Title
The Skin Between Us: A Memoir of Race, Beauty, and Belonging,New
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
Finalist for the HurstonWright Legacy Award for NonfictionA memoir of astonishing delicacy and strength about race and physical beauty.Kym Ragusas stunningly beautiful, brilliant African American mother turned heads as she strolled the streets of West Harlem. Ragusas white, workingclass, Sicilian American father, who grew up only a few streets away in Italian East Harlem, had never seen anything like her. At home, their families despaired at the match, while in the streets the couple faced taunting threats from a city still racially divided.From their volatile, shortlived pairing came a sensitive child with a filmmakers observant eye and the intangible gifts of an exceptional writer. Both Italian American and African American, she struggled to find a place for herself as she grew, and, in this book, she brings to life the two families and the warring, but ultimately similar, communities that defined her.Through the stories and memories of her maternal ancestors, Ragusa explores her black familys history, from her greatgreatgreatgreatgrandmother, who escaped from slavery in the South, to her grandmother, a journalist for the society columns of black newspapers, to her glamorous mother, who became a fashion model in Europe. Entwined with these are the stories of Ragusas paternal ancestors: her ironwilled greatgrandmother, who came to New York from a small village in the mountains of Calabria; her grandmother, the first to be born in America, who struggled to fit in both in her Italian community and later in the American suburbs; and, finally, Ragusas father, a Vietnam veteran.At the center of the memoir are her two powerful grandmothers, who gave her the love and stability to grow into her own skin. Eventually, their shared care for their granddaughter forced them to overcome their prejudices. East and West Harlem, the Bronx and suburban New Jersey, rent parties and religious feste, baked yams and baked zitiall come vividly to life in Ragusas sensuous memories and lyrical prose, as she evokes the joy, the pain, and the inexhaustible richness of a racially and culturally mixed heritage.
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Shipping
We ship your order within 2–3 business days for USA deliveries and 5–8 business days for international shipments. Once your package has been dispatched from our warehouse, you'll receive an email confirmation with a tracking number, allowing you to track the status of your delivery.
Returns
To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
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Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main theme of 'The Skin Between Us'? A: The memoir explores themes of race, beauty, and belonging, detailing the author's experiences growing up in a mixed-race family.
- Q: Who is the author of this memoir? A: The author of 'The Skin Between Us' is Kym Ragusa.
- Q: What is the length of the book? A: The book consists of 240 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This edition of the book is a hardcover.
- Q: When was 'The Skin Between Us' published? A: The book was published on May 17, 2006.
- Q: Is this book suitable for all ages? A: While the book addresses mature themes related to race and identity, it is suitable for older teens and adults.
- Q: What awards has 'The Skin Between Us' received? A: The memoir was a finalist for the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award for Nonfiction.
- Q: What can readers expect in terms of writing style? A: Readers can expect sensuous memories and lyrical prose that vividly evoke the author's experiences and emotions.
- Q: Does the book include family histories? A: Yes, the memoir intertwines the histories of both the author's African American and Italian American families.
- Q: Are there any notable figures discussed in the memoir? A: Yes, the memoir highlights the author's powerful grandmothers and their influence on her life.