Blay is an African Studies professor and activist (likely among other careers) and began a project looking at how the historical definition of race influences people today. This book is a collection of those interviews with an accompanying photograph, both created collaboratively with the subject.
About half the book is American, where “one drop” of Black blood defined you as Black under most laws. But the author grew up in New Orleans, where a Creole mix existed. Other parts of the book include Brazil, the Caribbean and Africa whose historical definitions and racial compositions vary. A section includes related photography projects from Brazil, South Africa and Curacao.
The interviews are conversations or tiny memoirs, with personal struggles and conflicting feelings. Several people have the same heritage on paper, but a completely different world view. Others from different backgrounds would make the same statements about their lived experience.
As researcher and editor Blay made decisions, both in how she found participants and who was included (though participants also had editorial control.) Many of the participants are activists, artists, African(-American) Studies scholars… their backgrounds were diverse but a lot of their current community seemed narrowed. A lot of the American interviews were people in Brooklyn and greater Philadelphia while the Brazilian project was in Sao Paulo, though again, their backgrounds were broader. That similarity could feel like a deficit but also a benefit to highlight the individual interpretations of race.
Reading in 2023 it was very notable this was put together in 2012. It’s been a transformative decade. I would love to see a second edition, but also recommend this book no matter the year.
by Yaba Blay, most photos by Noelle Theard
3 stars
February: Black History Month
Blay is an African Studies professor and activist (likely among other careers) and began a project looking at how the historical definition of race influences people today. This book is a collection of those interviews with an accompanying photograph, both created collaboratively with the subject.
About half the book is American, where “one drop” of Black blood defined you as Black under most laws. But the author grew up in New Orleans, where a Creole mix existed. Other parts of the book include Brazil, the Caribbean and Africa whose historical definitions and racial compositions vary. A section includes related photography projects from Brazil, South Africa and Curacao.
The interviews are conversations or tiny memoirs, with personal struggles and conflicting feelings. Several people have the same heritage on paper, but a completely different world view. Others from different backgrounds would make the same statements about their lived experience.
As researcher and editor Blay made decisions, both in how she found participants and who was included (though participants also had editorial control.) Many of the participants are activists, artists, African(-American) Studies scholars… their backgrounds were diverse but a lot of their current community seemed narrowed. A lot of the American interviews were people in Brooklyn and greater Philadelphia while the Brazilian project was in Sao Paulo, though again, their backgrounds were broader. That similarity could feel like a deficit but also a benefit to highlight the individual interpretations of race.
Reading in 2023 it was very notable this was put together in 2012. It’s been a transformative decade. I would love to see a second edition, but also recommend this book no matter the year.