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Greyboy

Finding Blackness in a White World
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( 459 ratings, 65 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Greyboy by Cole Brown delves into the personal journey of navigating identity as a mixed-race individual in America. Through a collection of essays, the author reflects on his own experiences dealing with cultural fitting-in, self-discovery, and the complexities of race and privilege. The memoir offers a candid and insightful look into the internal and external challenges faced in this nuanced exploration of identity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in exploring themes of identity, race, and belonging through the eyes of a young Black man navigating a predominantly white society. The author's compelling narrative and personal anecdotes provide a heartfelt and thought-provoking perspective, making it a captivating read for those interested in memoirs that challenge societal norms and expectations.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World asks an important question: What is Blackness? It also provides the answer: Much more than you thought, dammit.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Cole has heard it all before - token, bougie, oreo, Blackish - the things we call kids like him. Black kids who grow up in white spaces, living at an intersection of race and class that many doubt exists. He needed to get far away from the preppy site of his upbringing before he could make sense of it all.

Through a series of personal anecdotes and interviews with his peers, Cole transports us to his adolescence and explores what it's like to be young and in search of identity. He digs into the places where, in youth, a greyboy's difference is most acutely felt: parenting, police brutality, Trumpism, depression, and dating, to name a few.

Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World asks an important question: What is Blackness? It also provides the answer: Much more than you thought, dammit.

'Cole Brown's Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World is a lens into a world that few have written aboutβ€”a world at the intersection of race and class that my children wake up in every day. Brown presents an honest and sometimes uncomfortable view into the reality of growing up Black in white spaces. The Black experience in America is complex and Greyboy shines a light on the unique challenges that come with us achieving success.' - Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Entertainment Mogul, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

'In the pages of Greyboy, a world of access and angst is revealed with alarming honesty and insightfulness. If you have ever struggled with the anxiety of being the only or the isolation of living between two spaces, this book is a must-read!' - Queen Latifah, Rapper, Actress, Singer, Producer

'Penetrating and insightful! Greyboy opened my eyes to the world my son was raised in.' - Andre Harrell, Hip-Hop Pioneer, Founder, Uptown Records

'I absolutely felt Cole Brown's words in my gut. His voice is unapologetic, introspective, powerful, and conscious, yet comforting. The way Cole addresses his understanding of "privilege," whether white or black, is grounded in transparency and wit. So vivid are the blurred lines of identity. And though he may feel grey, I felt very Black, and at one with Cole on his journey in navigating the world as an African American.' - Misty Copeland, Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre

'Greyboy captures the complexity of what it means to live "between" in vivid detail with uncompromising honesty.' - Anthony Anderson, Actor, Black-ish

'Cole Brown speaks to issues of race and identity with honesty and depth. He challenges the reader... no, forces the reader to reconsider their notions of what it means to live black in America.' - Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Los Angeles Clippers

Read Cole Brown's oped on Sydney Morning Herald here

Listen to Cole Brown's interview with ABC Radio on Greyboy here

Listen to Cole Brown's appearance on the Anonymous Was A Woman Podcast here

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Greyboy by Cole Brown offers a compelling exploration of identity and race as experienced by a young biracial man in modern America. The memoir captures his inner conflict and journey to understand his place between two worlds. Reviewers commend its candid storytelling and emotional depth, praising Brown's insightful reflections on navigating societal expectations.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781951934453

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 September 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Arcade Publishing

Illustration: no

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Elaine Welteroth
  • Afterword by Michael Eric Dyson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Cole Brown is a Philly kid; he matured in the city's predominately white private schools and neighborhoods. During his undergraduate years at Georgetown University, Cole began writing his first book,Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World.Today, Cole splits his time between Sydney, Australia, and New York.

Elaine Welteroth is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and judge on the new Project Runway. She is known for her groundbreaking work at the helm of Teen Vogue where in 2017 she was appointed the youngest Editor-in-Chief at a Conde Nast publication. Her debut book More Than Enough became an instant bestseller in 2019 and received an NAACP award in 2020.

Michael Eric Dyson is a Georgetown University sociology professor, a New York Times bestselling author and contributing opinion writer, and a contributing editor of The New Republic, and of ESPN's The Undefeated website. Dyson has written or edited over twenty books on subjects such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Marvin Gaye, Barack Obama, Nas's debut album Illmatic, Bill Cosby, Tupac Shakur, Hurricane Katrina, and Jay-Z.

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