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About the author


Beverly Harris-Schenz, a distinguished professor and author, has been breaking barriers throughout her illustrious career. As the first Black faculty member in the German departments at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Massachusetts, and Rice University, she has had a profound influence on academia. Beverly held significant positions, including being the first Black female appointed Vice Provost and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and Academic Dean of a Semester at Sea voyage. Retirement has not slowed Beverly's mission to educate and enlighten. She has authored an essay on her mother's early life and two poignant stories that have been published in the anthology, "Voices from the Attic," by Carlow University Press. In "Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'," Beverly shares her experiences to challenge stereotypes, foster understanding, and instigate change. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband.
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Living while Black
My Experience with "Everyday Racism"
by Beverly Harris-Schenz

Overview


"Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'" is a compelling collection of personal anecdotes that expose the stark reality of racial bias and misunderstanding faced by many Black Americans. This insightful book uses personal stories to provoke thought, conversation, and a call to action against systemic racism.
Read more

Description


"Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'" is a profoundly personal exploration of systemic racism and the myriad forms it takes in the daily lives of Black Americans. Each story in this unique collection is derived from the author's personal encounters and experiences, illustrating how racial bias, unfounded assumptions, and misunderstanding can pervade even the most ordinary situations. Distinctive in its approach, this book presents each issue through the lens of a single, focused narrative, offering readers the chance to view familiar contexts from an entirely new perspective. Accompanying discussion questions challenge readers to question the motivations and consequences behind the stories, fostering a deeper understanding and empathy towards People of Color. More than just a recounting of experiences, "Living While Black" calls on readers to ask themselves how they can make a difference. By bearing witness to these stories, it is hoped that readers will not only become aware of systemic racism's insidious presence but also feel empowered to act against it. This collection offers a vital first step towards recognizing and dismantling everyday racism.
Read more

Overview


"Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'" is a compelling collection of personal anecdotes that expose the stark reality of racial bias and misunderstanding faced by many Black Americans. This insightful book uses personal stories to provoke thought, conversation, and a call to action against systemic racism.

Read more

Description


"Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'" is a profoundly personal exploration of systemic racism and the myriad forms it takes in the daily lives of Black Americans. Each story in this unique collection is derived from the author's personal encounters and experiences, illustrating how racial bias, unfounded assumptions, and misunderstanding can pervade even the most ordinary situations. Distinctive in its approach, this book presents each issue through the lens of a single, focused narrative, offering readers the chance to view familiar contexts from an entirely new perspective. Accompanying discussion questions challenge readers to question the motivations and consequences behind the stories, fostering a deeper understanding and empathy towards People of Color. More than just a recounting of experiences, "Living While Black" calls on readers to ask themselves how they can make a difference. By bearing witness to these stories, it is hoped that readers will not only become aware of systemic racism's insidious presence but also feel empowered to act against it. This collection offers a vital first step towards recognizing and dismantling everyday racism.

Read more

Book details

Genre:BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Subgenre:Personal Memoirs

Language:English

Pages:96

eBook ISBN:9798350914856

Paperback ISBN:9798350914849


Overview


"Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'" is a compelling collection of personal anecdotes that expose the stark reality of racial bias and misunderstanding faced by many Black Americans. This insightful book uses personal stories to provoke thought, conversation, and a call to action against systemic racism.

Read more

Description


"Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'" is a profoundly personal exploration of systemic racism and the myriad forms it takes in the daily lives of Black Americans. Each story in this unique collection is derived from the author's personal encounters and experiences, illustrating how racial bias, unfounded assumptions, and misunderstanding can pervade even the most ordinary situations. Distinctive in its approach, this book presents each issue through the lens of a single, focused narrative, offering readers the chance to view familiar contexts from an entirely new perspective. Accompanying discussion questions challenge readers to question the motivations and consequences behind the stories, fostering a deeper understanding and empathy towards People of Color. More than just a recounting of experiences, "Living While Black" calls on readers to ask themselves how they can make a difference. By bearing witness to these stories, it is hoped that readers will not only become aware of systemic racism's insidious presence but also feel empowered to act against it. This collection offers a vital first step towards recognizing and dismantling everyday racism.

Read more

About the author


Beverly Harris-Schenz, a distinguished professor and author, has been breaking barriers throughout her illustrious career. As the first Black faculty member in the German departments at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Massachusetts, and Rice University, she has had a profound influence on academia. Beverly held significant positions, including being the first Black female appointed Vice Provost and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and Academic Dean of a Semester at Sea voyage. Retirement has not slowed Beverly's mission to educate and enlighten. She has authored an essay on her mother's early life and two poignant stories that have been published in the anthology, "Voices from the Attic," by Carlow University Press. In "Living While Black: My Experience with 'Everyday Racism'," Beverly shares her experiences to challenge stereotypes, foster understanding, and instigate change. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband.

Read more

Book Reviews

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Chey Anne
Living While Black Was a page turner for me. Phenomenal literature for people from all walks of life to learn and engage with those they’ve only heard about to get an inside view. It’s extraordinary, remarkable, and a substantial read for this day and age, as well as the future. Read more
Kamakshi
Living while black This book by Dr. Beverly Harris-Schenz is an invaluable contribution to the vitally important issue of Critical Race Theory and the movement "Black Lives Matter." Using her decades of teaching, Dr. Harris-Schenz has offered multiple ways to raise awareness about racism, sexism, and classism. This book is a must at all levels of education, even the primary level where opinions and beliefs are most susceptible to their environment and the adults who create it for them. Thank you, Professor Harris-Schenz, for sharing your insightful, compassionate, and powerfully articulated experiences! Read more
Shirley
Living While Black Well written ! Racism is blinding . The author seeks to view her world with clear lens. The lens are only clouded by those who seek to view her through broken glass . Racism limits one’s view. Thank you for sharing your experiences . Read more
Robert
Living While Black I found this book compelling, consequential, and extremely readable. As a 91 -year-old White male who grew up in an all-white town, my only exposure to Black people at that time was limited to church sponsored minstrel shows where White actor's wore blackface and played for laughs at the expense of stereotyped Black Americans. While I gradually came to recognize the destructiveness of such events it took longer to understand the nature of systemic racism. The courageous sharing of this author's personal experiences helped to deepen this understanding and I suspect that it can help many of us become more open to our own insensitivities and challenge us to take a more active role in reducing racism. I do hope that this book will achieve wide readership. My congratulations to Dr. Harris-Schenz for this impactful contribution. Read more
Joe
Living while Black As a Caucasian male who grew up in a small Pennsylvania town with no Black residents, I’m aware that it will never be possible for me to fully comprehend what the daily experience of Black people is like. Dr. Harris-Schenz poignantly reminds us that activities as ordinary as buying shoes, wrapping gifts, or sitting across from one’s spouse can take on a dimension of misunderstanding and complication for Black people that we Caucasians never have to deal with. That has not changed, and as Dr. Harris-Schenz acknowledges, it can lead to stressful, serious, and even deadly consequences for Black individuals still today. People of all ages need to be reading and reflecting on the encounters described in this engaging and important book. Rev. Joe Hajdu Read more
Judith
Living While Black Through a series of thought-provoking and easily-accessible vignettes, Dr. Harris-Schenz shares decades of experiences of living while Black. Whether as a school girl in Detroit, a young German instructor at Sanford, an Assistant Dean at Pitt, or the Academic Dean of Semester at Sea, Harris-Schenz shares examples of racism (and sexism) she encounters. The strength and dignity (and often deft touch) of her responses belie the pain and fear these encounters engender, no more apparent than in her vignette about driving while Black in California. Each vignette is accompanied by a series of questions which will open up meaningful discussions for any age grouo. Judie Compher Read more
Friend
Living while Black This book is as illuminating as it is insightful. Beverly Harris-Schenz remains cool and rational in describing her experiences; she never gets sniveling or sentimental, but, when appropriate, pleasantly humorous. All this makes “Living while Black“ even more powerful. A must read! Read more
Friend
Essential Reading There are many debates about systemic racism, but I think reading about people experiences can widen the discussion and create space for empathy. Beverly Harris-Schenz grew up in Detroit. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Michigan and Stanford University securing degrees that lead to a career teaching German in institutions for decades. She served time as an administrator, giving her different experiences with students. In her book, Living While Black: My Experiences with Everyday Racism, she chronicles encounters over her lifetime. Yes, these experiences begin in childhood. As a young person, Beverly learned from her parents how to negotiate in contested spaces. The selections cover the small slights and offensive treatment that people talk about both in their work and personal lives. Some encounters could cascade into danger. Each selection is followed with discussion questions. The book is great as an individual read that might bring up issues you remember and reflect up. It can also be a vehicle for talking about issues with friends and colleagues. Read more
Marion
Thought provoking! Can we ever really walk in someone else's shoes? Dr. Beverly Harris-Schenz helps us to do just that in her somewhat matter-of-fact style, as she shares her everyday experiences in "Living While Black." At first read, the stories the author relates may appear unassuming, until the reader realizes that they are thinking about them and pondering them long after closing the pages. This thought-provoking book might be slim but it speaks volumes! Dr. Harris-Schenz provides excellent material for discussion groups (educational, corporate, religious) to broaden their views and perhaps, to begin to heal the larger world. Read more
Ingrid
Read - Contemplate - Discuss, Now! How I wish words could describe what an essential book this is. Dr. Harris-Schenz has written an essential book for every thinking, feeling person. The vulnerability she displays in sharing these personal vignettes is a sacred gift to the reader. Coming from my unearned place of privilege as a White woman in America, I was both inspired and convicted. An essential read for adults and teens, educators, religious and corporate leaders, parents, and anyone who seeks to "walk a mile in another's shoes." Beautifully written, empowering. it has kept me thinking since I read it in one sitting. Read more