AUDIO

Magically Black and Other Essays

by Jerald Walker
HarperAudio. Sept. 2024. 3:56 hrs. ISBN 9780063161085. $16.95. SOC SCI
COPY ISBN
Walker’s (creative writing and African American literature, Emerson Coll.; How To Make a Slave and Other Essays) latest collection of essays focuses on both humorous and anxious situations he and his wife have experienced as Black parents and professionals. Starting this journey by recalling how he instructs white students to “be Black” for an entire semester brings him to the eventual realization that his children do not have the same survival strategies he and his wife acquired over the years to succeed. That his progeny might not need these skills in the same way in this day and age is an uneasy revelation, but one that gives him hope for future Black generations. Narrator Aaron Goodson fervently guides listeners through the moments of tension and laughter the author shares.
VERDICT Using humor to address prevailing stereotypes and misconceptions, Walker unfurls a critical perspective on racial disparities in the contemporary world. This is a must-listen for listeners seeking a candid and thought-provoking account of the experiences of a Black father, writer, and educator.
Reviewed by Sharon Sherman , Mar 07, 2025
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