Book Releases
A Black Man's Existence as a White Jew
Author: Eric B. Willis
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Description:
In this memoir, A Black Man's Existence as a White Jew, award-winning author, genealogist, and historian Eric B. Willis uncovers a mysterious part of his family's history relating to the ongoing racial discriminatory practices against Black Americans and the perceived advantages and challenges of racial passing. In 2003, Willis began a genealogical exploration which would forever impact the lives and lineages of two American families--his black family and his maternal cousin's white family.
Are you or someone you know living what is called "the dark secret in white face?" Black American men and women throughout history have chosen to live as white citizens. Through one of the most unforgettable and unexpected genealogical research expeditions, Willis discovers that one noted pianist and branch of his family tree who disappeared over 60 years ago indeed lived that life. This revelation leads to an unforgettable meeting with his cousin's white family members as they confront the truth about their dad's racial identity.
The author and other noted black historians further address useful and practical solutions for overcoming today's historical and relational divisions between black and white Americans.
"To read genealogist and historian, Eric B. Willis’ forthcoming A Black Man’s Existence as a White Jew, is to experience an intriguing, fascinating and compelling adventure in family history and much more." "...he “leaves no stone unturned” in an attempt to know and document his story. The result is not only the small triumphs, frustrations and gems typical of any thorough genealogical pursuit, but also a thoroughly researched and documented history..."
"The format of the book is a researcher’s paradise as the author includes excerpts from oral interviews, official records, government documents, voter records, news clippings, nightclub and performance ads, and photographs to both enhance and enliven the narrative..."
–Irma Watkins-Owens, Associate Professor, Emerita, Fordham University
"I am really impressed. It is full of information that I did not know. I am anxious to share it with others..."
–George Bohanon, Legendary American jazz and R&B trombonist, composer, band leader, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCLA
"I am honestly in awe of the amount of work and research you’ve put into this. I’ve seen many other ancestry projects, but none as creative or as comprehensive as yours with the inclusion of other historical events that relate only to your family yet are of great significance. This is amazing work, Eric, and you should be immensely proud.”
–Tia Ross, Founder of Black Writers Collective, Founder/Managing Editor for Black Editors & Proofreaders, Editor for ColorOfChange.org,
Senior Editor for WordWiseInk.com , and editor of A Black Man's Existence as a White Jew.
Author: Eric B. Willis
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Description:
In this memoir, A Black Man's Existence as a White Jew, award-winning author, genealogist, and historian Eric B. Willis uncovers a mysterious part of his family's history relating to the ongoing racial discriminatory practices against Black Americans and the perceived advantages and challenges of racial passing. In 2003, Willis began a genealogical exploration which would forever impact the lives and lineages of two American families--his black family and his maternal cousin's white family.
Are you or someone you know living what is called "the dark secret in white face?" Black American men and women throughout history have chosen to live as white citizens. Through one of the most unforgettable and unexpected genealogical research expeditions, Willis discovers that one noted pianist and branch of his family tree who disappeared over 60 years ago indeed lived that life. This revelation leads to an unforgettable meeting with his cousin's white family members as they confront the truth about their dad's racial identity.
The author and other noted black historians further address useful and practical solutions for overcoming today's historical and relational divisions between black and white Americans.
"To read genealogist and historian, Eric B. Willis’ forthcoming A Black Man’s Existence as a White Jew, is to experience an intriguing, fascinating and compelling adventure in family history and much more." "...he “leaves no stone unturned” in an attempt to know and document his story. The result is not only the small triumphs, frustrations and gems typical of any thorough genealogical pursuit, but also a thoroughly researched and documented history..."
"The format of the book is a researcher’s paradise as the author includes excerpts from oral interviews, official records, government documents, voter records, news clippings, nightclub and performance ads, and photographs to both enhance and enliven the narrative..."
–Irma Watkins-Owens, Associate Professor, Emerita, Fordham University
"I am really impressed. It is full of information that I did not know. I am anxious to share it with others..."
–George Bohanon, Legendary American jazz and R&B trombonist, composer, band leader, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCLA
"I am honestly in awe of the amount of work and research you’ve put into this. I’ve seen many other ancestry projects, but none as creative or as comprehensive as yours with the inclusion of other historical events that relate only to your family yet are of great significance. This is amazing work, Eric, and you should be immensely proud.”
–Tia Ross, Founder of Black Writers Collective, Founder/Managing Editor for Black Editors & Proofreaders, Editor for ColorOfChange.org,
Senior Editor for WordWiseInk.com , and editor of A Black Man's Existence as a White Jew.
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Product Details:
Format: Hardcover Pages: 300 pages Product Dimensions: 6" x 9" Date: May 23, 2023 Language: English ISBN: 978-0-989-5466-0-7 List Price: 35.00 USD |
This publication is available wherever books are sold, including:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble I Books-A-Million Bookshop.org I Hudson Booksellers I Powell's CITY of BOOKS |
The Willis Handbook: An Intersection of Genealogy, Memoirs and History of A Black American Family - 1835-2003
by Eric B. Willis
This literary work is a rich and detailed exploration about a Black American family’s 168 years of chronological existence in the United States through ancestry, recollections, and history. Between the mid-19th century slavery era in Mississippi and into the technology age of the 21st century throughout the country, the Willises experienced many triumphs and have overcome numerous obstacles and tragedies as farmers, teachers, tradesmen, preachers, laborers, innovators, and entertainers.
THIS HANDBOOK INCLUDES:
- 872 high quality pages including 298 color pages throughout
- historical events that have influenced the Willis family from a local, state, and national perspective, and the population as a whole such as slavery, the
American Civil War, the tuberculosis disease epidemic during the early
1920s, the Civil Rights Movement, and much more
- over 650 pages of photographs, historical records, pedigree charts, maps, and
165 pages of well-documented research sources
In summary, this work is about family history, American history, and its use as a genealogical and scholarly reference source.
"It's like a treasured heirloom meets an encyclopedia." –Eric B. Willis
"This is a unique and important project, impeccably produced and fascinating." –Writer's Digest
This successful publication currently exist in noted public and private collections throughout the United States, including the
following:
by Eric B. Willis
This literary work is a rich and detailed exploration about a Black American family’s 168 years of chronological existence in the United States through ancestry, recollections, and history. Between the mid-19th century slavery era in Mississippi and into the technology age of the 21st century throughout the country, the Willises experienced many triumphs and have overcome numerous obstacles and tragedies as farmers, teachers, tradesmen, preachers, laborers, innovators, and entertainers.
THIS HANDBOOK INCLUDES:
- 872 high quality pages including 298 color pages throughout
- historical events that have influenced the Willis family from a local, state, and national perspective, and the population as a whole such as slavery, the
American Civil War, the tuberculosis disease epidemic during the early
1920s, the Civil Rights Movement, and much more
- over 650 pages of photographs, historical records, pedigree charts, maps, and
165 pages of well-documented research sources
In summary, this work is about family history, American history, and its use as a genealogical and scholarly reference source.
"It's like a treasured heirloom meets an encyclopedia." –Eric B. Willis
"This is a unique and important project, impeccably produced and fascinating." –Writer's Digest
This successful publication currently exist in noted public and private collections throughout the United States, including the
following:
- Allen County Public Library / ACPL (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
- Atlanta University Center / Robert W, Woodruff Library (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Bloomfield Hills Schools--Public School District (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)
- Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (Buffalo, New York)
- Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit, Michigan)
- Commerce Township Community Library (Commerce, Michigan)
- Detroit Public Library / Main Library (Detroit, Michigan)
- Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
- Library of Congress (Washington D.C.)
- Library of Michigan (Lansing, Michigan)
- Lincoln Park Public Library (Lincoln Park, Michigan)
- Michigan State University Libraries / Main Library (East Lansing, Michigan)
- Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Missouri)
- Mississippi Department of Archives and History (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Mississippi State University (Mississippi State, Mississippi)
- Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum / Mississippi Museum Store (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Newberry Library (Chicago, Illinois)
- New England Historic Genealogical Society / NEHGS (Boston, Massachusetts)
- Stanford University Libraries (Stanford, California)
- University of California, Davis / Peter J. Shields Library (Davis, California)
- Western Kentucky University / Helm-Cravens Library (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
- William P. Faust Public Library of Westland (Westland, Michigan)
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Product Details:
Format: Hardcover Pages: 872 pages Product Dimensions: 2.25" x 7.5" x 9" Date: 2014 Language: English ISBN: 978-0-615-79611-6 List Price: 89.99 USD |
Note: This publication is currently on backorder.
Special quantity discounts for bulk purchases of 11 or more of this publication are available. For details, please contact: PHP shipping department via the link for the actual cost. |