In a near-future America, a father grapples with societal racism while trying to secure a better life for his biracial son, who faces an oppressive reality. Determined to protect his child, he embarks on a radical journey that challenges the boundaries of identity and sacrifice. As he navigates a world that demands conformity, his decisions lead him down a dark path fraught with moral dilemmas. Maurice Carlos Ruffin's 'We Cast a Shadow' deftly explores themes of race, privilege, and the lengths one will go for family. This thought-provoking narrative will leave readers questioning their own perceptions of identity and justice.
By Maurice Carlos Ruffin
Published: 2020
""In a world where appearances often mask the truth, we grapple with our identity, our humanity, and the lengths we go to for love and acceptance.""
“An incisive and necessary” (Roxane Gay) debut for fans of Get Out and Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, about a father’s obsessive quest to protect his son—even if it means turning him white “Stunning and audacious . . . at once a pitch-black comedy, a chilling horror story and an endlessly perceptive novel about the possible future of race in America.”—NPR LONGLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD, THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE, THE PEN/OPEN BOOK AWARD, AND THE PEN/FAULKNER AWARD • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR AND THE WASHINGTON POST “You can be beautiful, even more beautiful than before.” This is the seductive promise of Dr. Nzinga’s clinic, where anyone can get their lips thinned, their skin bleached, and their nose narrowed. A complete demelanization will liberate you from the confines of being born in a black body—if you can afford it. In this near-future Southern city plagued by fenced-in ghettos and police violence, more and more residents are turning to this experimental medical procedure. Like any father, our narrator just wants the best for his son, Nigel, a biracial boy whose black birthmark is getting bigger by the day. The darker Nigel becomes, the more frightened his father feels. But how far will he go to protect his son? And will he destroy his family in the process? This electrifying, hallucinatory novel is at once a keen satire of surviving racism in America and a profoundly moving family story. At its center is a father who just wants his son to thrive in a broken world. Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s work evokes the clear vision of Ralph Ellison, the dizzying menace of Franz Kafka, and the crackling prose of Vladimir Nabokov. We Cast a Shadow fearlessly shines a light on the violence we inherit, and on the desperate things we do for the ones we love.
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“"In a world where appearances often mask the truth, we grapple with our identity, our humanity, and the lengths we go to for love and acceptance."”
We Cast a Shadow
By Maurice Carlos Ruffin
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Maurice Carlos Ruffin is an acclaimed author and member of the Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He is best known for his debut novel, 'We Cast a Shadow,' which was long-listed for the PEN/Hemingway Award and received critical acclaim for its exploration of race, identity, and family in a speculative future. His writing style is characterized by its rich prose and sharp social commentary, often blending elements of realism with speculative fiction. In addition to his novel, Ruffin's short stories have been widely published in prestigious literary journals, showcasing his ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with contemporary issues.
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