Members Only by Sameer Pandya is quite the relevant read with its overarching theme of racism and prejudice. Raj, who moved from India to the United States as a child, now lives and works in California as a lecturer at a university. We are initially introduced to Raj in the context of his exclusive tennis club where he makes a racist remark in an nervous attempt to connect with an interviewing African American couple, and his efforts to find acceptance among the members are put in jeopardy. His troubles continue when he is accused of being a reverse racist at the university where he works. In this book, Sameer Pandya explores the microaggressions people of color face and how those experiences shape one's identity and sense of belonging.
I usually find writing with these themes extremely frustrating as it stirs up anger and irritation at the circumstances, but I definitely appreciate the necessary awareness this writing can also bring to these themes of racism and belonging. Overall, Members Only was a very thought-provoking and timely read.
I usually find writing with these themes extremely frustrating as it stirs up anger and irritation at the circumstances, but I definitely appreciate the necessary awareness this writing can also bring to these themes of racism and belonging. Overall, Members Only was a very thought-provoking and timely read.