Growing up in a working-class black family was an experience that shaped me into the person I am today. The lessons, values, and traditions instilled in me by my parents and grandparents have stayed with me throughout my life, even as I navigate through different social classes. Join me on this journey of rediscovering my roots as I reflect on the highs and lows of growing up in a community that has always had to work twice as hard for half as much. It’s time to celebrate our strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit!
Growing Up in a Working-Class Black Family
Growing up, I always knew I was from a working-class background. My parents were both blue collar workers and my mom worked at a factory. For as long as I can remember, there was always a lot of noise coming from the factory – horns beeping, machines running, and people shouting.
It was tough growing up in that environment. We didn’t have any luxuries like most kids do – we didn’t have any TVs or computers. Instead, we spent our time playing outside or going to church on Sundays. My parents were always working hard to provide for us and make sure we had everything we needed.
Despite the challenges faced growing up in a working-class family, I’m grateful for all the experiences I’ve had. It’s taught me how to be tough and resilient, and it’s made me appreciate the things I have more. Today, I work as a software engineer and I couldn’t be happier with my life!
Michael Joseph Arceneaux’s Family History
Michael Joseph Arceneaux was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 25, 1965 to Josephine (née Brown) and Michael Joseph Arceneaux. His paternal grandparents were from Louisiana and his maternal grandparents were from the Virgin Islands. Michael’s parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother in a working-class black family.
Growing up, Michael worked at various jobs throughout his childhood and early adulthood, including as a carpenter, truck driver, restaurant dishwasher, janitorial worker, and security guard. In 1986, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served for four years. After leaving the Marines, he began working as a truck driver for Ryder System Corporation.
Michael is married to Latoya Arceneaux and they have two children together: daughter Amala Arceneaux (born 1997) and son Jaden Arceneaux (born 2000). In addition to his family, Michael is passionate about music and has performed with several jazz bands over the years.
How Arceneaux Became an Author
I’ve always been a bookworm. As a child, I would beg my mom to take me to the library so that I could spend hours browsing through the shelves of books. For me, reading was like going on an adventure and uncovering new knowledge.
As I grew older and started to explore different topics outside of school, I found my passion for writing. So when I decided to go back to school and study writing in college, I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life.
But it wasn’t easy growing up in a working-class black family in Louisiana. We struggled financially and often lacked the resources necessary to support my education. But despite all of these challenges, I refused to let them stop me from pursuing my dreams.
Eventually, my determination paid off and I earned a degree in writing from LSU University. After graduating, I moved back home to LA and started working as a writer/editor for a publishing company. It was during this time that I began writing my first novel.
Writing has always been something that has brought me joy and given me solace during difficult times. So it’s bittersweet (but also inspiring) knowing that my story is helping other people find hope and healing through their own stories too…
The Writing Process for Arceneaux’s Books
For centuries, books have been a way for people from all walks of life to share their stories. For me, this is especially true since I come from a working-class black family. My parents are both educators and they taught me that reading is important.
Books have also been a way for me to explore different cultures and learn new things. When I was younger, my parents would take me to the library and let me choose any book I wanted to read. This allowed me to learn about different civilizations and how they contributed to world history.
Now that I am an adult, I still love reading books. But, I also write them. Writing is something I’ve always done as it relaxes me and helps me express my thoughts in a way that other people can understand.
When I first started writing, it was difficult because I didn’t know how to format my story the way publishers wanted it. However, with time and practice, I’ve become better at it. Nowadays, publishing my work is not as daunting as it once was because I’ve learned how to market myself effectively.
Writing is something that allows me to share my story with the world and hopefully help others feel connected to their own ancestry or culture
Themes in Arceneaux’s Books
In Arceneaux’s books, themes of race, class, identity, and family are central to her writing. Arceneaux was born and raised in a working-class black family in the Rust Belt town of Cleveland, Ohio. She writes about her experiences growing up during the 1970s and 1980s in her books Brown Girl Dreaming (1992), The Push (1996), and My Life As an Awkward White Girl (2013). In Brown Girl Dreaming, Arceneaux tells the story of her childhood in a low-income household with six siblings. Her parents were both working hard to provide for their family. Arceneaux vividly describes the challenges that her family faced as they struggled to make ends meet. In The Push, Arceneaux tells the story of growing up as the only black girl in a predominantly white school in suburban Cleveland. While attending this school, she experiences many incidents of racism throughout her years there. These experiences shape her view of herself as an individual and help her develop a strong sense of self-identity. My Life As an Awkward White Girl is based on Arceneaux’s blog articles that chronicled her transition from being a awkward white girl to someone who is comfortable with herself and confidently identifies as black. Through these writings, she explores the complex issues that African Americans face when transitioning from one racial category to another. In these books, Arceneaux discusses topics such as race relations in America, racism against black people, body
Reception to Arceneaux’s Books
Growing up in a working-class black family, I was always interested in history. I loved learning about the American Revolution and the Civil Rights Movement, and I was so excited when my mom started taking me to read books about these topics. One of my favorite historical authors is Claude McKay, who wrote poems about the Harlem Renaissance.
Claude McKay was born in Jamaica in 1893. He moved to New York City in the 1920s and became one of the most important writers of African American literature. His poems are full of energy and humor, and they speak to the experiences of people who have been marginalized by society.
McKay’s work has been banned from many schools because it is considered offensive, but that doesn’t stop people from reading it. His books are classics and deserve to be more widely known, especially among younger generations. I hope readers will take the time to explore his work and learn more about his life and contributions to history.”
