Sweeter the Juice - by Shirlee Haizlip (Paperback)

About the Book

Tracing six generations of one family, both those who lived as blacks and those who assimililated into white society, Haizlip's chronicle mirrors the emotional, social, and racial journeys made by countless American families. "A riveting and fascinating account of the limits and limitedness of race".--Audrey Edwards, Essence. Photos.

Book Synopsis

The Sweeter the Juice is a provocative memoir that goes to the heart of our American identity.

Shirlee Taylor Haizlip, in an effort to reconcile the dissonance between her black persona and her undeniably multiracial heritage, started on a journey of discovery that took her over thousands of miles and hundreds of years. While searching for her mother's family, Haizlip confronted the deeply intertwined but often suppressed tensions between race and skin color.

We are drawn in by the story of an African American family. Some members chose to "cross over" and "pass" for white while others enjoyed a successful black life. Their stories weave a tale of tangled ancestry, mixed blood, and identity issues from the 17th century to the present.

The Sweeter the Juice is a memoir, a social history, a biography, and an autobiography. Haizlip gives to us the quintessential American story, unveiling truths about race, about our society, and about the ways in which we all perceive and judge one another.

Review Quotes

Veronica Chambers
Los Angeles Times Book Review
"May this stirring American voice tell us many more stories."

About the Author

Shirlee Taylor Haizlip is the author of three books, The Sweet the Juice, Finding Grace, and In the Garden of Our Dreams.