American Negra

A Memoir

By: Natasha S. Alford

Narrated by: Natasha S. Alford

Award-winning journalist Natasha S. Alford grew up between two worlds as the daughter of an African American father and Puerto Rican mother. In American Negra, a narrative that is part memoir, part cultural analysis, Alford reflects on growing up in a working-class family from the city of Syracuse, NY.

In smart, vivid prose, Alford illustrates the complexity of being multiethnic in Upstate New York and society’s flawed teachings about matters of identity. When she travels to Puerto Rico for the first time, she is the darkest in her family, and navigates shame for not speaking Spanish fluently. She visits African-American hair salons where she’s told that she has “good” hair, while internalizing images that as a Latina she has ""bad” hair or pelo malo.

When Alford goes from an underfunded public school system to Harvard University surrounded by privilege and pedigree, she wrestles with more than her own ethnic identity, as she is faced with imposter syndrome, a shocking medical diagnosis, and a struggle to define success on her own terms. A study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic changes her perspective on Afro-Latinidad and sets her on a path to better understand her own Latin roots.

Alford then embarks on a whirlwind journey to find her authentic voice, taking her across the United States from a hedge fund boardroom to a classroom and ultimately a newsroom, as a journalist.

A coming-of-age story about what it's like to live at the intersections of race, culture, gender, and class, all while staying true to yourself, American Negra is a captivating look at one woman’s experience being Negra in the United States.

As the movement to highlight Afro-Latin identity and overlooked histories of the African diaspora grows, American Negra illustrates the diversity of the Black experience in the larger fabric of American society.

©2024 Natasha S. Alford (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

From a first generation Panamaneña

Loved how much I could relate to this story, and how it had so many layers: the story of ethnicity and race, family, education, health and even activism.

Diasporican

I enjoyed listening to Natasha’s life’s struggles and successes. I love that she has put her experience out here for us to listen and learn what it is like to grow up and navigate two cultural backgrounds. Great memoir!

Great story

Natasha's story is so typical. I enjoyed the read. It was easy to read and kept me entertained.

Great story!

Natasha’s story is an insightful perspective on American society—both its strengths and challenges—and on finding community.

Relatable and Insightful

We all strive for a sense of belonging. In a story about how this young woman searched out her passion and finally heard her calling despite setbacks and social obstacles, it was inspirational and relatable. Race and feminism conversations emerged in an insightful and compelling manner. I find myself cheering for the Author and invested in her success. Thank you for sharing your story, Ms. Alford.

Relatable to those who grew up in America

I never learned Spanish. My family was the only Puerto Rican family in the neighborhood and my mother and her siblings were punished for speaking their native tongue. So the next generation was not taught Spanish. I can truly relate to the uncomfortable feeling of explaining why I don't know Spanish and the look of a lower being for not knowing. After reading Natasha's journey of dealing with it I don't feel so alone. I feel I have new methods to deal with the "look". I am buying extra books to give to my family and teachers. I absolutely love this book and will be reading again. I need to grab every name and book reference!

The narration given by the author herself, puts the brilliance of this memoir over the top! 👍🏾🙏🏾👏🏾

Excellent Memoir! Happy to have met the author at her book signing at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ


I've already gifted the Audible and Kindle versions to my daughter!!

actual facts about Puerto rico

I liked her explanation around racial identity as it relates to voting and politics.
I also liked her facts about Lupus as it relates in the afro Latina community.

Beautifully tells the story of being puerta rican and black

Beautifully tells the joys and pains of life in a country where you are underrepresented.