Why am I passionate about this?
I’m a writer and a Shakespeare and critical race studies scholar who’s always been intrigued by the invisible, artificial race-based boundaries in our world. I love analyzing the lives of literary characters and seeing how they can serve as mirrors for us along lines of gender, mental health, and more. My critical interests are informed by the fact that I grew up in a predominantly Black/Latino low-income neighborhood and attended an affluent, predominantly white private school from the sixth to twelfth grade. My adolescent experiences with inclusion/exclusion dynamics required me to reflect on race, for example, so I could understand and navigate the kinds of socio-cultural dynamics that affect us all.
David's book list on color your thinking about race
Why did David love this book?
Beyond appreciating this memoir’s important content and the masterful way Dr. Blackstock raises awareness about a public health crisis that needs prioritization, I love this book because the author reaches into the depths of her own family history in a very vulnerable way that discloses the personal in order to deliver a message that everyone needs to hear.
The implications of Blackstock’s argument about healthcare and medical racism should matter to every human body, thus making this book urgent reading material for all—from doctors to patients and their loved ones.
Blackstock unearths and examines a harsh truth for readers: inequities perpetuated by the racial hierarchy do serious damage to the human body, but it doesn’t have to be that way. And it won’t be that way forever if people become more aware and concerned and then work relentlessly to change the system.
1 author picked Legacy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“This book is more than a memoir—it also serves as a call to action to create a more equitable healthcare system for patients of color, particularly Black women.” —Essence
One of NPR’s 11 Books to Look Forward to in 2024
One of Good Morning America’s 15 New Books to Read for the New Year
“Legacy is both a compelling memoir and an edifying analysis of the inequities in the way we deliver healthcare in America. Uché Blackstock is a force of nature.” —Abraham Verghese, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Covenant of…