Like One of the Family

by Childress, Alice; Gay, Roxane

• ISBN13: 9780807050743
• ISBN10: 0807050741
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2017-01-24
• Publisher: Beacon Press

Summary

Recommended by Entertainment Weekly

The hilarious, uncompromising novel about African American domestic workers—from a trailblazer in Black women’s literature and now featuring a foreword by Roxane Gay

First published in Paul Robeson’s newspaper, Freedom, and composed of a series of conversations between Mildred, a black domestic, and her friend Marge, Like One of the Family is a wry, incisive portrait of working women in Harlem in the 1950s. Rippling with satire and humor, Mildred’s outspoken accounts vividly capture her white employers’ complacency and condescension—and their startled reactions to a maid who speaks her mind and refuses to exchange dignity for pay.

Upon publication the book sparked a critique of working conditions, laying the groundwork for the contemporary domestic worker movement. Although she was critically praised, Childress’s uncompromising politics and unflinching depictions of racism, classism, and sexism relegated her to the fringe of American literature. Like One of the Family has been long overlooked, but this new edition, featuring a foreword by best-selling author Roxane Gay, will introduce Childress to a new generation.

Author Biography

Alice Childress (1916–1994) was a playwright, novelist, and actress. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised and educated in Harlem, she is the author of numerous plays, including Wedding Band, Wine in the Wilderness, and the Obie Award–winning Trouble in Mind—as well as books for young adults, such as Rainbow Jordan and A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich.

Roxane Gay’s writing has appeared in publications including the New York Times Book Review, Bookforum, Time, and Los Angeles Times. She is also the author of the books Ayiti, An Untamed State, and the New York Times best seller Bad Feminist. Her latest book, Hunger, is forthcoming from Harper in 2016.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Roxane Gay

Introduction by Trudier Harris

Selected Bibliography by Trudier Harris

Like One of the Family

Listen for the Music

On Sayin’ No

Ridin’ the Bus

Buyin’ Presents

If You Want to Get Along with Me

Got to Go Someplace

The Pocketbook Game

New York’s My Home

All About My Job

Bubba

The Health Card

Your Soul...Another You

Signs of the Times

Aren’t You Happy?

Nasty Compliments

Old as the Hills

Mrs. James

Hands

All the Things We Are

I Liked Workin’ at that Place

Good Reason for a Good Time

I Go to a Funeral

Weekend with Pearl

More Blessed To Give

Sometimes I Feel So Sorry

I Go to Church

I Hate Half-Days Off

What Does Africa Want? Freedom!

I Wish I Was a Poet

Economy Corner

In the Laundry Room

I Could Run a School Too

I Visit Yesterday

Story Tellin’ Time

About Those Colored Movies

Why Should I Get Upset?

Inhibitions

What Is It All About?

We Need a Union Too

Pretty Sights and Good Feelin’s

Dope and Things Like That

Merry Christmas, Marge!

On Leavin’ Notes

The “Many Others” in History

Interestin’ and Amusin’

A New Kind of Prayer

History in the Makin’

Dance with Me, Henry

Ain’t You Mad?

Discontent

Northerners Can Be So Smug

Let’s Face It

If Heaven Is What We Want

Where Is the Speakin’ Place?

Missionaries

So Much for Nothing

The Benevolent Club

All About Miss Tubman

ABC’s of Life and Learning

Somehow I’d Like to Thank Them

Men in Your Life