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We Cast a Shadow
352 pages, 2020
fiction
1382 books“You can be beautiful, even more, beautiful than before.” This is the seductive promise of Dr. Nzinga’s clinic, where anyone can get their lips thinned, their skin bleached, and their nose narrowed. A complete de-melanization will liberate you from the confines of being born into a black body—if you can afford it.
In this near-future Southern city plagued by fenced-in ghettos and police violence, more and more residents are turning to this experimental medical procedure. Like any father, our narrator just wants the best for his son, Nigel, a biracial boy whose black birthmark is getting bigger by the day. The darker Nigel becomes, the more frightened his father feels. But how far will he go to protect his son? And will he destroy his family in the process?
This electrifying, hallucinatory novel is at once a keen satire of surviving racism in America and a profoundly moving family story. At its center is a father who just wants his son to thrive in a broken world. Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s work evokes the clear vision of Ralph Ellison, the dizzying menace of Franz Kafka, and the crackling prose of Vladimir Nabokov. We Cast a Shadow fearlessly shines a light on the violence we inherit and the desperate things we do for the ones we love.
In 'We Cast a Shadow', Maurice Carlos Ruffin takes us on a journey exploring racial identity. He presents a world where skin color can be altered, prompting us to question our own perceptions of race and identity. It's a thought-provoking read that encourages us to dig deeper into our understanding of these issues.
The book shows us the lengths a father will go to protect his son. Driven by love and fear, he contemplates a drastic decision to ensure his son's safety in a racially prejudiced society. It's a powerful reminder of the impact of our actions on those we care about.
Ruffin uses satire to highlight the absurdity of racism and prejudice. He paints a picture of a society obsessed with skin color, pushing us to see the ridiculousness of such biases. It's a clever way to make us rethink our own societal norms.
The dystopian setting of 'We Cast a Shadow' is not just for show. It serves as a mirror to our own world, reflecting the racial inequalities that still exist today. This book encourages us to look into our own society and question the status quo.
One of the key messages in the book is the importance of self-acceptance. Despite the societal pressures, the protagonist's son embraces his identity, teaching us a valuable lesson about accepting ourselves for who we are. It's a beautiful reminder that we should celebrate our uniqueness, not hide it.
Quotes 3
We Cast a Shadow is a full-throated war cry and a disruptive contribution to the racial discourse.
Kiese Laymon - American Writer, ProfessorWe Cast a Shadow is an essential, necessary insight into the future of America, where the precarious nature of freedom is even more at risk.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - American WriterWe Cast a Shadow is a work of sheer brilliance, a daring and important novel.
Victor LaValle - American Author