Black, White, and Jewish
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2000
322
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
United States • 1970s-1980s
2000
Adult
18+ years
Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self by Rebecca Walker is a 2002 memoir in which Walker examines her tumultuous transition from adolescence to adulthood. The daughter of famed novelist Alice Walker and Jewish lawyer Mel Leventhal, she recounts life between her two distinct families in New York and San Francisco, reflecting on her fragmented identity. Throughout, Walker grapples with race and belonging, moving between diverse social circles and striving to reconcile her African-American and Jewish heritages. Sensitive topics include substance use and abortion.
Contemplative
Emotional
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Inspirational
3,155 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Rebecca Walker's Black, White, and Jewish is praised for its raw and honest portrayal of her biracial and bicultural identity in America. Readers appreciate her poetic prose and deep introspection, although some find the narrative disjointed and occasionally lacking in broader contextual analysis. Nonetheless, it remains a compelling and thought-provoking memoir.
Readers who enjoy memoirs that explore themes of identity, race, and family, such as Trevor Noah's Born a Crime or Tara Westover's Educated, will be captivated by Rebecca Walker's Black, White, and Jewish. This memoir delves into Walker's experiences growing up biracial and navigating complex cultural landscapes.
3,155 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
322
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
United States • 1970s-1980s
2000
Adult
18+ years
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