Sarah Valentine is a writer, translator, and teacher of creative writing. She has taught at Princeton, University of California - Los Angeles, University of California - Riverside, and Northwestern University and holds a PhD in Russian literature from Princeton University. She is the author of the memoir  When I Was White.

We first met at a book reading for her memoir. I was taken with her stunning story and beautiful writing, in which she tackles the topics of race, identity, family relationships, and belonging so effortlessly in a personal coming of age story.

This conversation raises not only the question about how we come to understand race, but how we are able to shape our relationship to that racial structure as well.

We also have a book giveaway this week! To win a signed copy of When I Was White, be one of the first to rate and write a review of the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Pod Chaser. Then take a screen shot of the review and email it to unitedstatesofrace@gmail.com, for a chance to win!