Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural [Paperback]

As we approach the twenty-first century, biracialism and biculturalism are becoming increasingly common. Skin color and place of birth are no longer reliable signifiers of one's identity or origin. Simple questions like What are you? and Where are you from? aren't answered—they are discussed. These eighteen essays, joined by a shared sense of duality, address the difficulties of not fitting into and the benefits of being part of two worlds.  Through the lens of personal experience, they offer a broader spectrum of meaning for race and culture. And in the process, they map a new ethnic terrain that transcends racial and cultural division.Introduction by Claudine Chiawei O’Hearn vii
 
LOST IN PLACEby Garrett Hongo 1
 
THE MULATTO MILLENIUMby Danny Senna 12
 
THE DOUBLE HELIXby Roxane Farmanfarmaian 28
 
CALIFORNIA PALMSby lê thi diem thúy  38
 
MOROLIKE MEby Francisco Goldman 49
 
THE ROAD FROM BALLYGUNGEby Bharati Mukherjee 71
 
REFLECTIONS ON MY DAUGHTERby David Mura 80
 
LIFE AS AN ALIENby Meri Nana-Ama Danquah 99
 
LOST IN THE MIDDLEby Malcolm Gladwell 112
 
THE FUNERAL BANQUETby Lisa See 125
 
A WHITE WOMAN OF COLORby Julia Álvarez 139
 
A MIDDLE PASSAGEby Philippe Wamba 150
 
FOOD AND THE IMMIGRANTby Indira Ganesan 170
 
WHAT COLOR IS JESUS?by James McBride 181
 
POSTCARDS FROM “HOME”by Lori Tsang 197
 
FROM HERE TO POLANDby Nina Mehta 216
 
TECHNICOLORby Rubén Martinez 245
 
AN ETHNIC TRUMPby Gish Jen 265
 
About the Authors 269 The future is here in these fascinating looks at complicated identities. Insightful, hilarious, and often heartbreaking. I can't wait l³.