004: White Girl, Reading

Yeah, we're going there

A White Girl’s Guide to Books by BIPOC Authors

Today we have a story, a three-part caveat, and the first-ever SBB Reader’s Guide and that’s just in the first section. Buckle up, booknerds.

First, the story:

Way back in the day, when I was barely in my twenties, I lived on the Fort Drum military base near Watertown, New York. My husband was a platoon leader in the 10th Mountain Division, and I was, depending on the time of year, either a Dartmouth College student or an officer’s wife. All times of the year I was the mom of a toddler.

I was carrying a full course load at Dartmouth, determined to not only graduate with my classmates, but to prove I could also ‘have it all’ by being a perfect mom and wife. (Thank you, ‘90s era feminism.) During term I lived with my son and my four undergraduate friends in a monstrously under-maintained and over-priced house off-campus. During off-term I lived with my soldier in junior officer’s quarters in the newer part of Fort Drum. During term I took my s…