"Passing" for Who You Really Are: Essays in Support of Multiracial Whiteness [Paperback]

A D Powell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

· The Multiracial Movement · Self-Identity · Ethnic Choice Should be required reading for "blacks," academicians, "white" liberals and especially Latinos. - William Javier Nelson, sociologist and author of _The Racial Definition Handbook_. She reminds you of H.L. Menken, driving intellectual midgets into frenzies of outrage, a spectacle that entertains her fans. - Frank W. Sweet, author of the series _Paths Not Taken_. No spokesperson of the movement to abolish government sponsorship of the "race" notion has been more eloquent than A.D. Powell. And none has been more harshly criticized. It is not that she in error or that she does not describe reality. To the contrary, she writes with crystalline precision and merciless accuracy. But she writes of Things Best Left Unsaid in America. Powell aims her barbs at liberals of all complexions who preach the one-drop rule. She is the nemesis of those who advocate the uniquely American notion that there is no such thing as a White per-son with African ancestry-that such a person is, at best, a "light-skinned Black." Powell believes that the one-drop rule ignores sci-ence, crushes tolerance, and mocks the American Dream. And yet it is preached by Liberals, and its enforcement is demanded by most Black leaders. She argues that coercing someone's ethnic choice is tyranny. This collection of essays on multiracialism originally appeared in Interracial Voice magazine.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I am glad someone is publishing [Powell], because there is so much crap published by university presses about [multiracialism]. -- Francis Wardle, author of the textbook, _Introduction to Early Childhood Education_

She reminds you of H.L. Menken, driving intellectual midgets into frenzies of outrage, a spectacle that entertains her fans. -- Frank W. Sweet, author of the series _Paths Not Taken_

Should be required reading for "blacks," academicians, "white" liberals and especially Latinos. -- William Javier Nelson, author of _The Racial Definition Handbook_

From the Publisher

No spokesperson of the movement to abolish government sponsorship of the "race" notion has been more eloquent than A.D. Powell. And none has been more harshly criticized. It is not that she in error or that she does not describe reality. To the contrary, she writes with crystalline precision and merciless accuracy. But she writes of Things Best Left Unsaid in America.

Powell aims her barbs at liberals of all complexions who preach the one-drop rule. She is the nemesis of those who advocate the uniquely American notion that there is no such thing as a White person with African ancestry—-that such a person is, at best, a "light-skinned Black." Powell believes that the one-drop rule ignores science, crushes tolerance, and mocks the American Dream. And yet it is preached by liberals, and its enforcement is demanded by most Black leaders. She argues that coercing someone’s ethnic choice is tyranny.

This collection of essays on multiracialism originally appeared in _Interracial Voice_ magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Backintyme (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939479222
• ISBN-13: 978-0939479221
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,717,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

http://www.melungeon.org/node/68

http://www.interracialvoice.com/powell8.html

http://www.interracialvoice.com/powell9.html

http://www.interracialvoice.com/powell11.html

http://www.interracialvoice.com/powell14.html

http://multiracial.com/site/content/view/38/54/

http://backintyme.com/ad222.php

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating treatise, May 1, 2005

By 

N. Brent Kennedy (Kingsport, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: "Passing" for Who You Really Are: Essays in Support of Multiracial Whiteness (Paperback)

I found this book to be a fascinating treatise on race and ethnicity, or more accurately our perceptions on race and ethnicity. A.D. Powell takes a stand that, in essence, argues for each human being's innate right to identify with the ethnic culture and heritage, or heritages, that he or she chooses. While this may ruffle the feathers of some, it is a common sense approach to the outdated and oftentimes harmful American tradition of assigning all people to strict racial categories (that may or may not coincide with their own view of themselves). As Wayne Winkler points out, whether you agree with her or not, A.D. Powell's "Passing for Who You Really Are" will make you think long and hard about our long held disjointed notions of race.

Brent Kennedy

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Book's Main Point Is Correct, But There Are Some Over Generalizations., February 25, 2006

By 

Dane Carthage (Hamill, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Passing" for Who You Really Are: Essays in Support of Multiracial Whiteness (Paperback)

A.D. Powell makes good points by exposing the non-sense of the American race culture. Hypo-descendent is wrong, and individuals should be allowed to self identify how they please.

I am a multiracial person, and very aware of Miss Powell's views, because I have read her opinions on multiracial websites and message boards for years. I have spoken with other multiracial people about her, and we do respect her passion and sympathize with her, but her flaw is she's too un-objective.

Some of her comments are too myopic, being based on her own, and some people's personal experience with some African Americans. She is wrong to say most or all African Americans are pro-hypodescendent, because she has no current statistics to prove this.

There are African Americans as she speaks of, like the activist and politicians against the multiracial option, but that's not the whole population. For example, Rep. John Lewis helped activist Susan Graham legalize the multiracial category in Georgia. Also, plenty African Americans are part of the Multiracial Movement.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes you examine your assumptions about "race.", March 23, 2005

By 

Wayne Winkler - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Passing" for Who You Really Are: Essays in Support of Multiracial Whiteness (Paperback)

A. D. Powell's book of essays on the odious "one drop rule" is one of those rare works that will make you examine America's--and your own--assumptions and attitudes about race. Whether you agree with these thoughtful pieces or not, they will make you think about some things you may have never considered before. _Passing For Who You Really Are_ presents ideas that will stay in your mind for a long time to come. - Wayne Winkler, author of _Walking Toward the Sunset: The Melungeons of Appalachia_.