Some of My Best Friends: Essays on Lips, Kisses, and What Comes After

Some of My Best Friends is a collection of personal essays by Emily Bernard that examines race, identity, and human connection in America. The essays draw from Bernard's experiences as a Black woman from the South who becomes a professor in Vermont, and her interactions across racial and cultural boundaries. Bernard reflects on her interracial marriage, her adoption of twin daughters from Ethiopia, and her career in academia through interconnected narratives. The collection moves between past and present, exploring friendships, family relationships, and everyday encounters that reveal complex dynamics of race in both intimate and public spaces. The essays range from childhood memories in Nashville to adult life in predominantly white New England, incorporating Bernard's roles as daughter, wife, mother, friend, and teacher. Her dual perspective as both participant and observer informs her examination of how race shapes human bonds and social interactions. These essays offer insights into the nuanced ways identity and belonging manifest in American life, while exploring the possibility of authentic connection across difference. Bernard's work raises questions about the nature of racial discourse and the stories we tell about ourselves and others.

Readers note Bernard's frank yet nuanced exploration of race, family, and identity through personal narratives. The essay collection resonates with many for its authentic voice and ability to discuss complex topics with both gravity and lightness. Likes: - Clear, engaging prose style - Balance of personal stories with broader social commentary - Honest treatment of interracial relationships and friendships - Thoughtful examination of academic life as a Black professor Dislikes: - Some essays feel less developed than others - A few readers found the academic perspective limiting - Occasional repetition of themes across essays Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (50+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Bernard doesn't offer easy answers about race relations but instead invites readers into her lived experience with remarkable candor." - Goodreads reviewer Critical comment: "Strong opening essays but loses momentum in later chapters." - Amazon reviewer

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🔖 Emily Bernard was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and is now a professor of English and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at the University of Vermont. 💫 The book's essays explore interracial friendships and relationships through Bernard's personal experiences as a Black woman married to a white man. 📚 The collection builds on themes from Bernard's previous award-winning book "Black Is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother's Time, My Mother's Time, and Mine." 🌟 Bernard draws inspiration from James Baldwin's writings and critical analysis of race in America, particularly his perspective on interracial relationships. ✍️ The title references the common phrase "Some of my best friends are..." which is often used as a defensive statement about racial bias, but Bernard reclaims and reframes it to examine genuine cross-racial connections.