Not a Genuine Black Man: My Life as an Outsider

Brian Copeland tells his story of growing up black, in an all white neighborhood, with humor and ease, but with a truth that brought tears to my eyes. A must read!

Brian Copeland's new memoir shows us the world through the eyes of an 8-yr old black boy and the challenges of growing up black in an all-white neighborhood and school. He never really got to relax and enjoy his childhood because life was pretty much a war zone for him. His absentee father would show up and verbally abuse him, as did potentially anyone he came in contact with. So he had no role model; he had to grow up too soon and become the man of the house. The protector of his mother and younger sisters. No one was in his corner. Teachers feared uprisings or job loss for taking up for him. As he got older he learned how to mask his fears and to use humor to cover up the painful past. The book also delves into mental illness. When suffering from tearful outbursts for no apparent reason, his psychiatrist likened his condition to PTST - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Dealing with that after all these years has made him a stronger person, and one who can reach out to help others. The book is a huge eye-opener. It is a heartwrenching read. But his humorous writing provides the foil needed to keep the reader from throwing down the book and drowning in despair and shame for what injustices blacks went through in order to get out of the ghetto and to have a productive, satisfying, prosperous life. While race is a big part of the book, Copeland insists his story is more about being an outsider and what skills outsiders can use to "cope" in a "land" of insiders. I highly recommend this book! I couldn't put it down! I am a richer person for having read it.

Huck Finn says to the runaway slave, Jim, who had accidently cut himself, "Why Jim, you bleed just like me!" We still have a way to go. Thank goodness Brian Copeland's endearing story shows the way. I wish I lived next door to him. And the political timing couldn't be better!

This book is truly a manifesto for us blacks who grew up post-Jim Crow but still had to deal with the remnants of it afterwards, and who had to fight the double battle of not fittting in with "ghettocentric" mindsets in Black America. For those of us who've had this experience, it's all there. The rejection and humiliation from both sides (white racists and black dogmatists), feeling alone and unaccepted, and the eventual realization that you are who you are and to live life accordingly. Although few of us go to the extremes that Brain Copeland did in his despair over his experiences, it's still quite inspiring. His "you are nornal" soliloquy at the end speaks so eloquently to this situation that I have given this to students of mine who experience the same things and they have cried tears of joy from knowning that someone understands and has articulated their experiences. You are not alone. You are normal. Thank you Brian.

I not only read the book, but saw his one-man show in San Francisco. He is a really great inspiration, and a very nice and down to earth person. I know he has worked hard in his career and deserves only the best! Congrats to you Brian!