Growing Up Southern: White Men I Met Along the Way

I am a 64 year old Caucasian female living in Southeast Texas. I have some very wonderful Black friends. Joyce King's stories parallel the ones I have already heard first hand as well as those told to me by my parents that occurred when I was too young to remember. I am old enough to remember segregation and the problems that occurred during integration. In addition to all of this, I am tired of being politically correct when it comes to the present day culture that refuses to move on with their lives preferring, instead, to embrace the mentality that they are entitled to everything and more that the government is handing to them on a silver platter. So, you see, I am not extreme in any direction other than what is right and wrong, not what is White or Black. I believe every word of Joyce King's recount of her life. It is clear that she was raised by a responsible parent--her mother--who, in spite of living in a very oppressive situation, refused to allow herself or her children to adopt the attitude that they could not rise above their situation and contribute to American society. I have recommended this book to my friends and family. Although it is an easy read, the content is serious. Joyce King presents it with what I believe it total honesty along with a twist of humor that makes the reader think, ponder and, in my case, remember.

You either get it or you don't! This is not just another, "Oh, I had it so hard life." It's reality and she dosen't play the race card! She examines how ,as WOMEN, we have to deal with both sexism and racism in our everyday lives and careers,and she does that by telling the story of her own journey. Ms. King doesn't use her let downs as a crunch. She shows that ,even through the toughest of times,she has the power to reinvent herself and endure. You're either going to love her or hate her in this book; but you have to RESPECT her honesty. She shows appreciation,rather than racisim,for the white men and situations( good and not so good; both past and present) that she encounter along the way. You have to be emotionally intellegent to understand where she is comming from and if you're not then Oh well, you miss the entire concept. I loved it!

I must begin by leveling with you -- the previous reviewer apparently has never read the book. This is a memoir of an African-American woman. It is unusual in that it is a memoir of the white men who have come (and some gone) from her life, some of whom shaped her life significantly, some of whom frightened her terribly, and some of whom she loves dearly. This was an enjoyable read for me, a white woman. And Ms. King -- guess what? A white man bought the book for me!