More Than I Imagined

Award-winning journalist Blake debuts with an empathetic and insightful memoir about race, acceptance, and the complexities of familial history. Blake describes growing up as a mixed-race child, born of a white mother and a Black father but rejected by both sides of his family for being different. His mother disappeared shortly after his birth, and Blake only knew the predominantly Black community in which he was raised. Candidly narrating his own story, Blake takes listeners along with him on an exploration of the realities and consequences of systemic racism. He openly shares the pain and anguish surrounding his relationship with his mother when he discovered who she was and why she was absent from his life. Blake’s sincerity is evident as he describes his realization that hope is a powerful enemy of racism and that relationships and connections with family and community are the best tools to overcome hate.