I’m still here : Book review

Book review

Title: I'm still here
Author: Austin Channing Brown
Genre: Memoir/Non Fiction

This book was recommended by a professor of mine.

'I'm still here' is an account of a girl describing about what it felt like to exist in a black body.

In this strikingly honest memoir, the author narrates her parent's deliberate move to bestow her with a white man’s name in order to secure her acceptance in the world of white individuals. She talks about her inability to fit in. She is considered too white for the black community and too black for the white community. A similar premise was described in American author Mishna Woolf's memoir titled 'I'm Down.'

She talks about being subjected to racial slurs and prejudices during her growing up years that extends even in her professional life. She traces back to America’s history and some instances that leaves an unsettling feeling amongst readers.

'I'm still here' is powerful and thought provoking. In her unapologetic tone, she displays grief,anger and resentment about the White supremacy.   It tends to remind one of Ta Nahisi Coates book 'Between the world and me'.

Themes of racism and freedom are touched upon here. It elicits empathy from the readers and makes them wonder if there would be a day when an individual is viewed as human rather than their caste, creed or colour.

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