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[Cumberland Times Newspaper]
Published: July 29, 2007 01:48 pm
Writer hopes book prompts questions
Tess Hannapel, Times-News Intern
CUMBERLAND — Sitting on a park bench in a black suburb, Robert Moore III’s son leaned over and asked, “Dad, why are we the only white people here?”
Moore leaned back over to him and whispered, "Because we’re not white."
This shocked his son, but it has been something Moore has been dealing with his whole life.
Growing up in an all-white Philadelphia suburb in the 1960s and being very light in skin color, Moore has always been in the heart of the discussion of race and growing up “different.”
“When I was growing up, my relatives always said, ‘The way you act and carry yourself, you’re going to marry a white girl,’” Moore said. “And I did.”
Moore, an associate professor of sociology, decided it was now or never to finally share his life experiences. From that sprang “They Always Said I Would Marry a White Girl,” his story of growing up and posing questions about race in America.
“It’s a personal exploration of interpersonal relationships,” said Moore. “It’s a very personal story — almost diary-like — about me growing up in the suburbs and my teaching experiences.”
Moore said while writing, the hardest part was finding his voice and considering other’s feelings.
“Finding a voice was hard — I didn’t want to come off as if I had an ax to grind, but just as if I’m telling a story,” he said. “I was also writing about my childhood, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t want to say stuff that would hurt my parents.”
He also talked to his parents to make sure he stayed accurate with the feelings his parents had, especially with the first chapter of his book, which is about his parents living in West Philadelphia.
“It was actually a cathartic experience for me,” he said. “(My book) tells others that I do view the world differently and experience things differently.”
Moore said he hopes his book will get people thinking about social change and how it really occurs.
“I hope after people read my book they’ll actually ask questions about why there isn’t diversity in their neighborhood,” he said. “I want them to get past the superficial stuff and to not take the world for granted.”
For links to bookstores and other info go to: www.theyalwayssaid.net
Table of Contents
Part I. Straddling the Fence
Chapter 1. Assimilation
Chapter 2. Invisibility
Part II. A Sense of Difference
Chapter 3. Feelings of Discomfort
Chapter 4. Different Generations
Chapter 5. "Where did all the hippies go?"
Part III. Social Systems, Identity and Interaction
Chapter 6. Situational Contexts
Chapter 7. Dating: African Americans and Whites
Chapter 8. Race and Women
Conclusion. Coming to Grips with Race in America
For links to bookstores and other info go to: www.theyalwayssaid.net
Who I'd like to meet:
People who have read the book.
For links to bookstores and other info go to: www.theyalwayssaid.net
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