White Like Her: My Family’s Story of Race and Racial Passing is the story of Gail Lukasik’s mother’s “passing,” Gail’s struggle with the shame of her mother’s choice, and her subsequent journey of self-discovery and redemption. 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 … 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 eighteenth-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.
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From the moment the author realized her mother was hiding parts of her ancestry, Gail was curious about her mother’s family and why she hid her race and heritage. From her experience on a genealogy television show to searching records in New Orleans, the author keeps the pages turning with family history and stories. I highly recommend this book
A DIFFICULT SUBJECT/ WELL WRITTEN
A true story genealogy thriller! The story of a woman who finds out her mother’s secret; she is a black woman and has been passing as a white woman. It makes you wonder if you really know who you are.
Excellent read! The author knew how to keep my interest unlike some other memoirs or autobiography type books.
What a wonderful & interesting book. This true story had me up all night. I couldn’t put it down. Kudos to the author for not stopping until she got the entire story. I can understand her need. You have got to read it. It’s an awesome true story.
It’s sad that someone would feel it necessary to reject part of their heritage and culture in order to live a “better” life; only then to also live in fear of rejection or worse, if their secret was to be found out.
This book will make you think. Think about, are you really who you think you are culturally?
Very good read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was caught up in it until i finished it.
I think this is another factor in race in this country.
Important insights for any adult offspring of a parent who made the difficult, life-altering decision to try to pass for white.
An incredible journey into the history of race and culture. This book has inspired me to start my own family search.
Not what I expected. The book was basically about writing the book. It had a LOT of DNA information. There was no emotion. No ‘meat’ to the story.
Very interesting book about racial identity.
Thought it would give more personal history but was filled with genealogy of authors family back to 1700s. Expected to read about how the story affected her growing up.
Started out very interesting, is a little slow in the middle. I think it has too much information. Ok read.
I’m reading it now and I’m enjoying this book.
This is a fascinating look at a part of American history many aren’t even aware of and even those who are often haven’t thought about the high price paid by those who chose to pass as white. In learning about one woman’s research into her family history we learn a lot about our history as a nation. It also brings up a lot of important questions about the many difficulties those of mixed racial backgrounds face in a world that often asks them to choose if they are black or white not allowing for any area in between. Even our language only has terms for mixed race that are loaded with negative connotations.