I’ve found my new favorite book to rave about to my girlfriends! Harvard Law School alum (whoop! whoop!) Karyn Langhorne has just published the book Don’t Bring Home a White Boy (and other Notions that Keep Black Women From Dating Out). I love and recommend this book to Black women and women in general who are single and don’t want to be for the following reasons:
- It’s a delicious read. I devoured this book in two days (sitting for hours at jury duty in the Suffolk Superior Court did help by giving me lots of free time to read). It was one of those books where you are sad when it’s over and you start reading all the random copyright text just to spend a few more minutes with it. I know I’m not the only one who does that!
- It’s extremely well-written and well-cited. I can really see the Harvard Law School training come out when Karyn elegantly and comprehensively dissects and refutes every single excuse Black women give for not dating men of other races. She cites sources from published PhDs all the way to lil ole bloggers like me (I so wish she and I had met before the book was finished. I could have been quoted!).
- She puts the fire under you. It will be very hard to hold your “Black-only” ground once you read the statistics Karyn has laid out for your prospects. She does a classic back-of-the-envelope calculation of just how few Black men there are available that match the economic and social characteristics that high-achieving Black women are outlining for a potential mate. Let me tell you, the percentage of potential mates out of the total U.S. population was not in the double digits. Now, that’s what I call motivating.
- It’s engaging, inspiring, and realistic. Karyn doesn’t say that all your dating troubles will be magically solved when a White boy waltzes into your life. She shares the results of dozens of interviews with interracial couples, and they mention everything from being disowned by their families to getting glared at in restaurants and told off by strangers! However, women love a great success story to give us some motivation to keep on keeping on in the dating game–which can be oh-so-exhausting. I know I finished this book sighing with relief, thinking, I’m glad I opened my heart to my White boy. Okay, so he’s not “White” technically. He’s Mexican–but his nickname would definitely be Guero if he lived in Mexico!
Next week, I will be launching a book giveaway of Karyn’s book. I loved it so much, and it’s hard for me to give them away (rather than carry them around with me and hand them out to beautiful single Black women I see on the train), but I know that the word must be carried far and wide for all my fabulous, single, and lonely Black sisters out there. Don’t waste another minute with your chin in your hand! Go get this book and see how opening your mind and your heart can change your life.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Gotta say I am pretty shocked, Kaneisha! Still behind you 100% but I didn’t think I would ever hear you say such things!
Dating Mr. C really opened my eyes to how silly it is for me to be like, “Yes, you are wonderful, but you are not Black. Goodbye!”
I can’t wait to be part of the give away! I want one!!!
I loved Karyn’s book too! I wrote a review and published it on Amazon (as Prosechild), if you or one of your readers are interested in my thoughts =)
This book looks sooo good
Nice review. I’m currently reading this book! So far, so good.
I am going to get this book ASAP. I am in a healthy and enjoyable relationship with a white German and it’s awesome. I have never understood why black women choose to limit their options when of all the qualities that contribute to meaningful relationships, race is probably the least of them. Look forward to reading what Karyn has to say.
Hey Kim! Be sure to come back and tell us what you thought of the book once you get a chance to read it!
Sounds interesting, although I’ve never had an issue with inter-racial dating.
I think when it boils down to it, people are people. Yes their are definitely cultural differences, and different races have different experiences due to race – and that can cause problems, but we all just wanna be loved and to love, whatever colour we are
What a fascintating-sounding book!
As a Chinese girl happily married to a white boy, I find it funny when my Chinese girlfriends only want to date Chinese boys. While cultural differences can result in misunderstandings and mis-communication, they can be overcome by couples who are truly committed to each other and love each other.
Deb´s last blog ..My Latest Op Shop Find (aka My Love of Vintage Books)