What will I learn about: how growing up as a token black child in a predominantly white environment means navigating complex prejudices from both white and black communities?

Understand how growing up as a token black child in a predominantly white environment means navigating complex prejudices from both white and black communities.

What will I learn about: the unique challenges of carrying an African name in America, from enduring mispronunciations by teachers to facing cultural gatekeeping from African immigrants?

Discover the unique challenges of carrying an African name in America, from enduring mispronunciations by teachers to facing cultural gatekeeping from African immigrants.

What will I learn about: Learn how the author's mother shattered racial stereotypes by embracing an outdoorsy, health-food lifestyle while enforcing a rigorous approach to his cultural education?

Learn how the author's mother shattered racial stereotypes by embracing an outdoorsy, health-food lifestyle while enforcing a rigorous approach to his cultural education.

What will I learn about: Realize the awkward pressure of being the only black student in an affluent private school, where you are often unfairly expected to act as the spokesperson for black history?

Realize the awkward pressure of being the only black student in an affluent private school, where you are often unfairly expected to act as the spokesperson for black history.

What will I learn about: Explore how grassroots community groups help African-American youth balance their dual heritage by instilling discipline, practical skills, and cultural pride?

Explore how grassroots community groups help African-American youth balance their dual heritage by instilling discipline, practical skills, and cultural pride.

How To Be Black

Over thirty years of experience in being black

Baratunde Thurston

★ 3.8 / 5(18 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Society & Culture Biography & Memoir

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Have you ever wondered why society has a 'checklist' for what it means to be Black, and what happens when you decide to ignore it?
💡What if you could transform the anxiety of navigating racial differences into a hilarious and eye-opening journey of self-discovery?
💡Are you curious about the secret to staying true to yourself while moving through elite spaces that were never designed for you?

Listen to How To Be Black — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from How To Be Black

✓Understand how growing up as a token black child in a predominantly white environment means navigating complex prejudices from both white and black communities.
✓Discover the unique challenges of carrying an African name in America, from enduring mispronunciations by teachers to facing cultural gatekeeping from African immigrants.
✓Learn how the author's mother shattered racial stereotypes by embracing an outdoorsy, health-food lifestyle while enforcing a rigorous approach to his cultural education.
✓Realize the awkward pressure of being the only black student in an affluent private school, where you are often unfairly expected to act as the spokesperson for black history.
✓Explore how grassroots community groups help African-American youth balance their dual heritage by instilling discipline, practical skills, and cultural pride.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from How To Be Black

Mind Map

How To Be Black

Identity & Stereotypes+

Navigating White Spaces+

Preserving Cultural Heritage+

Interpersonal Rules+

College & Workplace+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9

Why did some Nigerian immigrants react negatively to Baratunde's name?

A. It was heavily mispronounced by his parents.
B. They felt a non-Nigerian shouldn't use a traditional Nigerian name.
C. It translated to an offensive term in their local dialect.
D. They believed African-Americans should adopt Western names.

Question 2 of 9

How did Baratunde's mother, Arnita, defy common stereotypes of a black mother in the 1970s?

A. She refused to send him to public school and homeschooled him instead.
B. She worked as a high-level executive at a telecommunications firm.
C. She embraced the health-food movement, camping, and classical music.
D. She strictly forbade him from participating in any all-black organizations.

Question 3 of 9

What uncomfortable expectation did Baratunde face from his classmates at his private school, Sidwell Friends?

A. He was expected to excel at sports like basketball and football.
B. He was expected to act as an authoritative spokesperson on black culture and literature.
C. He was expected to organize the school's first black student union.
D. He was expected to teach his white classmates how to speak public school slang.

Question 4 of 9

What was the primary purpose of the weekend group 'Ankobia' that Baratunde attended?

A. To prepare black students for Ivy League college admissions.
B. To teach black children how to assimilate seamlessly into predominantly white private schools.
C. To protest against the lack of diversity in Washington, DC's public school system.
D. To strengthen black children's bond with their cultural heritage and build resilience against community dangers.

Question 5 of 9

How did Baratunde explain the necessity of black students sitting together at lunch to his white classmates?

A. He pointed out that the entire school was essentially a 'white student union,' making a space for black unity necessary.
B. He argued that they were planning a formal protest against the school's administration.
C. He explained that they needed to practice their extracurricular activities in private.
D. He stated that it was a strict rule enforced by the school's diversity committee.

Question 6 of 9

Why does Baratunde advise against white people touching a black person's hair without permission?

A. It ruins the expensive hair products used to maintain an afro.
B. It resembles petting an animal, which is disrespectful given the historical mistreatment of black people.
C. It implies a level of intimacy that is only appropriate for family members.
D. It is physically painful due to the sensitive nature of the hairstyle.

Question 7 of 9

How did Baratunde view his experience working on the 'Dorm Crew' at Harvard?

A. He found it highly demeaning and a blatant example of racial exploitation.
B. He only did it because it was a mandatory requirement for students on financial aid.
C. He used it as an opportunity to secretly organize a union for minority campus workers.
D. He enjoyed it because it paid well, wasn't exclusively a black team, and provided valuable alone time.

Question 8 of 9

According to the text, why might a black coworker unexpectedly act as a 'nemesis' to a newly hired black employee like Baratunde?

A. They might feel threatened about losing their unique status as the company's only black employee.
B. They are usually instructed by management to test the new employee's resilience.
C. They assume the new employee is an 'Oreo' who will side with the white management.
D. They often disagree on the best ways to represent black culture in the workplace.

Question 9 of 9

What is Baratunde's suggested approach when white coworkers ask him to provide the 'black perspective' on political figures like Barack Obama?

A. Give a fully honest and detailed reply to educate them on black politics.
B. Avoid the question by changing the subject or confront the assumption that all black people think the same way.
C. Direct them to read books by prominent black authors like Malcolm X.
D. Report the coworker to human resources for creating a hostile work environment.

How To Be Black — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Growing up as a black child in 1970s America was even harder with an African name.
32 — Baratunde’s mother challenged many common stereotypes about black women.
43 — Baratunde’s first experiences at private school were filled with awkward moments.
54 — Black people can take equal pride in being American and in their African heritage.
65 — When black people gather together, white people shouldn’t see it as a threat.
76 — Black-white friendships can be wonderful, but don’t ask to touch a black person’s hair.
87 — Boston could be hostile to black people, but Harvard University provided a more accepting environment.
98 — The workplace brings its own challenges when navigating black and white coworkers.
109 — Final summary

How To Be Black Summary & Overview

How To Be Black (2012) is the funny, revealing and insightful autobiography of Baratunde Thurston. Thurston attended private schools and Harvard University, and the experience of being black in a predominantly white milieu taught him a great deal about what white and black people have come to expect from one another. These blinks tackle a difficult subject with humor and empathy.

Who Should Listen to How To Be Black?

Black people who get nervous around white people
White people who get nervous around black people
Curious readers interested in a fresh perspective

About the Author: Baratunde Thurston

Baratunde Thurston is a Harvard University graduate, a communications expert, comedian and popular public speaker. Formerly a writer for The Onion, he now blogs for Cultivated Wit and can be followed on Twitter: @baratunde.

How To Be Black

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to How To Be Black — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from How To Be Black

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

How To Be Black — Full Chapter Overview

How To Be Black Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to How To Be Black?

About the Author: Baratunde Thurston

Books Similar to How To Be Black