White like Her

By: Gail Lukasik PhD, Kenyatta D. Berry - foreword

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

In the historical context of the Jim Crow South, Gail explores her mother's decision to pass, how she hid her secret even from her own husband, and the price she paid for choosing whiteness. Haunted by her mother's fear and shame, Gail embarks on a quest to uncover her mother's racial lineage, tracing her family back to 18th-century colonial Louisiana. In coming to terms with her decision to publicly out her mother, Gail changed how she looks at race and heritage.

With a foreword written by Kenyatta Berry, host of PBS's Genealogy Roadshow, this unique and fascinating story of coming to terms with oneself breaks down barriers. A Washington Post Notable Book of 2017's Most Inspiring Stories.

©2018 Gail Lukasik (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Interesting but Long

I really found this story interesting and timely. it's a direct response to all the ignorant people who ask why we don't forget about slavery. it proves that the Racial caste system lives on in this country even when we don't see it. My only issue is the length of this work. it was almost impossible to get through and repetitive.

Life Truth Matters

This book is a powerful and meaningful read. It sheds light on the experiences of many mixed raced and multicultural individuals. I learned so much and I am wiser because of the time I took to read this life-changing book.

Such a relatable story!

This is an amazing story! I loved Gail's drive to go after the truth. I also love how her story led her to her family.

Beautiful

the lines of color arent so simply drawn, as seen from the example of the authors mother. i have developed a new appreciation for the struggles of those who camnup in the Jim Crow America.

Highly recommended

I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to read it after watching a clip on Instagram. I’m glad I did.

Eye-opening and Candid

Author's candor in sharing the many layers of generational secrets and her search to find answers prompted many additional questions and a desire to know more!

Two prongs of interest here

As the Keeper of The Stories and History for my family and having done genealogical research since before there was an Ancestry.com, I find the genealogical process described in this book fascinating and informative. As a white woman trying to educate myself about the totality of the black experience, I find the bravery of the author as she goes for it to piece her history together heartwarming. It's nice she found people on the other end of the search who wanted to be found and that she had a husband who was supportive no matter what the answer. I'm curious what her father's people's reaction has been to all of this as I grew up in the 60s and still live less than an hour from Parma, Ohio and understand the predominant culture of that area during the time the author lived here.

As other reviewers have mentioned, I found the made up letters the author has inserted gratuitous and unnecessary. She should feel free to write that historical fiction in some other book. This was not the place for it. Also, in Ohio, those summer bugs that light up are called fireflies or lightening bugs, not June bugs. June bugs are the ones that look like scarabs. Not an error I would expect a kid from the Cuyahoga Valley to make.

Intriguing Story

As I'm reading about Gail's final visit with her mom at the assisted living facility, I am anticipating my last visit with my mom. In less than 2 weeks, I'm making a quick trip "home" for a high school reunion and will drive to the nursing facility for what I am sure will be my last time to see her.
However, at 94, she cannot sit on the side of her bed and dangle her feet (but photos from my sister do show her skinny legs dangling when semi-propped in a wheelchair) nor can she eat by herself. This is the first time I am emotionally connecting with the enormity of this upcoming visit also wondering if she will remember me, and if she does, for how long.
Her love also had been keeping the house clean, making sure there was food on the table, and a roof over our heads. Nothing more, nothing less.
Hopefully, this floodgate of tears will make my upcoming visit more monumental.

Eye opening !

As a mixed raced daughter I now see how my mother had to live her life. Growing up passing in a small town. Where at anytime something or someone could ruin her life. I can say both the author of this book and I feel the same. We will not hide who our ancestors are we can hold our heads high fight for the next generation.

Heard it

Disappointing, boring stuff, big let down. All dialogue and no story. No character development.