Who We Be: The Colorization of America

Who We Be: The Colorization of America traces America's racial and cultural transformation from the 1960s through the early 2000s. Chang examines shifts in visual culture, art, marketing, and politics to chronicle how the country grappled with diversity and multiculturalism. The narrative follows key figures who shaped conversations about race and representation, from artists and activists to advertisers and politicians. Through interconnected stories of culture wars, demographic changes, and social movements, Chang documents the nation's journey toward and retreat from the dream of a post-racial society. The book interweaves visual analysis of cartoons, paintings, photographs, and advertisements with historical research and cultural criticism. Chang connects these images to larger questions about identity, power, and belonging in American society. Who We Be presents a complex view of how Americans see race and how those perceptions continue to evolve. The work raises fundamental questions about representation, cultural ownership, and the gap between demographic reality and our collective imagination of diversity.

Readers value Chang's detailed research and cultural analysis but note the book can be dense and academic. Many appreciate how he connects art movements to social changes, with several highlighting his examination of multiculturalism in advertising and media. Positive comments focus on: - Clear connections between visual culture and racial politics - Strong historical documentation - Engaging writing style in narrative sections Common criticisms include: - Abrupt transitions between topics - Too much focus on advertising/marketing - Complex academic language that can be difficult to follow A frequent comment is that the book works better when read in segments rather than straight through. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Chang excels at showing how art and activism intersect, but sometimes gets lost in theoretical discussions." An Amazon reviewer wrote: "Important content buried under heavy academic prose."

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📚 Author Jeff Chang co-founded CultureStr/ke, an influential organization promoting artists and activists at the intersection of culture and social change. 🎨 The book traces how visual culture, from art to advertising, has shaped America's understanding of race from 1963 to 2013. 🏆 "Who We Be" was named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle. 📊 Chang spent over seven years researching and writing the book, conducting more than 100 interviews with artists, activists, and cultural figures. 🔄 The book's title is a deliberate play on the question "Who am I?" - shifting from individual identity to collective experience and reflecting how Americans see themselves as a group.