The Black Kids | One of the Most Powerful Books I Have Read

5/5 stars

“You can’t tell people to pull up on bootstraps when half of them never had any boots to begin with, never had the chance to get them.” 

Ashley Bennett has had the same friends since kindergarten. There have been moments when she’s silently questioned the things her friends said to her, but she typically just brushes it off. It all changes when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating Rodney King. Ashley is no longer just one of the girls. She has become one of “the black kids”. 

This was an outstanding debut novel by Christina Hammonds Reed. The events of the book occurred before I was born and as an Asian woman, I have lived with a privilege not afforded to Ashley Bennett and her family. Despite Ashley describing her family as the “good type” of black people that go to work and don’t make waves, she soon realizes that the world sees her differently no matter how hard she works. The Black Kids discussed very relevant and necessary topics including police brutality, racism, classism, and identity. It made me realize how much more work I need to do to be educated on the topics. 

As a YA novel, it did a wonderful job with character development and the journey of self-acceptance. I related strongly with Ashley even as a non-black POC. As a transracial adoptee, my friend group (and family) was comprised entirely of white people. I saw my own journey toward accepting my race in Ashley. It made me excited that young readers will get to have this representation and validation.