{"product_id":"like-one-of-the-family-isbn-9780807050743","title":"Like One of the Family","description":"\u003cb\u003eRecommended by \u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe hilarious, uncompromising novel about African American domestic workers—from a trailblazer in Black women’s literature and now featuring a foreword by Roxane Gay\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e First published in Paul Robeson’s newspaper, \u003ci\u003eFreedom\u003c\/i\u003e, and composed of a series of conversations between Mildred, a black domestic, and her friend Marge, \u003ci\u003eLike One of the Family\u003c\/i\u003e is a wry, incisive portrait of working women in Harlem in the 1950s. Rippling with satire and humor, Mildred’s outspoken accounts vividly capture her white employers’ complacency and condescension—and their startled reactions to a maid who speaks her mind and refuses to exchange dignity for pay.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Upon publication the book sparked a critique of working conditions, laying the groundwork for the contemporary domestic worker movement. Although she was critically praised, Childress’s uncompromising politics and unflinching depictions of racism, classism, and sexism relegated her to the fringe of American literature. \u003ci\u003eLike One of the Family\u003c\/i\u003e has been long overlooked, but this new edition, featuring a foreword by best-selling author Roxane Gay, will introduce Childress to a new generation.\u003ci\u003eForeword by Roxane Gay\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIntroduction by Trudier Harris\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSelected Bibliography by Trudier Harris\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike One of the Family\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eListen for the Music\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn Sayin’ No\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRidin’ the Bus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBuyin’ Presents\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf You Want to Get Along with Me\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGot to Go Someplace\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Pocketbook Game\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNew York’s My Home\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll About My Job\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBubba\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Health Card\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYour Soul...Another You\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSigns of the Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAren’t You Happy?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNasty Compliments\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOld as the Hills\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMrs. James\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHands\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll the Things We Are\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Liked Workin’ at that Place\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGood Reason for a Good Time\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Go to a Funeral\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWeekend with Pearl\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore Blessed To Give\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSometimes I Feel So Sorry\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Go to Church\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Hate Half-Days Off\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat Does Africa Want? Freedom!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Wish I Was a Poet\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEconomy Corner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the Laundry Room\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Could Run a School Too\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI Visit Yesterday\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStory Tellin’ Time\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout Those Colored Movies\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy Should I Get Upset?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInhibitions\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat Is It All About?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe Need a Union Too\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePretty Sights and Good Feelin’s\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDope and Things Like That\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMerry Christmas, Marge!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn Leavin’ Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe “Many Others” in History\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInterestin’ and Amusin’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA New Kind of Prayer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistory in the Makin’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDance with Me, Henry\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAin’t You Mad?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDiscontent\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNortherners Can Be So Smug\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLet’s Face It\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf Heaven Is What We Want\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhere Is the Speakin’ Place?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMissionaries\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo Much for Nothing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Benevolent Club\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll About Miss Tubman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eABC’s of Life and Learning\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSomehow I’d Like to Thank Them\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMen in Your Life“A novel that proves that humor can be the deadliest of weapons...If power were based on worth, Mildred would be running the nation, not cleaning someone else’s house.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eWomen’s Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlice Childress\u003c\/b\u003e (1916–1994) was a playwright, novelist, and actress. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised and educated in Harlem, she is the author of numerous plays, including \u003ci\u003eWedding Band\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWine in the Wilderness\u003c\/i\u003e, and the Obie Award–winning \u003ci\u003eTrouble in Mind\u003c\/i\u003e—as well as books for young adults, such as \u003ci\u003eRainbow Jordan\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRoxane Gay\u003c\/b\u003e’s writing has appeared in publications including the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBookforum\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTime\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e. She is also the author of the books \u003ci\u003eAyiti, An Untamed State\u003c\/i\u003e, and the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e best seller \u003ci\u003eBad Feminist\u003c\/i\u003e. Her latest book, \u003ci\u003eHunger\u003c\/i\u003e, is forthcoming from Harper in 2016.\u003cb\u003eIf You Want to Get Along With Me\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Marge, ain't it strange how the two of us get along so well? . . .  Now you see there! Why do you have to get so sensitive? . . . No, I was  not reflecting on your personality or making any kind of digs! . . .  Well, if you'll give me a chance I'll try to explain what I mean . . .  I've known you for years and although you've got your ways . . .Yes,  yes, I know I've got mine . . . but the important thing is that we go  right on being friends . . . for example, remember the time you borrowed  my best white gloves and lost them? . . . I know that I spilled punch  on your blue satin blouse! . . . Now, wait a minute, girl! Are we goin'  to have a big argument over how friendly we are!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I said all of that to say this. Today I worked for Mrs. M . . . and  she is an awful nice lady when she wants to be, but she can get on my  nerves something terrible. . . . No, I do not mean that you get on my  nerves too, and if you keep pickin' up on every litte thing I say, I'm  gonna get up and go on home. . . . Well, gettin' back to Mrs. M . . .,  she can make me downright uncomfortable! . . . Yes, you know what I  mean, she turns my workaday into a real socializin' session, and her  idea of socializin' is to ask me a million questions. . . . \"What do you  do after work, Mildred?\" and \"Do you have a lot of friends?\" and \"Are  you married?\" and \"Do you have a boyfriend\" and \"Do you save your  money?\" and \"Do you like to read?\" and \"Do \u003ci\u003eyou people\u003c\/i\u003e like this or that?\" . . . By \u003ci\u003eyou people\u003c\/i\u003e she  means colored people... and I can tell you she can wear my nerve-cells  pretty near the breaking point. . . . I know you know!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Well, at first I tried to get used to it because she is so nice in  other ways . . . I mean like not followin' me around and dippin' into  every thing I'm doing . . . yes, I appreciate that. . . . She lets me do  my work, and then if anything isn't quite pleasin' to her she will tell  me afterwards but it usually turns out that she's satisfied. Also I  like the fact that she is not afraid of a little work herself, and many a  day we've worked side by side on jobs that was too much for me to  handle all alone. Also she makes the children call me \u003ci\u003eMiss \u003c\/i\u003eJonhson.  . . . Sure, whenever anybody has so many good ways, you hate to be  pointin' out the bad ones. . . . But question, question, question... and  it wasn't only the questions. . . . Honey, she could come out with the  most gratin' remarks! . . . Honestly, she made such a point of tellin'  me about how much she liked and admired Negroes, and how sorry she felt  for their plight, and what a \u003ci\u003efine, honest, smart, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eattractive\u003c\/i\u003e woman  was workin' for her mother and so forth and so on and so forth until it  was all I could do to keep from screamin', \"All right, back up there  and take it easy!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Well, the upshot of it al was that I began to pick her up a little  here and there in order to put her on the right track. For example, I'd  say to her, \"What's so strange about that woman being \u003ci\u003ehonest\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eattractive\u003c\/i\u003e?\"  Well, Marge, she'd look so stricken and hurt and confused that I'd find  myself feelin' sorry for her. . . . No, I didn't stop altogether but  I'd let things go along a bit and then I'd have to pick her up on  something again, and over a period of five or six weeks I had to jack  her up several times. . . . Girl! all of a sudden she turned coldly  polite and quiet and I can tell you that it was awful uncomfortable and  strained in the house.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I guess I could have stood the strain but it began to tear me up when  she'd say things like \"May I suggest\" and \"Do you mind if I say\" and  \"If it's all right with you.\" . . . When I had my fill of that I came  right out and asked her, \"Mrs. M . . ., what is the matter, you look so  grieved and talk so strange 'til I don't know what to think?\" She looked  at me accusingly and said, \"I'm afraid to say anything to you, Mildred.  It seems that every time I open my mouth something wrong comes out and  you have to correct me. It makes me very nervous because the last thing I  want to do is hurt your feelings. I mean well, but I guess that isn't  enough. I try to do the right thing and since it keeps coming out wrong I  figured I'd just keep quiet. I . . . I . . . want to get along but I  don't know how.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Marge, in that minute I understood her better and it came to my mind  that she was doing her best to make me comfortable and havin' a doggone  hard go of it. After all, everything she's ever been taught adds up to  her being better than me in every way and on her own she had to find out  that this was wrong. ... That's right, she was tryin' to treat me very  special because she still felt a bit superior but wanted me to know that  she admired me just the same.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Mrs. M ...,\" I said, \"you just treat me like you would anybody else  that might be workin' for you in any kind of job. Dont' be afraid to  talk to me because if you say the wrong thing I promise to correct you,  and if you want to get along you won't mind me doing so. After all, if I  got into all your personal business and wanted to know everything about  your life and your husband and your friends, pretty soon you would be  forced to correct me even though it might make me uncomfortable.\" \"Oh,  Mildred,\" she says, \"I didn't realize . . .\" \"Of course you didn't,\" I  cut in, \"but can't you see that it's unfair to push a one-sided  friendship on me?\" \"Mildred,\" she says, \"I wanted to be friendly.\" \"Now  of course you did,\" I answered, \"but, for example, when you told me the  other day that you're going to drop by my house and see me sometime I  don't appreciate that because I never invited you, and you never had me  to your house except to do a day's work.\" She looked down at her hands  as I went on, \"I don't think it's fair that you can invite yourself to  my house and I can't tell you that I'll be over here for tea on Sunday  afternoon.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Marge, she shook her head sadly. \"You mean that there is nothing that  we have in common, nothing that we can talk about?\" \"I didn't say that  at all,\" I sad, \"but let's just relax and feel our way along and not try  to prove anything, and before you know it everything will go along  easy-like.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She smiled then, \"You mean you don't want to be treated \u003ci\u003especial\u003c\/i\u003e?\"  \"Well, I do and I don't,\" I answered; \"because I knew a woman once who  was awful rude to me and said that was the way she was with everybody,  no matter what color, and she didn't want to treat me \u003ci\u003especial\u003c\/i\u003e. I  told her that if that was her general way then I'd appreciate her  treatin' me special and I'd bet that other folks would like the change,  too.\" Marge, Mrs. M . . . fell out laughin' and says, \"Mildred, people  are the limit!\" ... And I guess she's right too. . . . No indeed, I  don't take that time and bother with most folks because when I run into a  mean, hateful one who comes chatterin' around me about \"What do you do  after work?\" I just give her a short smile and say, \"Oh first one thing  and then another.\" And by the time she's figured that out, I'm in  another room busy doin' something else! . . . That's right, but, as I  said, Mrs. M . . . is a nice person, so I told her.","brand":"Beacon Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46305328333029,"sku":"NP9780807050743","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780807050743.jpg?v=1767731476","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/like-one-of-the-family-isbn-9780807050743","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}