Am I Black Enough For You?
Anita Heiss

Am I Black Enough For You?
Anita Heiss
Review
by Chris Gordon, Readings Carlton
There are many reasons to like the writing of Anita Heiss. She’s funny in a dry, laconic way, she’s a straight talker – there are no frills here – and she’s passionate about her topic of racial relationships. Dr Heiss’s book is a personal account of being herself in a country that seems obsessed with stereotyping. She was born a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central NSW but grew up in Sydney with her Aboriginal mother and her Austrian father. She considers Sydney her home. To be honest you could not get someone more urban than Heiss!
Reading about her life can make you feel a tad inadequate. Dr Heiss is an academic, author and activist. She was one of the drivers behind one of the most important legal decisions of our time when she joined others in charging newspaper columnist Andrew Bolt successfully with breaching the Racial Discrimination Act. This event is recorded here and shows the great support and community Heiss has around her.
Despite her vast achievements, Heiss rightly feels we have some way to go before acceptance is achieved. Her book is an offering of greater appreciation of what it’s like to be an Aboriginal. I particularly enjoyed the chapter titled ‘If you are a black woman you should …’ where she lists all the assumed positions that people expect from her and knocks them over! Clearly these facts need to be told.
Heiss’ book is informative, personal and accessible. It serves well as a myth-breaker and also a style of political memoir. Every high school in Australia should be ensuring this book is on its curriculum.
Christine Gordon is the Events Coordinator for Readings and is a committee member of The Stella Prize.
This item is in-stock and will ship in 2-3 business days
We are currently experiencing delays in processing and delivering online orders. Click here for more information.
Please note, our stock data is updated overnight, and availability may change throughout the day. Prices are subject to change without notice.Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.

Loving Country: A Guide to Sacred Australia
$39.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Song of the Crocodile
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Where The Fruit Falls
$27.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Too Much Lip
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

A Question of Colour
$22.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Yield
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Living on Stolen Land
$22.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Belief
$34.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Yornadaiyn Woolagoodja
$34.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

A Question of Colour
$22.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Two Sisters
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Tracker
$39.95Buy now
Finding stock availability...

My Place
$24.95Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

My Australian Story: Our Race for Reconciliation
$16.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Am I Black Enough For You?
$34.95Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Tiddas
$22.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic
$14.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature
$35.00Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Yirra and her Deadly Dog, Demon
$14.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...