While I quite enjoyed this breezy memoir chock-ful of late 70's and 80's pop culture references I thought it was less about race and more about the author's dysfunctional relationship with her father. While Wolff stays away from drawing too many conclusions about race and stereotypes, she does an excellent job of capturing both the joys and mortifications of tweendom. While I'M DOWN didn't deliver quite as many laughs as the cover and jacket copy indicated, it was a thoughtful and interesting look at a unique upbringing.