Black Is the Body

Black Is the Body collects twelve essays that examine race, identity, and personal history through Bernard's experiences as a Black woman in New England. The essays begin with a violent incident from Bernard's past and expand outward to explore her life as a professor, writer, wife, and mother. Bernard writes about growing up in Nashville, teaching in Vermont, adopting twin daughters from Ethiopia, and navigating interracial marriage. Her essays move between past and present, connecting family stories with broader observations about race in America. The narrative travels between the American South and New England, between academia and domestic life, between moments of violence and moments of connection. Bernard examines how race shapes daily interactions, relationships, and self-understanding in both subtle and overt ways. The essays work together to explore how identity is formed at the intersection of individual experience and larger cultural forces. Through clear-eyed personal reflection, Bernard illuminates universal themes about belonging, family bonds, and the complex ways humans categorize and connect with one another.

Readers appreciate Bernard's honest, personal approach to discussing race through interconnected essays. Many note her nuanced exploration of interracial marriage, adoption, and teaching in Vermont. Reviews highlight her ability to weave historical context with intimate family stories. Readers praise: - Clear, accessible writing style - Balance of academic analysis and personal narrative - Complex treatment of identity beyond binary racial discussions - Stories about her interracial marriage and raising adopted children Common criticisms: - Some essays feel less cohesive than others - A few readers wanted more depth on certain topics - Occasional academic tone shifts that interrupt the narrative flow Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Bernard doesn't offer easy answers about race in America, but rather thoughtful observations from her unique perspective as a Black professor in one of America's whitest states." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔹 Emily Bernard wrote much of "Black Is the Body" while recovering from a random stabbing incident at a coffee shop in New Haven, Connecticut, which became the opening essay of the collection. 🔹 The book's twelve essays explore Bernard's experiences as a Black woman from the American South who married a white man from the North and adopted twin daughters from Ethiopia. 🔹 Bernard, a professor at the University of Vermont, is one of only 4% of Black residents in the state, which influences her perspective throughout the essays. 🔹 The title "Black Is the Body" was inspired by Bernard's grandmother, who used to say "Black is the body that tells my story" - a phrase that encapsulates the book's themes of race, identity, and personal history. 🔹 The collection won the Los Angeles Times Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose and was named one of the New York Times' Notable Books of 2019.