If you’ve ever wondered what a well-adjusted, political astute, educated, happy, comedic Black man would have to say if he wrote a book…this is it! I’ve been seeking out humor in lit for some weeks now and this satisfied! Thurston is described as “a technology-loving comedian from the future who cares enough about the world to engage with it politically”. So it isn’t funny for the sake of just being funny…far from it…it is funny with a purpose.
At the first chapter I was somewhat leary that it was going to be a book with an intended white audience as it’s primary focus and he would address his reader with that assumption which I associate with a slight aspect of minstrel behavior…but I stuck with it and withheld judgement and it paid off. Thurston is addressing everyone in the room with some funny, intelligent, thoughts….part, memoir, part political/cultural essays, part humor. Well written, straight-forward, and poignant and timely. He covers his formative years shaped by his mother and education in the 80’s right up through Post-President Obama’s election, giving advice on how to be the black friend, how to be the black employee, to how to be the 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th Black President.
He included a panel of friends to add commentary and thus the book embraces “community”. He writes from a pov that “blackness” is not a limiting life and makes fun (in a serious way) of all the imposed upon limitations no matter who asserts them. Underscoring in the end of the book that it is more important to do you and in doing you, any and all things become Black.
When I enjoy an author, I first check to see if they have a Facebook page and website…Thurston has a fancy position at The Onion (one of my fave magazine), Director of Digital, so he was easy to find on the web. Here and here and here and here. Click on the book image below to be taken to Amazon.com.
My Eyes Have Seen The Coming of The Word 