I Take My Coffee Black

Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America

By: Tyler Merritt, Jimmy Kimmel - foreword

Narrated by: Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Merritt, James Iglehart, Jerrie Elaine Merritt, Milton Merrit

As a six-foot, two-inch, dreadlocked Black man, Tyler Merritt knows what it feels like to be stereotyped as threatening, which can have dangerous consequences. But he also knows that proximity to people who are different from ourselves can be a cure for racism.

Tyler Merritt's video "Before You Call the Cops" has been viewed millions of times. He's appeared on Jimmy Kimmel and Sports Illustrated and has been profiled in the New York Times. The viral video's main point - the more you know someone, the more empathy, understanding, and compassion you have for that person - is the springboard for this book. By sharing his highs and exposing his lows, Tyler welcomes us into his world in order to help bridge the divides that seem to grow wider every day.

In I Take My Coffee Black, Tyler tells hilarious stories from his own life as a Black man in America. He talks about growing up in a multicultural community and realizing that he wasn't always welcome, how he quit sports for musical theater (that's where the girls were) to how Jesus barged in uninvited and changed his life forever (it all started with a Triple F.A.T. Goose jacket) to how he ended up at a small Bible college in Santa Cruz because he thought they had a great theater program (they didn't). Throughout his stories, he also seamlessly weaves in lessons about privilege, the legacy of lynching and sharecropping and why you don't cross Black mamas. He teaches listeners about the history of encoded racism that still undergirds our society today.

By turns witty, insightful, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny, I Take My Coffee Black paints a portrait of Black manhood in America and enlightens, illuminates, and entertains - ultimately building the kind of empathy that might just be the antidote against the racial injustice in our society.

©2021 Tyler Merritt (P)2021 Worthy Books

Critic reviews

“A sad, happy, moving, troubling, inspirational, humorous, and brutal account of the people and experiences that formed this exceptionally well-formed man.... (Tyler Merritt)...subtly and kindly reminds us of how much we have in common and that assumptions are made by fools.” (Jimmy Kimmel)

Love It

This book is incredibly engaging. I highly recommend it as a book club selection, or for individual reading.This book uses personal narrative to educate the reader on both social and historical issues. It encourages both discussion and reflection. An added bonus is the humorous accounts biographical in nature. I laughed, cried, and have walked away thinking about what I have heard. Highly recommend!

A must read by any measure

absolutely phenomenal book that is raw emotion where you get to know the author.

Couldn’t put it down

Why proximity breads empathy.

I’ll never forget this or your stories. Thank you.

Please Read this book.

amazing

I would recommend this book to anyone. I am a white woman in her late 30s who is an atheist. mostly because of my experiences with the church and my family using religion in a horrible way. I left the faith almost 20 years ago, in my early 20s. if I had a pastor like you, I may not have left. you truly love the way the teachings of Jesus should be. I saw your before you call the cops video during quarantine 2020. I thought it was a new video, until I listened to your book. it changed me. I shared it everywhere, I went to a blm protest in my very very gun toting republican mountain town. I was very scared that the other protesters, which were a lot, and very angry, were going to shoot my white ass. because in my town, people win ar15s in raffles. when I saw you on Jimmy Kimmel later I was so excited to tell my husband, look, this is THE GUY. I've never seen a more powerful and thought provoking video. which humbled me, and made me a better person. I know I'm late to the game, but I bought your audiobooks right when it came out. I just wasn't in the head space to listen yet. I don't know what made me choose this week, but I'm glad I did. your voice, your convictions, your passion, so inspiring. what's more inspiring is you owning up to your flaws and your mistakes. I constantly drive to be a better person than I was when I was younger. some advice, but give yourself a little leeway. you were young and didn't know anything about life. you were hurt and damaged. forgive yourself. because you are a good person. you truly are. and you and your words changed my life. I'd love to get a coffee sometime.

Thank you

Tyler thank you for your authenticity and your ability to love all people and be so humble in spite of your many gifts!

What a gift to the world!

Tyler’s life and his candor in telling all his ups and downs is a true gift. He is an incredible human being and I am so grateful he shared his story.
He reminds us that we are more alike than we are different in a such a refreshing and impactful manner.

Fantastic Listen

I saw Tyler in and interview recently promoting his book while I was on business in Chicago. The little obscure bookstore that I visited did not have any print copies in hand so I opted for audio because I wanted to get into this book on my travels home. So glad I went with the audio. Tyler reading his own words and telling his stories brings so much more depth than I think I could have got with print. Thank you for an amazing experience. I learned a lot. And I enjoyed it as well. Worth the listen.

Touching, Moving & Real!

Thank you, thank you Tyler for sharing your story. I do feel like I know you… I got your back… and I take my coffee with a touch of cream and a little pumpkin spice (if it’s Autumn). You have a gift - I truly appreciate you! 🤗

Wow! Really enjoyed!

I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into, I choose this audiobook on a whim. I really loved it! Tyler’s honesty and openness, peppered with wisdom as he looked at circumstances where he could have blamed others but rather took responsibility for his own actions was so refreshing.

All the feels

Wasn’t sure what to expect but I am blown away by this experience of listening to Tyler tell his story. It was truthful and funny and intimate and witty and hard and sad and the most joyous 11 hours (not all at once!)
that I have spent in a long time. Just wish I could actually sit down and share a cup of coffees with him. All the stars for this book!!