The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir - Hardcover

The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir - Hardcover

$33.60
Sale price  $33.60 Regular price 
Skip to product information
The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir - Hardcover

The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir - Hardcover

$33.60
Sale price  $33.60 Regular price 

by Martha S. Jones (Author)

An "intimate and searching" (Natasha Trethewey, New York Times-bestselling author of Memorial Drive) memoir of family, color, and being Black, white, and other in America, from "one of our country's greatest historians" (Clint Smith, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of How the Word is Passed)

Martha S. Jones grew up feeling her Black identity was obvious to all who saw her. But weeks into college, a Black Studies classmate challenged Jones's right to speak. Suspicious of the color of her skin and the texture of her hair, he confronted her with a question that inspired a lifetime of introspection: "Who do you think you are?"

Now a prizewinning scholar of Black history, Jones delves into her family's past for answers. In every generation since her great-great-great-grandmother survived enslavement to raise a free family, color determined her ancestors' lives. But the color line was shifting and jagged, not fixed and straight. Some backed away from it, others skipped along it, and others still were cut deep by its sharp teeth.

Journeying across centuries, from rural Kentucky and small-town North Carolina to New York City and its suburbs, The Trouble of Color is a lyrical, deeply felt meditation on the most fundamental matters of identity, belonging, and family.

Author Biography

Martha S. Jones is the Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor, professor of history, and a professor at the SNF Agora Institute at the Johns Hopkins University. A prizewinning author and editor of four books, most recently Vanguard, she is past copresident of the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians and has contributed to the New York Times, Atlantic, and many other publications. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Number of Pages: 336
Dimensions: 1.12 x 8.47 x 5.85 IN
Publication Date: March 04, 2025

Intentional design

We make things that work better and last longer. Our products solve real problems with clean design.

Quality first

We obsess over the details and strive to deliver the best products at the best prices, every time.

Customer care

We're always on your side: keeping our loyal customers happy is our top priority and number one goal.

Feature 1

Made with care and unconditionally loved by our customers, this signature bestseller exceeds all expectations.

Feature 2

Made with care and unconditionally loved by our customers, this signature bestseller exceeds all expectations.

At the heart of every product lies a unique story, driven by our passion for quality and innovation. Each item enhances your everyday life and sparks joy.