Black in Blues

How a Color Tells the Story of My People

By: Imani Perry

Narrated by: Imani Perry

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK BY: Time, USA Today, People, AARP, Today.com, BookRiot, Bustle, LitHub, BookPage, Our Culture, and Vulture

A surprising and beautiful meditation on the color blue—and its fascinating role in Black history and culture—from National Book Award winner Imani Perry

Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology.

Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon.

Poignant, spellbinding, and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich, and striking as blue itself.

Understanding Blue

Excellent listen, gave clear vision on being Black and knowing how Blue is important in our lives.

Beautiful

I loved this, it was recommended as a follow up to Sky Full of Elephants and yes. This is the perfect compliment. Blue takes on so much meaning

Great book with great history.

Great story telling. Loved the history and the information I learned from it. It's definitely worth the listen.

Seamless and profound

I was initially drawn to this book because I love the idea of exploring colors in depth from both artistic, historical, and cultural concepts. Wow, was this book that and so much more! Beautiful writing and narration, the seamless weaving of one story and context to the next, all under such a vast concept - Blackness - I am in awe of Imani Perry's execution and it brought me to tears more than once, while giving me an incredible and necessary education about so many aspects of Black people, culture, history, and art. I will be reading again! I suggest looking up the specific artists, works, and people you may not be familiar with as you go, as it makes the experience that much richer.

True blue!

Beautifully written and narrated! I was so captivated by the storytelling and how the story of our people was told with relation to the color blue. Very insightful and engaging listen.