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Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People

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Description

A “vast, multifaceted and enchanting” (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) meditation on the color blue and its fascinating role in Black history and culture, from National Book Award winner Imani Perry, “the most important interpreter of Black life in our time” (Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.)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. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ecco


Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 28, 2025


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062977393


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 97


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.84 x 8.25 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #32,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #25 in African American Demographic Studies (Books) #102 in Black & African American Biographies #155 in Sociology Reference


#25 in African American Demographic Studies (Books):


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Nov 23 – Nov 24

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Nice read
Format: Hardcover
Glad I purchased this book. Nice read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2025 by I am a blessing

  • Brilliant
Format: Hardcover
Imani Perry's BLACK IN BLUES is exquisite. The way she tells the history of her family and of Black people through the color blue is both moving and genius. Many writers have written book-length works focusing on one color (and blue seems to be a popular choice), yet Perry's is the one that sticks with me. Her writing is beautiful and her stories very compelling. Before the book was published, I kept looking for it on my shelves because I wanted to reference a passage. I will be teaching this book in at least two of my upcoming classes and look forward to spending more time with BLACK IN BLUES ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2025 by JesakaL

  • Moving Exploration of the Color Blue
Format: Kindle
A unique, moving, at times painful, exploration of the color blue and its connection to us (black folk) . Worth the slippery and scary journey through our color.
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2025 by Miki Conn

  • We need history
Format: Kindle
Dr. Perry is a great writer. She does an excellent job writing about how history influences the present. We need to study history in order to know how impacts the present. As we continue to learn from history we can improve the future but better serve us all in the present. This book is truly a learning experience and was fun to read all the way through. This book is a joy to read and I thank Dr. Perry for sharing this book with us. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2025 by DavidJ

  • Recommendable
Format: Hardcover
Awesome book.
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2025 by John T

  • Don’t let your hesitancy deny you the opportunity to learn something rewarding.
Format: Hardcover
A great book that shows and tells the correlation between music and my people. I heard an interview on NPR that this most acclaimed author conducted. It immediately outraged my interest and I couldn’t wait to receive and read this book. A great book for anyone who has ever wanted to know what moves and motivates an entire segment of the population. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2025 by Oscar shaw

  • Imagine that
Format: Hardcover
This book is not for everyone - obviously - but beautifully depicted and fairly easy to read, I loved it and everything it stood for; all the wonderful examples of our history and how much blues in black really truly are part of it. She makes the argument succinctly. Case closed.
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2025 by Linda Frazier

  • Gift for an avid reader of this author
Format: Hardcover
This author never ceases to disappoint.
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2025 by Melanie R.

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