At the age of eight, Brian Copeland's mother fled her abusive husband and relocated their family from Oakland to San Leandro, which at the time was considered one of the most racist enclaves in the nation. He endured a difficult childhood and went on to become a successful comedian and radio host, but even after leaving behind his past, an anonymous letter arrived which read: "As an African-American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because YOU are not a genuine black man!"
This letter drives Copeland to face a lifetime of experiences as an outsider as he courageously toils to reclaim his identity. The book is a series of memoirs which describes specific events in Copeland's life which place him in the role of outsider.
Ultimately, Copeland holds firm to his faith in himself and his belief that people construct their own identities, independent of outside judgment and labeling. No single person or group determines the standards by which to assess authentic forms of cultural identity. To subscribe to this belief sabotages the spirit of multiculturalism and lays waste to the decades of social progress which have brought us to this point.
(Note: "Not a Genuine Black Man" is the third of twelve books that I will be sharing with you as part of the requirements of my Ultimate Black Belt Test. More to come, stay tuned!)
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