Negroland (2015) by Margo Jefferson is a memoir that explores the author's experiences growing up in an affluent African-American community in Chicago. Raised in a family of privilege—her father a pediatrician and her mother a socialite—Jefferson grapples with her place in both the black and white worlds. The memoir delves into the complexities of race, class, and identity, reflecting on the pressures of maintaining high standards of conduct and the emotional toll of striving to meet societal expectations. Through personal anecdotes and historical context, Jefferson examines the concept of "Negroland," an enclave of black upper-middle-class Americans, and the burdens it placed on her and her peers. The book also highlights Jefferson's struggles with depression and the psychic toll of living under a constant expectation to excel. Negroland won the 2016 National Book Critics’ Circle Award for its insightful exploration of race, privilege, and self-identity.
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