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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Diary Worth Reading, February 2, 2005
This review is from: 40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule: The Diary of a Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American Woman (Paperback)
Racy Thomas is a woman on a mission in Kim Williams', 40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule: The Diary of a Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American Woman.
After leaving home to go to college, Racy is determined to prove that her mother, Uncle Ray-Ray and a host of other family members are wrong. For the majority of her life, Racy's family has warned her about the funny ways of "the white folks." Convinced that her family cannot possibly be right, Racy decides against going to a historically black college and instead opts for a more culturally diverse campus. It is there that she receives her wake-up call and realizes that her family may not be wrong after all. After graduating, Racy leaves her college experience behind and walks into her first job with thoughts of
being treated as an equal. Once again -- she receives a wake-up call. It is then that she grows from what she describes as a nigger child trying to fit in, into a self-confident, African-American woman, that could care less what Caucasians think about her.
As an African-American woman, I found this book to be wonderfully hilarious. From coming into work and having to answer numerous questions about my braids, to eating leftovers in the break room and having to explain what I'm eating, to the occasional insensitive joke - I have experienced it all. Williams definitely has her finger on the pulse of Caucasian/African-American relations in the office.
If you are an African-American woman I definitely recommend this book. While it does not solve the world's problems on race-relations, it definitely confirms something that we should all know -- it is okay to be ourselves.
T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Look a Little Deeper, April 9, 2005
This review is from: 40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule: The Diary of a Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American Woman (Paperback)
I read this book and I knew it would be contraversial. I read a few of the other reviews and some did not seem to go as deep as the author intended. The author is not a hero trying to be white. She is a hero striving not to be judged by the stereotypes that have grouped African Americans for centuries.
She makes comments to other characters in the book, such as I don't listen to rap music because not all African American people listen to rap music, and she refuses to be characterized by what society has deemed normal for her people. Not all African Americans are ghetto fabulous, nor are all of them trying to be down for some non-existent cause.
Racey is a courages African American woman who dares to challenge her superiors in the workplace. She dares to question their motives and ask them questions (without actually asking the questions) who are you to tell me how to speak or ask.
When she is faced with counterparts in the work place, she realizes they are courageous enough to be themselves and act like no one else in the workplace. This is very uncomfortable for her. She wants to know how could you let them see us this way. They already think all of us steal (my own conclusions). But in the end, she realizes that it is ok to be who she is and not worry about what anyne else thinks and feels about it anyway.
This was a very good book and a very good read. Go just a little deeper and get the symbolism and irony in the book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this book!, April 8, 2005
This review is from: 40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule: The Diary of a Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American Woman (Paperback)
This book will make you laugh, cry and more importantly, think about what African-Americans go through daily in their work environments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thoughtful approach at dealing with the racial divide in the workplace.
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