Growing Up Black in White

De: Kevin D. Hofmann

Narrado por: Kevin D. Hofmann

Growing Up Black in White by Kevin D. Hofmann is a moving and sometimes humorous look into the life of one man with a fascinating past. Born into the racially-charged Detroit of 1967 to a White mother and a Black father, the author was placed into foster care and then adopted by a White minister and his wife, the parents of three biological children.

Hofmann’s memoir reveals the racial tensions, the difficulties of feeling neither Black nor White, his family’s loving support, and his struggles to define and embrace his own identity as he grew to be a man. This is a story of hope and promise, and how we are able to define ourselves not through the racism and judgments of a challenging society, but through our own sense of self-respect and personal identity.

Kevin Hofmann came to this memoir after a lifetime of contemplation and self-analysis. After attending a national conference on adoption, he found his voice and wove it into this emotional and often amusing story. Hofmann lives with his wife and two sons in Toledo, Ohio.

©2017 Kevin D Hofmann (P)2019 Kevin D Hofmann

Heartfelt testimony

I have been intentionally listening to books this year about, and authored by, mixed raced men. I feel like they have a particularly significant story to tell. As a white male nearing 70, and as someone raised in the south, I have learned much by all of them, including this book. I still have much to learn. I especially like books narrated by the author as this one was. There were many flow issues in the narration but I kind of appreciated that. He read the book like he was reading it to a friend on a road trip and not as a voice over professional. He wasn't OCD about how it sounded but I think he just really wanted to tell the story, his story.

There really wasn't a transformation, feel good moment in the book, at least that I had hoped for. However, it felt more like it was simply his testimony. Without spoiling the story, he was adopted and much of the story towards the end is about sibling issues. I'll just leave it at that. His search for who he is/was causes one to feel compassion. I think this story was just as much about the ambiguity of being adopted as is about being raised in a white world as a black man. There was much unfair prejudice that he endured, for sure, but he loved his white adoptive parents. He referred to them as mom and dad. Nice.

All in all I enjoyed this book and I wish the author well. I think he still has some stuff (as we all do) to work though regarding his upbringing. However, we are all on a lifetime journey and we never stop growing and processing. I appreciate his honesty and his transparency.

Very helpful and meaningful book

As a member of a multicultural family, I found this book very worthwhile. So many of Kevin’s stories and experiences hit close to home and got me thinking about my own family experiences in the 70’s and 80’s in Minneapolis. The book has also given me a new perspective on what my adopted siblings may have experienced. I need to re-examine our family experiences with my parents and siblings.

Great book five stars

This book was very helpful. I am raising a biracial boy & will definitely use some of his suggestions.

Must read for all WAPs

It's amazing book, listening to it has made me a better parent!! I am beyond grateful the author was as open and vulnerable with his readers. It's a great book.