Real American (2017) is a memoir by Julie Lythcott-Haims that explores her experiences navigating race in America as a mixed-race woman of significant economic privilege. Raised in predominantly white environments, Lythcott-Haims recounts the subtle prejudices and microaggressions she faced throughout her life, despite her academic success and prestigious career, including her role as Dean of Freshmen at Stanford. The memoir also delves into her struggle with her Black identity, shaped by her African-American father and white British mother, and her efforts to help her children navigate their own racial identities. Ultimately, Lythcott-Haims arrives at a powerful understanding and acceptance of her place in the world as a Black woman.
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