Black in blues: how a color tells the story of my people
(Book)
Author:
Published:
New York, NY : Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2025.
Format:
Book
Edition:
First edition.
Physical Desc:
243 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : color illustrations ; 22 cm
Status:
Description
"Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology. Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon."--
Copies
Location
Call Number
Status
Branford/Blackstone Adult Nonfiction
305.896 PER
On Shelf
East Haddam/Rathbun A New Nonfiction
305.8 PER
On Shelf
East Lyme Public New Non Fiction
305.896 Perry
On Shelf
Hamden/Brundage Community Adult B&T Nonfiction
NEW/305.896/PER
On Shelf
Hamden/Miller New Adult Nonfiction
305.896/PER
Billed
Madison/Scranton Adult Nonfiction - New
305.896 PERRY P
In Transit
Norwich/Otis New Adult Nonfiction
305.896 PER
On Shelf
Old Saybrook/Acton Adult Non-Fiction
305.896 PERRY
On Shelf
Wallingford NEW Adult Nonfiction
305.896 PERRY
On Shelf
West Haven Main New Adult Non-fiction
NEW 305.896 PERRY
On Shelf
Westbrook Adult Non-Fiction
305.896 PER
Due Jul 18, 2025
Woodbridge New Adult NF 900-999
973/PER
On Shelf
More Details
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780062977397, 0062977393
Notes
Description
"Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology. Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon."--,Provided by publisher.
Reviews from GoodReads
Loading GoodReads Reviews.
Citations
APA Citation (style guide)
Perry, I. (2025). Black in blues: how a color tells the story of my people. First edition. Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)Perry, Imani, 1972-. 2025. Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People. Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)Perry, Imani, 1972-, Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People. Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2025.
MLA Citation (style guide)Perry, Imani. Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People. First edition. Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2025.
Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
7b1750ec-7b4d-c402-096c-a55e5040b6b7
Record Information
| Last Sierra Extract Time | Jul 01, 2025 09:04:59 AM |
|---|---|
| Last File Modification Time | Jul 01, 2025 09:05:10 AM |
| Last Grouped Work Modification Time | Jul 01, 2025 09:05:06 AM |
MARC Record
| LEADER | 04697cam a2200505 i 4500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | ocm23825206 | ||
| 005 | 20240814153305.0 | ||
| 008 | 240814s2025 nyuaf g 000 0deng d | ||
| 010 | |a 2024037118 | ||
| 020 | |a 9780062977397 |q (hardcover) | ||
| 020 | |a 0062977393 |q (hardcover) | ||
| 040 | |a NcU/DLC |b eng |e rda |c DLC |d WD |d nw | ||
| 042 | |a pcc | ||
| 043 | |a n-us--- | ||
| 100 | 1 | |a Perry, Imani, |d 1972- |e author. |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2004070026 | |
| 245 | 1 | 0 | |a Black in blues : |b how a color tells the story of my people / |c Imani Perry. |
| 250 | |a First edition. | ||
| 264 | 1 | |a New York, NY : |b Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, |c 2025. | |
| 300 | |a 243 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : |b color illustrations ; |c 22 cm | ||
| 336 | |a text |b txt |2 rdacontent | ||
| 336 | |a still image |b sti |2 rdacontent | ||
| 337 | |a unmediated |b n |2 rdamedia | ||
| 338 | |a volume |b nc |2 rdacarrier | ||
| 505 | 0 | |a Our blue interior -- Writing in color -- Blue goes down -- The land where the blues began -- True blue -- Antigua, South Carolina, Montserrat -- Saint-Domingue and Haiti -- A sign which will not be cut off -- Jaybirds sing -- Blue gums and blue-black -- Hoodoo blue -- The blue note -- Blue pots -- Lonely blue -- Blue-eyed negroes -- Blue-back speller -- Egyptian blue in Alabama -- Blue flag, gold star -- The blues -- Eating the other -- Janie's blues -- Bentonia -- Blueprints -- Citizens -- Montgomery, Newport, Cape Verde, Accra -- Afro blue -- The boys in blue -- Overall movement -- Holy repetition -- Black saint -- Old blue eyes, new blacks -- Heaven's there for those... -- From Indigo child to Whitney's blues -- Seeing the seventh son -- God's will undone, the creek did rise. | |
| 520 | |a "Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology. Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon."-- |c Provided by publisher. | ||
| 600 | 1 | 0 | |a Perry, Imani, |d 1972- |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2004070026 |
| 650 | 0 | |a African Americans |x Social life and customs. |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85001987 | |
| 650 | 0 | |a African Americans |x History. |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85001955 | |
| 650 | 0 | |a African Americans |x Race identity. |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85001973 | |
| 650 | 0 | |a Blue |x Social aspects. | |
| 650 | 0 | |a Blues (Music) |x Psychological aspects. | |
| 907 | |a .b27828931 | ||
| 945 | |y .i70433537 |i 31200081150228 |l hcanb |s - |h |u 3 |x 0 |w 3 |v 2 |t 2 |z 11-20-24 |r - |o - |a NEW/305.896/PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i70468023 |i 20703206340 |l bran |s - |h |u 0 |x 0 |w 0 |v 0 |t 2 |z 12-03-24 |r - |o - |a 305.896 PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i7059837x |i 21802827101 |l wdbn9 |s - |h |u 2 |x 0 |w 2 |v 1 |t 2 |z 01-23-25 |r - |o - |a 973/PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i70598885 |i 33520001595659 |l osan |s - |h |u 3 |x 0 |w 3 |v 1 |t 2 |z 01-23-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896 PERRY | ||
| 945 | |y .i70613114 |i 31200500519524 |l hmbn |s n |h 05-12-25 |u 2 |x 0 |w 2 |v 2 |t 2 |z 01-28-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896/PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i70628257 |i 31251004425346 |l wmann |s - |h |u 1 |x 0 |w 1 |v 1 |t 162 |z 01-31-25 |r - |o - |a NEW 305.896 PERRY | ||
| 945 | |y .i70651784 |i 21204069674 |l nwbn |s - |h |u 2 |x 0 |w 2 |v 2 |t 137 |z 02-10-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896 PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i70652545 |i 20603914456 |l elbn |s - |h |u 1 |x 0 |w 1 |v 2 |t 2 |z 02-10-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896 Perry | ||
| 945 | |y .i70662976 |i 21600961813 |l wsan |s - |h 07-18-25 |u 2 |x 0 |w 2 |v 1 |t 2 |z 02-12-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896 PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i70696408 |i 33300000875869 |l rabn |s - |h |u 1 |x 0 |w 1 |v 2 |t 2 |z 02-25-25 |r - |o - |a 305.8 PER | ||
| 945 | |y .i70745201 |i 22205405040 |l mabn |s t |h |u 4 |x 0 |w 4 |v 3 |t 2 |z 03-11-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896 PERRY P | ||
| 945 | |y .i7079148x |i 21708122060 |l wabn |s - |h |u 1 |x 0 |w 1 |v 2 |t 2 |z 03-25-25 |r - |o - |a 305.896 PERRY | ||
| 998 | |e - |d a |f eng |a br |a ra |a el |a hc |a hm |a ma |a nw |a os |a wa |a wm |a ws |a wd | ||