Not a Genuine Black Man, Or, How I Claimed My Piece of Ground in the Lily-white SuburbsNot a Genuine Black Man, Or, How I Claimed My Piece of Ground in the Lily-white Suburbs
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Book, 2006
Current format, Book, 2006, 1st ed, Available .Book, 2006
Current format, Book, 2006, 1st ed, Available . Offered in 0 more formatsBased on the longest-running one-man show in San Francisco history--now coming to Off-Broadway--a hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb In 1972, when Brian Copeland was eight, his family moved from Oakland to San Leandro, California, hoping for a better life. At the time, San Leandro was 99.4 percent white, known nationwide as a racist enclave. This reputation was confirmed almost immediately: Brian got his first look at the inside of a cop car, for being a black kid walking to the park with a baseball bat. Brian grew up to be a successful comedian and radio talk show host, but racism reemerged as an issue--only in reverse--when he received an anonymous letter: "As an African American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because YOU are not a genuine Black man!" That letter inspired Copeland to revisit his difficult childhood, resulting in a hit one-man show that has been running for nearly two years--which has now inspired a book. In this funny, surprising, and ultimately moving memoir, Copeland shows exactly how our surroundings make us who we are.
A hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb.
A successful comedian describes his experiences growing up African American in the white suburbs of San Leandro, California, recalling his difficult childhood in a racist enclave, in a thought-provoking and funny memoir based on the author's one-man show. 35,000 first printing.
A successful comedian describes his experiences growing up African American in the white suburbs of San Leandro, California, recalling his difficult childhood in a racist enclave, in a memoir based on his one-man show.
Based on the longest-running one-man show in San Francisco history -- now coming to Off-Broadway -- a hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb
In 1972, when Brian Copeland was eight, his family moved from Oakland to San Leandro, California, hoping for a better life. At the time, San Leandro was 99.4 percent white, known nationwide as a racist enclave. This reputation was confirmed almost immediately: Brian got his first look at the inside of a cop car, for being a black kid walking to the park with a baseball bat.
Brian grew up to be a successful comedian and radio talk show host, but racism reemerged as an issue -- only in reverse -- when he received an anonymous letter: "As an African American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because YOU are not a genuine Black man!" That letter inspired Copeland to revisit his difficult childhood, resulting in a hit one-man show that has been running for nearly two years -- which has now inspired a book. In this funny, surprising, and ultimately moving memoir, Copeland shows exactly how our surroundings make us who we are.
A hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb.
A successful comedian describes his experiences growing up African American in the white suburbs of San Leandro, California, recalling his difficult childhood in a racist enclave, in a thought-provoking and funny memoir based on the author's one-man show. 35,000 first printing.
A successful comedian describes his experiences growing up African American in the white suburbs of San Leandro, California, recalling his difficult childhood in a racist enclave, in a memoir based on his one-man show.
Based on the longest-running one-man show in San Francisco history -- now coming to Off-Broadway -- a hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb
In 1972, when Brian Copeland was eight, his family moved from Oakland to San Leandro, California, hoping for a better life. At the time, San Leandro was 99.4 percent white, known nationwide as a racist enclave. This reputation was confirmed almost immediately: Brian got his first look at the inside of a cop car, for being a black kid walking to the park with a baseball bat.
Brian grew up to be a successful comedian and radio talk show host, but racism reemerged as an issue -- only in reverse -- when he received an anonymous letter: "As an African American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because YOU are not a genuine Black man!" That letter inspired Copeland to revisit his difficult childhood, resulting in a hit one-man show that has been running for nearly two years -- which has now inspired a book. In this funny, surprising, and ultimately moving memoir, Copeland shows exactly how our surroundings make us who we are.
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- New York : Hyperion, c2006.
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