White Like Her: Stories of Race and Racial Passing

On episode 60 of the podcast, we’re digging into the Meltingpot vault and replaying an episode that was inspired by the book, White Like Her: My Family’s Story of Race and Racial Passing (Skyhorse) by Gail Lukasik. The book is all about racial passing and family secrets in Gail’s family. I’m joined on the show by Gail Lukasik and Philadelphia journalist, Shannon Wink. Like Gail, Shannon was raised to believe she was white, but when she was doing some genealogical research for her job, she discovered some colorful family secrets of her own.  

During this lively conversation we talk about that moment when both women found out that their relatives had been passing, how their own racial identities have shifted from white to not white, but not Black either, and the toll of family secrets. I loved this conversation and it really made me rethink my own definitions of Black and white here in the United States. At the end of the episode, I have some exciting updates to share from Gail and Shannon.

Elizabeth Gilbert is Listening to Black Women Authors

Did you know that Elizabeth Gilbert has started a book club called the Onward Book Club? She launched it after the murder of George Floyd in an effort to do something about racial injustice in this country. Listen in to hear what it’s all about and how you can get involved.

Literary Links from the Show

You can buy a copy of the paperback version of White Like Her on Amazon or from Bookshop.org

Elizabeth Gilbert’s book club, Onward, can be found on her website, ElizabethGilbert.com

You can read Shannon Wink’s original story (and see photos of her family) about finding her roots on her website.

And if you like books about racial passing, consider Brit Bennett’s, The Vanishing Half. 

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