About the book
In 1991, acclaimed poet Kenneth A. McClane published Walls: Essays, 1985-1990, a volume of essays dealing with life in Harlem, the death of his alcoholic brother, and the complexities of being black and middle-class in America. Now, in Color: Essays on Race, Family, and History, McClane contributes further to his self-described \"autobiographical sojourn\" with a second collection of interconnected essays. In McClane's words, \"All concern race, although they, like the human spirit, wildly sweep and yaw.\"
A timely installment in our national narrative, Color is a chronicle of the black middle class, a group rarely written about with sensitivity and charity. In evocative, trenchant, and poetic prose, McClane employs the art of the memoirist to explore the political and the personal. He details the poignant narrative of racial progress as witnessed by his family during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. We learn of his parents' difficult upbringing in Boston, where they confronted much racism; of the struggles they and McClane encountered as they became the first blacks to enter previously all-white institutions, including the oldest independent school in the United States; and of the part his parents played in the civil rights movement, working with Dr. King and others. The book ends with a tender account of his parents in the throes of Alzheimer's disease, which claimed both their lives.
Editions of Color
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780268205904
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780268035150
- PDF
- ISBN 9780268086695
Read an Excerpt
In 1991, acclaimed poet Kenneth A. McClane published Walls: Essays, 1985-1990, a volume of essays dealing with life in Harlem, the death of his alcoholic brother, and the complexities of being black and middle-class in America. Now, in Color: Essays on Race, Family, and History, McClane contributes further to his self-described \"autobiographical sojourn\" with a second collection of interconnected essays. In McClane's words, \"All concern race, although they, like the human spirit, wildly sweep and yaw.\"
A timely installment in our national narrative, Color is a chronicle of the black middle class, a group rarely written about with sensitivity and charity. In evocative, trenchant, and poetic prose, McClane employs the art of the memoirist to explore the political and the personal. He details the poignant narrative of racial progress as witnessed by his family during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. We learn of his parents' difficult upbringing in Boston, where they confronted much racism; of the struggles they and McClane encountered as they became the first blacks to enter previously all-white institutions, including the oldest independent school in the United States; and of the part his parents played in the civil rights movement, working with Dr. King and others. The book ends with a tender account of his parents in the throes of Alzheimer's disease, which claimed both their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Color about?
In 1991, acclaimed poet Kenneth A. McClane published Walls: Essays, 1985-1990, a volume of essays dealing with life in Harlem, the death of his alcoholic brother, and the complexities of being black and middle-class in America. Now, in Color: Essays on Race, Family, and History, McClane contributes further to his self-described \"autobiographical sojourn\" with a second collection of interconnected essays. In McClane's words, \"All concern race, although they, like the human spirit, wildly sweep and yaw.\"
A timely installment in our national narrative, Color is a chronicle of the black middle class, a group rarely written about with sensitivity and charity. In evocative, trenchant, and poetic prose, McClane employs the art of the memoirist to explore the political and the personal. He details the poignant narrative of racial progress as witnessed by his family during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. We learn of his parents' difficult upbringing in Boston, where they confronted much racism; of the struggles they and McClane encountered as they became the first blacks to enter previously all-white institutions, including the oldest independent school in the United States; and of the part his parents played in the civil rights movement, working with Dr. King and others. The book ends with a tender account of his parents in the throes of Alzheimer's disease, which claimed both their lives.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Color?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general
Where can I read a sample of Color?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780268205904
Is Color part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series African American Intellectual Heritage
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Color?
Kenneth A. McClane
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Color is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780268205904) and paperback(ISBN 9780268035150) and pdf(ISBN 9780268086695)
Where can I buy Color online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Color from below