How to Be Black

How to Be Black is a book written by the American comedian Baratunde Thurston. It is an autobiographical account of Thurston's life and upbringing and discusses stereotypes of African Americans, their social identities, and their relationships with their white peers.

How to Be Black
AuthorBaratunde Thurston
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Publication date
January 31, 2012
Pages272
ISBN9780062003225

In describing the book, Thurston said he hopes it exposes the reader to "another side of the black experience while offering practical, comedic advice based on [his] own painful lessons learned"[1] and that "If you don't have a sense of humor this book will upset you greatly."[2]

The book is a New York Times Best Seller.[2]

Television adaptation

In September 2021, it was reported that an animated television series adaptation of the book was in development at ABC. It will be produced by 20th Century Animation and ABC Signature with Thurston as writer and executive producer alongside Courtney Lilly.[3] However, in October 2022, ABC decided not to proceed into a pilot as they will not be focusing on animation.[4]

Reception

J. Victoria Sanders of the San Francisco Chronicle said the book "makes light of uncomfortable truths about America's awkward relationship to stereotypical and monolithic blackness by offering very funny advice about such topics as 'How to Be the Black Friend,' 'How to Speak for All Black People' and 'How to Be the Black Employee'" but said that Thurston was at his best when describing his troubled upbringing in which his father was murdered, forcing his mother to raise him alone as well as his experiences at Sidwell Friends School and Harvard University.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Baratunde Thurston Explains 'How To Be Black'". NPR. February 1, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  2. Marques, Michelle (November 15, 2013). "Baratunde Thurston's 'How To Be Black' Humorously Answers An Age Old Question". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  3. White, Peter (September 22, 2021). "Animated Series 'How To Be Black' From Baratunde Thurston & Courtney Lilly In The Works At ABC". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. White, Peter (September 22, 2021). "ABC Reshapes Year-Round Development With 2 Defined Cycles As Net's Simran Sethi Talks 'Abbott Elementary' Effect, Hopes For 'Alaska Daily'".
  5. Sanders, J. Victoria (February 19, 2013). "'How to Be Black,' by Baratunde Thurston: review". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
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