Product Description

A BLACK WOMAN WITH WHITE SKIN
What would it be like if you were black and your skin turned white? Just ask Emily Juana Burke Orr it has been her personal obstacle for over thirty years.
African-American Burke Orr began to notice white spots at age sixteen first on her ankles, then increasing until the pigment change overcame her whole body. Dermatologists identified the condition as vitiligo, a chronic skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation.
The author had to learn to live her life as a black woman inside a white body during the height of the Civil Rights movement including a KKK meeting where, out of curiosity, she accepted the invitation of a co-worker who thought she was white. By contrast, years later, Burke Orr narrowly avoided assault at the hands of black thugs at a race riot.
A Tale of Two Worlds: My Life As a Proud Black Woman With White Skin is a true story of an African-American who takes on the issue of color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2833292 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 148 pages

Review
A Tale of Two Worlds bridges the gap between races. Black or white, this book takes the reader on a journey back to the Civil Rights era, when some voices fought to be heard. --Felicia B. Williams, author of My Life While Growing Up

In this remarkable story of a woman s victory over a skin disorder, Emily Juana Burke Orr illustrates how faith can combat life s challenges. A moving personal tale, A Tale of Two Worlds will inspire others. --Angela DeMola-Marcano, author of African American Heiress

This astute, first-person viewpoint of an African-American who suddenly faces a change in her skin provides a platform for discussion and enlightenment. --Marie Gilles, author of A Woman s Worth: My Life, My Struggle

About the Author
Emily Juana Burke Orr has been featured in publications such as Ebony, Jet, Esquire and Parade. She attended Catholic University and Howard University, and has served on the board of the Greater St. Paul Baptist Church for over thirty years.

Customer Reviews

An eye opening and intriguing look at race
Race is far more than just the color of one's skin. "A Tale of Two Worlds: My Life as a Proud Black Woman With White Skin" is Emily Juana Burke Orr's story of her life with 'vitiligo', a skin condition that the epidermis lose its pigmentation, turning dark colored skin white. Her stories of how people perceive her in matters of race, sometimes identified as black, sometimes identified as white - including being able to attend a Ku Klux Klan meeting and evading victimization in a race riot. An eye opening and intriguing look at race, "A Tale of Two Worlds" is a fascinating read and a highly recommended addition to academic and community library collections race relations and social issues reference collections.