Colorless Soul [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Mary Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2004

Colorless Soul is about a black family growing up in the liberated North. Through its simplicity one is rapidly transported through the years as I share with you my experiences as a black youth. This is a true story to the best of my knowledge from my experiences and partly from history passed on to me by my parents.In essence I started writing this story when I was a child. Eagerly I categorized each piece of history in my head that my parents gave me. As I got older I kept scraps of paper and notebooks to write down my thoughts, unique sayings and bits of conversations I would catch. Everything I heard or that was told to me, no matter how trivial, it became paramount in the story that I knew someday I would write. Perhaps that is the part of my being that embraces heritage like a precious gem. I realized at a young age that fragments of my African history were gone forever and the mystery of what existed at that time in my Caucasian ancestry would probably never come to full circle because of racism. I couldn't reach back because I would go as far as my parents told me. I could not touch the present because I was forbidden, but I could take what I had for the future to give to my children, and so I wrote, remembered and waited until the time was right to write.NOTE: This story has been condensed to protect the privacy of my family.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

I am a northern born lady who now resides in the south. I am a retired Civil Servant and have managed a successful home business in Medical Transcription since 1994. I believe my greatest achievement in life; however, was birthing and raising my children, putting them through college, military service and crying at their weddings. My life will be complete when I am finally a grandmother.I, along with my husband, a retired Air Force person, have traveled with the children through nearly all of the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. I consider myself a very wise and intuitive individual, and attribute this wisdom and fulfilling life to being a military dependent. Experiencing diversified cultures and meeting people of many backgrounds has made me realize that the more different we all seem, the more we basically are all alike. We all want the best for our children, rewarding jobs, comfortable homes, respect and love.If we could get past the skin color, what a beautiful world this would be sharing, caring and showing love and respect for one another.I really should mention that aside from my business, I enjoy reading, writing of course, and have a passion for doll collecting (I have a doll from every country that I traveled). Collecting Beanie Babies is my latest inspiration and I am saving them for -- you guessed it -- The Grandchildren.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse; illustrated edition edition (April 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588200191
• ISBN-13: 978-1588200198
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,270,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Moving and Poignant Novel, May 18, 2002

By 

"sistahbooks" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colorless Soul (Paperback)

COLORLESS SOUL examines the complex issue of race relations in the North by tracing the author's family history after the Civil Rights War to the 1980s.

The author asks the question "What is White?" This is a question that cannot be easily answered. The state of whiteness is not simply appearance. In the United States, a person who has African American ancestry can never be white. To the world, he may appear to be white. However, under the doctrine of the one drop rule, he always will be African American.

The author eloquently demonstrates this point in the portrayal of her maternal grandfather Alex Bonner. Alex was raised by his white father and his family. As a young boy, Alex hated African Americans with vengeance. He wanted to have nothing to with black people.

At the age of 12, Alex is told the shocking truth about his heritage. Alex feels betrayed, because he has been living a lie. He does not want to pass for white. He is African American. He leaves his family and begins to live the rest of his life as a black man.

An equally compelling issue is the fact that men who fathered children by African American women denied the fact that their children existed.

The author's paternal grandfather was an Italian who lived in the North. He never acknowledged her father or his family. The Italian grandfather wanted to pretend that her father was never born and he did not exist.

This pretense is no better than her maternal grandfather's family who wanted her other grandfather to pass for white. What is worse? Denying your African American ancestry? Or denying that you are a father of a black child?

The author discusses the dynamics of growing up as a lighted skinned African American in a working class family. To some, she is privileged, because she has light skinned and straight hair. However, the reality is that she is African American; and she like dark skinned African American faces the ongoing struggle of racism. This is an inescapable fact.

COLORLESS SOUL is a moving and poignant novel. I would highly recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Color-full Story!, July 7, 2002

By 

Prolific Writers Network (Internet) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colorless Soul (Paperback)

I loved this story. It was engaging and very well written. At times it was almost like being a fly on the wall or growing up as one of Mary's sisters as the author made your privy to so much private family information. It appears that the author had alot of questions and was quite inquisitive as a child (who isn't!) And although there were specific names that the author couldn't mention in her book I believe that Colorless Soul is a wonderful piece of documented history that can easily be passed on to children and great grands regardless as to whether or not you are related to this author. It is wonderful to be able to get information from as far back as the author did. Color/shade/complexsion aside this book is a true testiment to ancestry! Simply thrilling.

Linda Dominique Grosvenor

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colorless Soul, May 12, 2002

By 

Mahogany Book Club "Mahogany Media Review" (Albany, N.Y.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colorless Soul (Paperback)

A moving family saga through the eyes of a child.Mary takes you on a journey that pulls at the heart strings as you meet her family struggling in the face of adversity. Written with much wit ! Along with the pain you will be laughing as she quotes her Grandfather, Grandmother and other family members. She transports you back in time( wringer washers,ice boxes and 45's that cost .50) A touch in the lives of a family that remains strong.Mary tell's it like it is, What it was like growing up black, poor, light skinned, of mixed heritage and how society and social standard can deprive you of family and who you are because of racism.Hat's off to Mary for taking notes, listening with keen courious ears as a child and putting it all together as far as she could. This book is a piece of history, A memoir, an important diary to pass on to her legacy, who will for many generations to come be very glad she did. I read this book straight through, And I too only regret it had to end... so I'm waiting for the sequel as well.