almost emotional absenteeism and parentification by her mother, death and murder. It is also full of hope for the future, new friendships and finding a place you can feel excepted.
This book is a tough read no doubt about that. When I started the Prologue I had to stop reading the book for a few days. Anyone with half a heart would have multiple feelings at the mere mention of the name George Floyd and for me I just couldn't get pasted the first two pages.
Still after a few days I pushed though my initial urge to get away from the book. I believe it was the fear that made me not want to read this book. You see I have a POC in my life, one I care for an extreme amount, and when Mr Floyd died I had nightmares about this happening to my loved one. We do not live in the US, in fact we live in Ireland, but as Peace-Humphreys says about her English home "this town is racist."
Regardless, I started to read the book again. I found Sabrina to be unbelievably honest in her work. Not only about the words and actions of others but about what she did, said and thought. Given just how much she had been though, the childhood abuse, abandonment by her father, the other-ing by her extended family and her isolation of race in her neighborhood, not to mention peoples treatment of her as an adult, I can't believe she is such a positive and outgoing person.
Running may not be for you, it certainly isn't for me, yet somehow Sabrina makes it an interesting subject. I didn't find myself rolling my eyes, yawning or skipping ahead just to get past parts. It was actually the other way. Not only did I not feel annoyed or bored I felt envious. Peace-Humphreys had such a way with description I actually wished I was there, except for the fall (if you know you know.)
This work was an emotional roller coaster but I'm glad I got on. I didn't feel like I had so much read a book as made a friend. Speaking of friends that last story was heart breaking I was so angry at the betrayal Sabrina suffered.
I think this book does a good job of reminding us, it doesn't matter who your parents are, if you are rich or poor, white or POC, man, woman or any other gender, your nationality, your orientation, we are all human and human life matters.
Actually it reminds us that Black Lives Matter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Back in November I had the pleasure of having an invite to Quercus Books Word of Mouth Bestsellers event. This is where they showcase the books for the next year. In amongst all the books and interviews with authors, the one that really stood out to me was when Sabrina Pace Humphreys spoke about her debut non fiction book Black Sheep.
So imagine my surprise and thrill, when I was recently approved to read it on Netgalley. And boy, it didn't disappoint.
Sabrina has led such an interesting and inspiring life and I loved reading about her from a young age up to the present day. The main focus is the rural racism she has faced throughout her life as a mixed race child and then woman in a small English town. Old feelings and memories are brought up around the killing of George Floyd and Sabrina uses her voice to speak up against racism. This will give her great attention and responsibilities, but will also lose her friendships.
My favourite chapter was Don't touch my hair. Something we as white women take for granted, going to the hairdressers, becomes a right of passage for Sabrina. She doesn't know anyone with hair like hers. So for her to have a black woman style her hair is so important. I just wanted to give her a big hug and the fantastic hairdresser Aunty Fi ❤️
It's great to read a book about such a strong woman who has faced so much adversity. Teenage mum, successful business owner, hardcore runner and activist. This book once again shows us that representation matters. So glad I got to read this book and shine a spotlight on it before it's release next month.
"The pain is temporary, but the beauty remains"
So imagine my surprise and thrill, when I was recently approved to read it on Netgalley. And boy, it didn't disappoint.
Sabrina has led such an interesting and inspiring life and I loved reading about her from a young age up to the present day. The main focus is the rural racism she has faced throughout her life as a mixed race child and then woman in a small English town. Old feelings and memories are brought up around the killing of George Floyd and Sabrina uses her voice to speak up against racism. This will give her great attention and responsibilities, but will also lose her friendships.
My favourite chapter was Don't touch my hair. Something we as white women take for granted, going to the hairdressers, becomes a right of passage for Sabrina. She doesn't know anyone with hair like hers. So for her to have a black woman style her hair is so important. I just wanted to give her a big hug and the fantastic hairdresser Aunty Fi ❤️
It's great to read a book about such a strong woman who has faced so much adversity. Teenage mum, successful business owner, hardcore runner and activist. This book once again shows us that representation matters. So glad I got to read this book and shine a spotlight on it before it's release next month.
"The pain is temporary, but the beauty remains"
March 24, 2022
Growing up in northern England in the 1980s and 1990s, Sabrina was the only person of colour in her small town. At school she suffered relentless racism and bullying and the discrimination transcended into her wider family in Scotland, where she was judged not only by her skin colour, but also by her dual English/Scottish nationality. Abandoned by her black father as a toddler she was brought up by her white mother who struggled to help understand and support her with the issues she was struggling with. This is a powerful story which describes how much her experiences affected the way her life mapped out, including struggling with her mental health and self-worth, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism and becoming a teenage mother. However she also channels herself into starting her own business and taking up running to relieve stress, eventually taking part in extreme running challenges. For me this was a powerful read as Sabrina is a similar age and highlights some incredibly important issues about racism in society.
July 13, 2025
I read this book in a day.
I knew of Sabrina as a trail runner and through her work with Black Trail Runners. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard her on one of the running podcasts I listen to. I knew of, and remain disgusted at, the five men who ran past her when she was hanging off the side of a path in the Alps without offering any help. If we’re being generous it’s because their schedule was more important than the life of a Black woman. If we’re being less generous then what? She’s not worth saving? They didn’t even notice her?
I didn’t know her non-running related backstory - about her family life, about her education, about her teenage pregnancies, about her PR business. All interesting and well written.
Made me shudder in places. Made me smile in others. Left me impressed with her strength of character. Impressive woman.
“Representation matters; it always has and it always will”
December 22, 2025
A deeply honest memoir exploring identity, belonging, and the lasting impact of racism and exclusion.
Through her journey as an endurance runner, Pace-Humphreys shows how running and community can become powerful tools for healing, connection, and reclaiming self-worth. An insightful and moving read for anyone wanting to better understand racism, and the transformative power of sport and human connection.
Through her journey as an endurance runner, Pace-Humphreys shows how running and community can become powerful tools for healing, connection, and reclaiming self-worth. An insightful and moving read for anyone wanting to better understand racism, and the transformative power of sport and human connection.
June 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this read. I would have loved more on her early childhood and maybe more on her relationships with her parents and sister as she knew up but I really did enjoy it.
December 9, 2022
Heart breaking & Inspirational
June 22, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ half was better than the second.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews