Mixed: My Life in Black and White

I am so glad Ms. Nissel wrote this book. Being mixed Black and White myself, I have had similar experiences. So many people fought and cried against our very existence. Shoot, a hundred years of Jim Crow laws went into preventing it.But here we are - mixed and proud - maybe a little difficult to understand - but we're workin' on it. Not all mixed people are alike, but one by one - as we tell our stories, we are beginning to come into ourselves as members of our own group. Angela does a great job of representing both herself and the rest of us in a responsible, balanced, respectful and humorous way. You will soooo laugh. She has a knack for comedic timing and writing - and boy can she weave a story! Her Broke Diaries book is hilarious as well. Please pick these up when you get a chance. I need to get a couple more copies myself, as all of my family members keep passing them around.

I was originally introduced to Angela Nissel through her earlier journal "Broke Diaries," which I read through in a few mere hours, laughing all the way. It was that book, in fact, that turned me on to blogging in 2004. Being involved in an interracial marriage and expecting a child, I purchased this book to read of Nissel's point of view of being racially mixed in the U.S. While she infuses the same self-deprecating sense of humor seen in her earlier book, she is able to do so while earnesty discussing the pain of prejudice and rejection. Nissel's humor was easily translatable to both myself and my white husband and we enjoyed the book equally.

I'm going to go get her other one tomorrow. Finally, a FUNNY memoir about growing up in America being black and white! I was on the subway laughing like a maniac while reading this. I know many of us grew up around mixed children and especially as children, we can be not very kind. This book is written in a comical format with serious undertones and sheds a lot of light on how it feels to grow up as one. I was never one of the cruel kids but know many who were and feel for the author but am especially proud of her many successes. WERK, Angela!

I am not biracial; I'm not sure I even know anyone who is biracial but Angela Nissel has a way of writing that makes me feel like everything I'm reading is happening to me. This isn't a "It is so hard to be mixed and black in America" book; it's almost like an good episode of All in the Family: strong topics, laughs, but never enough drama to start a fight while watching (or in this case, reading.) What I appreciate most is that Nissel doesn't hit you over the head with her views nor does she claim to be speaking for anyone other than herself. My favorite essay was Nissel's experience as an "ethnically-vague stripper". Only a gifted writer can write about topless dancing and make me laugh until I choked on a crowded subway car!

What an amazing story this woman has to tell. It will make you laugh, cry, scream and embrace yourself all at the same time. It's that book that you can't put down. I won't tell go into detail about the short stories, but I will say this, no matter what your race is, we have all felt the emotional mishaps and pleasures of this author. Looking forward to the next book!