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

by A D Powell (Author) "In the days of the Third Reich, the Nazis imposed the "Nuremberg Laws" on German citizens..." (more)
Key Phrases: white racial purity, one drop rule, white racial identity, United States, Interracial Voice, Anatole Broyard (more...)

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_

Product Description
Twelve essays in support of multiracial whiteness, covering: The Multiracial Movement, Self-Identity, Ethnic Choice

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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 (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,177,457 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 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)

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 While this may ruffle the feathers of some, it is a common sense approach to the outdated and oftentimes harmful American tradition of assigning all people to strict racial categories (that may or may not coincide with their own view of themselves).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

11 of 13 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

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.

11 of 13 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

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_.