The Author’s Mic™: Why I Wrote You Sound White
Sometimes people see a book title and immediately assume they know what the book is about.
That has happened a lot with You Sound White.
In this episode of The Author’s Mic™, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share the story behind the book, why I wrote it, and what inspired it in the first place.
Watch the full episode:
The Story Behind the Title
I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by people who did not look like me.
For much of my life, I heard the same phrase over and over again:
"You sound white."
It wasn't something I heard once.
It wasn't something I heard occasionally.
It was a comment that followed me through different stages of my life and shaped many of my experiences.
When people first see the title You Sound White, they often assume the book is a memoir.
It isn't.
The book is fiction.
But woven throughout the story are very real experiences, emotions, and situations that I have lived through personally.
More Than a Book
The truth is, I knew I couldn't be the only person dealing with this experience.
I couldn't be the only person being judged based on vocabulary, tone, cadence, or the way I communicated.
At some point, I realized that many people of color have experienced similar situations.
They're told they don't sound Black enough.
Or they don't fit someone else's expectations of what they should sound like.
And over time, those assumptions can become exhausting.
That's part of what inspired this story.
Learning About Code Switching
One of the things that surprised me was learning about code switching.
For years, I didn't even realize I was doing it.
Then I came across an article explaining what code switching was, and suddenly a lot of things clicked.
I realized I had spent years trying to adjust myself depending on who I was around.
I found myself apologizing to Black people.
I found myself apologizing to white people.
The entire time I was simply trying to be myself.
That constant tug-of-war around identity can wear on a person.
And I know I am not the only one who has felt it.
Why I Kept the Title
When I started telling people about the book, many warned me about the title.
They said it was too direct.
Too uncomfortable.
Too blunt.
Some thought it might push people away.
But I kept it anyway.
Why?
Because that's the experience.
The title isn't meant to make everyone comfortable.
The title is meant to start a conversation.
If it causes someone to stop and think, then it is doing exactly what it was intended to do.
Fiction Rooted in Truth
While You Sound White is a novel, many of the emotions and situations inside the book come from real experiences.
The characters may be fictional.
The story may be fictional.
But the feelings behind it are very real.
The book became my way of exploring identity, assumptions, belonging, and the impact labels can have on people.
More importantly, it became a way to create conversations that many people have been having quietly for years.
Why This Story Matters
I didn't write this book just for myself.
I wrote it for everyone who has ever felt judged before they were truly known.
I wrote it for people who have felt caught between expectations.
I wrote it for people who have struggled with being seen for who they actually are rather than who others assume they should be.
If that experience sounds familiar, then maybe this story is for you.
Key Takeaways
You Sound White is fiction, not a memoir.
The story was inspired by real-life experiences.
Identity and belonging are central themes throughout the novel.
Many people experience assumptions based on how they speak.
Learning about code switching helped provide clarity to past experiences.
The title was intentionally chosen to start conversations.
Stories can create space for important discussions about identity and perception.
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